The Pharisee And The Publican

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

Audio version at http://tinyurl.com/2987eq

True Christians know that they didn’t deserve to be saved. They know that the sacrifice of Jesus was tremendous price to pay for their sins. They are reminded constantly of the need to reach out to the lost and dying world and share the good news of salvation with others.

But sometimes people forget the great blessings that they enjoy in Christ. Instead of trusting in God and humbly submitting to His will, they will trust in themselves and compare themselves with their own standard of righteousness.

Paul warned of this in 2 Corinthians 10:12 when he said, “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”

It would be easy to make ourselves the ruler by which we measured our own righteousness. We could easily boast of what we have not done (murder, adultery, stealing) and also take pride in the fact that compared with others we were better.

But that is not the measure to which God holds us accountable. Paul tells us in verses 17 and 18, “But ‘he who glories, let him glory in the LORD.’ For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.” The standard is not trusting in ourselves or comparing ourselves to others, but trusting in God.

Jesus tells a parable about two men who went to pray. We find this in Luke 18:9-14.

Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The 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. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man 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.”

Two things immediately jump out in the first sentence. The audience consisted of those who trusted in themselves and who despised others. This is a very dangerous combination.

The first man was a Pharisee. That term represented those who set themselves apart from others, and this man was a good example of one doing just that. He was very arrogant, prideful, self-justified. He was not thinking of others except to be thankful that he wasn’t like them.

He seemed to have no interest in helping others in any way and appeared to be in need of nothing. In his prayer, which was openly given within earshot of others, he focuses on himself and never asks for forgiveness, wisdom or direction. His prayer is about self-congratulations and self-commendation.

By contrast the other man, a tax collector, is far from the focus of the gathering at the temple. Knowing his sins and also knowing the tremendous burden of guilt, this man confesses that he is a sinner and cries out for God to be merciful to him.

Comparisons with others can lead one to a false sense of security and accomplishment. Just because you may behave better than those around you doesn’t mean that you are walking according to God’s wishes.

There is certainly nothing wrong with listing our blessings as we give our thanks to God. In fact, we should count our blessings often and thank God continuously for them. But we certainly shouldn’t be using a time of prayer to exalt ourselves as we put down other people.

Let’s review those words from Paul again from 2 Corinthians 10:17-18. “But ‘he who glories, let him glory in the LORD.’ For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.”

Friends when we stop trusting in our own standard of righteousness then we will also stop despising the faults of others. We are all guilty of sin. We are all in need of the grace, mercy, forgiveness and blessings of the Father. We all need to be justified.

On Our Daily Walk today, may we seek God in humble prayer and be thankful for the rich blessings that we enjoy. May we ask for His guidance, wisdom and protection as we also ask for opportunities to be a spiritual encourager to others around us.

Our thought for the day: “Pride is the only poison that is good for you when swallowed.”

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.