Two Sides
11 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. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' 13 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!' 14 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." (Luke 18:11-14)
When we read Jesus' parable about the Pharisee and the tax collector, we want so much to identify only with the tax collector. We want to believe that we always humble ourselves and ask for mercy and grace when we've done wrong. But, if we're honest, we are equal parts Pharisee and tax collector.
The Pharisees were highly respected and revered members of their communities, and Jesus did not hate them. It's not as if the Pharisee in Jesus' story was lying - Pharisees were required to keep a higher standard of righteousness, and fulfilling that requirement meant they were certainly closer to upholding God's standards than others were likely to be. But, Jesus wanted them to remember that the reason they were called to live such righteous lives was so they could make worthy sacrifices on behalf of the community, and bless the community - not lord their piety over everyone else. Tax collectors, on the other hand, knew that, by virtue of their position, they would be called upon to be unscrupulous - making them despised by everyone.
Like the Pharisee in Jesus' story, we can be quick to remind or inform others when we believe we have done or said just the right thing at the right time, and we can be slow or negligent in admitting our faults and owning up to our wrongs. But like the tax collector, when we do recognize our sin we fall readily on God's mercy. Perhaps the goal of this parable is not for us to pick which side we're on, or who we'd prefer to be, but to realize that the potential for righteousness and unrighteousness lives in each of us. May this realization both keep us humble and
encourage us to be forgiving.
7 Although our iniquities testify against us, act, O LORD, for your name's sake; our apostasies indeed are many, and we have sinned against you. 8 O hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler turning aside for the night? 9 Why should you be like someone confused, like a mighty warrior who cannot give help? Yet you, O LORD, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not forsake us! (Jeremiah 14:7-9)
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