And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”
Deeper Dive
The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector is a profound lesson in humility before God. While the Pharisee boasts of his own righteousness, the tax collector humbly asks for mercy, acknowledging his sinfulness. This narrative demonstrates the importance of humility, where Jesus explicitly contrasts self-righteousness with genuine repentance. The tax collector’s approach reflects the key to understanding God’s grace—a theme central both historically and theologically in Christian teachings. The characters chosen by Jesus accentuate contrasting societal standings and moral perceptions. Pharisees were respected religious figures, seen as upholding the law, while tax collectors were often looked down upon as corrupt collaborators with occupying Roman forces. By using these two distinct characters, Jesus dismantles societal expectations regarding merit, righteousness, and God’s judgement—seeking to elicit reflection on genuine faith and repentance rather than adherence to social norms. Standing by himself, the Pharisee’s prayer underscores self-righteousness rather than genuine communication with God. He compares himself favourably to others, particularly the tax collector, in a self-congratulatory manner. Through this, Jesus cautions against comparing oneself to others as a metric of righteousness and highlights a critical lesson on judgement, pride, and humility within the Kingdom of God. This historical and theological insight challenges believers to reassess the heart and intent behind their practices of faith, aligning them spiritually with God’s true intentions rather than merely adhering to the superficial practice of ritual laws.
And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”
Deeper Dive
The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector is a profound lesson in humility before God. While the Pharisee boasts of his own righteousness, the tax collector humbly asks for mercy, acknowledging his sinfulness. This narrative demonstrates the importance of humility, where Jesus explicitly contrasts self-righteousness with genuine repentance. The tax collector’s approach reflects the key to understanding God’s grace—a theme central both historically and theologically in Christian teachings. The characters chosen by Jesus accentuate contrasting societal standings and moral perceptions. Pharisees were respected religious figures, seen as upholding the law, while tax collectors were often looked down upon as corrupt collaborators with occupying Roman forces. By using these two distinct characters, Jesus dismantles societal expectations regarding merit, righteousness, and God’s judgement—seeking to elicit reflection on genuine faith and repentance rather than adherence to social norms. Standing by himself, the Pharisee’s prayer underscores self-righteousness rather than genuine communication with God. He compares himself favourably to others, particularly the tax collector, in a self-congratulatory manner. Through this, Jesus cautions against comparing oneself to others as a metric of righteousness and highlights a critical lesson on judgement, pride, and humility within the Kingdom of God. This historical and theological insight challenges believers to reassess the heart and intent behind their practices of faith, aligning them spiritually with God’s true intentions rather than merely adhering to the superficial practice of ritual laws.
