⁹ To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ ¹³ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ ¹⁴ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14

The Pharisee’s contempt for the tax collector is quite noticeable – actually his contempt for all “sinners”, of which he does not consider himself, is quite noticeable. He thanks G-d that he is not like the others, those sinners, rather than praying for the “others”. His prayer is self-righteous, his attitude the same. And Jesus makes it clear that the sincerely humble, and contrite-hearted sinner is justified before G-d. It seems that grace is paradoxical: it can be received by those who have learned empathy for others. Only the merciful can receive mercy, only those who forgive can be forgiven. The Pharisee had enough religion, but he focused it on ritual – fasting and giving a tenth – and he believed his “right-practice” justified him. Somewhere along the line he missed out on humility and loving his neighbor. People who are aware of their own need for forgiveness and grace will not be able to have contempt for others – that is the lesson we take today.

Pastor Dave