APPLES TO ORANGES
Luke 18:9-14 NKJV
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 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. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 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!’ 14 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.”
There is an old adage that you have to compare apples to apples. This was the problem with the Pharisee in the parable Jesus told. He was comparing himself wrongly.
The Pharisee started his prayer by thanking God that he was not like other people. He then listed the worst of society. He did not compare himself with faith heroes from the past or even spiritual leaders of his day. And he brought in the tax collector who happened to be in the temple at the same time.
Tax collectors were considered the lowest of the low in the Jewish mind of Jesus’ day. They worked for the Romans collecting taxes and were often made rich on the backs of their fellow countrymen. And they were a despised group. So the Pharisee took the opportunity to thank God that he was not like the tax collector guy.
The Pharisee then listed all the things that made him special in his own eyes. He fasted twice a week and gave tithes of all he owned. The Pharisees as a group were known for even tithing the spices they owned. One tenth of the salt and pepper. Compared to other people this Pharisee was amazing. In his own mind.
The tax collector never brought up other people. He wouldn’t even look up but asked God for mercy because he acknowledged himself as a sinner. He was genuinely sorry and felt it beating his chest.
Jesus used this parable to point out that the heart of the tax collector was what God was looking for. Someone who acknowledged who he was before God. Not the one who used others as the standard for justifying himself.
APPLICATION
We don’t see Pharisees in our culture today, but their spirit is still with us. There is still the tendency to compare ourselves with how others are doing. We can become grateful that we are not like other people who do despicable things. But other people are not the basis for our comparison. We compare ourselves with Jesus, and that will take some of the starch out of our sails.
I am not advocating poor self-esteem but rather a higher God-esteem for what He has done for us. We can be thankful that we are not like what we used to be, that He has made us new creations in Christ. If it were not for Him, we would still be bound by our old, ungodly ways. So we are truly grateful and compassionate toward those who have not found Christ.
When the apostle Paul wrote to Titus, he encouraged the young pastor to remind the people to show humility to all people because all of us at one time were in various states that were not good. The kindness and love of God came into our lives but it wasn’t because we earned it. (Titus 3:1-8)
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for Your mercy to me when I was a sinner. Thank You for what You have done in me and for continuing to work in me. I am eternally grateful.