The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Luke 18:9-12: Also He spoke of this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others.
Parable: Two men went up the temple to pray, one a Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men –extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
Pharisee: I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I posses.
Tax collector: Standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
Jesus: I tell you this man (the tax collector) went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
How should we approach God? Enter the presence of God with reverence and humanity for God is Holy and He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Who is a Pharisee? The Pharisees were expert of the law who lived separately from the lepers’, tax collectors, and sinners and were mainly influence by the traditions of the fathers. They were loved by the people, emphasized oral tradition, promoted belief in life after death and lived a life of service to the people.
Who is a tax collector? The tax collectors were Jews who were considered traitors because they worked for Rome. The tax collectors made their money by exploiting their own people. When you compare the religious lifestyle of this Pharisee, fasted twice a week, give tithes of all his possession, to the perfidious life style of this tax collector; greedy, and unjust, the Pharisee would be considered a more pious, trustworthy, and honorable man. But God has chosen the foolish of the world to put to shame the wise and the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and things which are not , to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in this presence.
As we view this parable through the lenses of scripture, it becomes clear that the tax collected was given grace because he humble himself in the presence of God. The tax collector felt unworthy of being in the presence of God, standing afar off, he cried out for mercy to God. The tax collector, who had a more accurate view of himself, saw himself as a sinner in need of repentance, by hitting his heart to express remorse. He entered the presence of God by faith, cried out for mercy to God, and God, who delights in showing mercy, forgave his sin, he (the tax collector) had peace with God.Therefore let it be known that through Christ, forgiveness of is preached, and everyone who believes in Him is justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Romans 5:1-2: Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also, we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
1 John 1:9:If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Ephesian 2:8-9: For by grace you have been saved through faith and not of yourselves, it is a gift of God not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Micah 7:18: Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
The Pharisee went into the presence of God with boldness, with thanksgiving but then drifted from focusing on God to himself and begun to compare himself to the tax collector. The prayer of the Pharisee was very telling- I am not like other people. He proudly taught he had right standing with God, not knowing that God resist the proud but give grace to the humble. He saw the sin of the tax collector, rather than the sin within him, that separated him from God. Jesus said: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother ‘s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eyes? How can you say to your brother, let me take the speck out of your eye, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’ s eye. (Matthew 7:3-5).
The Pharisee was unjustified because he entered in the presence of God with a focus on himself instead of God; he exalted himself instead of God and despised others instead of allowing God to love others through him.
John 4:8-9:Beloved, let us love one another, for God is love; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
The purpose of this parable is reveal that we are justified by faith in Christ Jesus, the Son of Man, to enter the presence of God with humanity- we are justified by faith and not justified by works. Regardless, of what we have done, we should approach God in sincerity and truth, and He who searches the hearts and minds, knows our hearts and He will reveal truth to us that would set us free; for His word discerns our thoughts and reveals the intents of our hearts. In humanity, we should have a repentant heart when scripture reveals to us something within in us that is contrary to the will of God. ‘For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Jesus, the Son of Man, also revealed himself as the Lord our righteousness. He made Him who knew no sin to become sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21) – to stand right before God. Based on the atoning sacrifice of Christ and his finished work on the cross the tax collector was justified by faith to not only enter the presence of God but also receive mercy in time of need.
Luke 5:32: Jesus said: I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. Regardless of what we have done, we can humbly approach God, in sincerity and in truth, through Jesus Christ and God will hear us. He knows what we have already done or what we would say before uttering a word, so in reverence make your request known to Him; and our Father, who is gracious, compassionate, forgiving, and abounding in love will not only hear us but will forgive our sins.
- James 4: 6,10: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.
- Psalm 89:7: God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him.
- 1 John 2:2: And he Himself, is the propitiation for our sins and not for our only and but also for the whole world.
- 2 Chronicles 7:14: If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sins and heal their land.
Pulse to Reflect:
What is Justification? (Romans 5:1)
How does being self righteousness leads to contempt for others? (Matthew 23:23, 25)
Do you have to confess your sin to be forgiven or do you have to acknowledge your sin to be forgiven.
(Luke 5:17-26, 18:13)
How does trust in oneself hinder the need for repentance? (Pharisee vs. Tax Collector)
Why was this parable written? (Luke 18:9)
Why did the men go to the temple? (Luke 18:10)
How did each man approach God? (Luke 18:11, 13)
What can you deduce from the Pharisee versus the tax collector’s prayer?
“Let the Children Come to ME ”
Luke 18:15-17:Then they brought infants to Him that He might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said “Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them; for such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever do not receive the Kingdom of God, as a little child will by no means enter it.
Who brought infants to Jesus and why?
It was customary for parents to take children to the temple to be blessed by a priest, and this religious custom is adhered to today. Children are a heritage from the Lord and the fruit of the womb is His reward, we are instructed to bring up our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, and this could start with taking them to the temple.
Why did the disciples rebuke the parents?
Women and children had no social status; they were insignificant during the days of Jesus life on the earth. The disciple rebuked the infant from the presence of the Lord, because the disciples assumed, infants were distraction, they had nothing to contribute and had to be home with their parents and not in gathering of adults. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not forbid them; for such is the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus loves little children just as much He loves adult, and no one is more significant than the other in the presence of the Lord, we are all one.
How should one receive the kingdom of God?
The kingdom of God belongs to the children of God. The children of God are those who receive Christ and believe in His name. The kingdom of God is received by faith in Jesus Christ. The nature of a child is humble, a child simply believe and trust his/her parent for everything. With child like faith we are to receive the kingdom that God offers without skepticism and take Him at His word. God word is His bond and He exalts His word above His name. He expects us to receive His word spoken to us through Jesus who said: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the gospel.” When we simple confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raise Him from the dead, we shall be saved and then the kingdom of God will reside in our hearts.
Who is qualified to enter the kingdom of God?
John 3: 5-7: Jesus said: most assuredly I say to you unless one is born of the water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God, that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ Only those who are born again and those who do the will of God will enter the kingdom of God. Jesus said: whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.
What is the kingdom of God about and where is the kingdom of God?
The kingdom is spiritual kingdom that is in the heart of those who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and savior. The kingdom is in out midst, and its is also in the future when the kingdom of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ and He shall reign for ever and ever. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness, peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit. The Kingdom of God is at hand and its the Father’s desire to give us His kingdom and all that it entails: good news, repentance, eternal life, grace, faith, healing, wisdom, Holy spirit, son-ship, etc. As you can clearly see, the kingdom of God is available to all who are in need of it. “
Romans 14:17: the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy spirit.
Luke 17:20-21: Now when He was asked by the Pharisee when the Kingdom of God will come, He answered them and said, “The Kingdom of God does not come with observation, “nor will they say, “See here!’ or ‘See there! For the indeed, the kingdom of God is within you”
1 Corinthians 4:20: The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but in power
Daniel 2:44: And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, and the kingdom shall not be left to another people. It shall break in pieces and consume these entire kingdoms it shall stand forever.
Matthew 12:28: but if by the Spirit of God that I drive out a demon, then the Kingdom of God has come near you.
Luke 10:9: Heal the sick, and then tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near you’
Luke 12:32: Fear not, little flock, for it’s the Father’s pleasure to give you the kingdom.
God desire we approach Him as a child would approach his/her parent. Jesus remits the way of thinking then, that children were insignificant, practically, not worthy of being in the presence of God. Unlike adult, children humbly trust and depend on their parents to train, guide and provide for them in life. We should also have faith in God and believe in His word with all our heart, soul and mind to guide, provide and training us in righteousness to thoroughly equipped us to do His work. Just as parents welcome and encourage their children to come to them freely, God beckons us to receive and enter His eternal kingdom in liberty with joy trusting what he offers is good and worthy it.
1 Peter 2:2: Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment.
2 Timothy 3:15: And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Mathew 5:6: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, they shall be filled.”
Proverbs 14:34: Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. May God give us the grace to do the right thing at the right time, not for the applause of men, but simply because it the right thing to do in the sight of the Lord.
Jesus model a prayer for His disciples, so let us follow suit:
Our Father in heaven
Hallowed be your name
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth, as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our debts
As we forgive our debtors
And do not lead us into temptation
But deliver us from the evil one
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever
In Jesus name ,Amen.