Introduction: Who Needs Justification?
The Lord Jesus Christ, in His boundless wisdom, often employed parables to convey profound spiritual truths, making them accessible yet challenging to His hearers. Among these, "The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector," recorded in Luke 18:9-14, stands as a stark and timeless exposition on the nature of true righteousness, humility, and the path to God's favor. The very opening verse sets the stage for its intended audience and purpose:
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
This parable is not merely a moral tale; it is a divine indictment against self-righteousness and a tender invitation to humility and grace. It reveals the heart of God concerning justification, showing us who truly stands approved in His sight. In a world often preoccupied with external appearances and human merit, this parable cuts to the core, examining the very posture of our hearts before a holy God.
The Self-Righteous Pharisee
The first character introduced is a Pharisee, a member of a religious sect known for their strict adherence to the Law and traditions. In the eyes of society, a Pharisee represented the epitome of piety and devotion. He enters the temple, a place of worship, with an air of confidence, perhaps even superiority. His prayer, however, quickly reveals the true condition of his heart:
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Observe the Pharisee's posture and words. He "stood and prayed thus with himself," suggesting that his prayer was not truly directed to God in humble supplication, but rather a self-congratulatory monologue. His "thanksgiving" was not born of genuine gratitude for God's grace, but a vehicle for self-exaltation. He immediately compares himself to "other men," specifically those considered vile, like "extortioners, unjust, adulterers," and pointedly, "this publican" (tax collector).
His prayer is a catalogue of his own perceived virtues: fasting twice a week (more than required by the Law), and tithing "of all that I possess" (even beyond the scriptural mandate). He saw his righteousness as a product of his own diligent efforts and strict adherence to religious disciplines. This man's heart was a fortress of pride, relying on his works for acceptance before God. He had no true understanding of his own sinfulness, nor of God's perfect holiness. His "righteousness" was a garment woven from self-deception, designed to cover his spiritual nakedness, but utterly transparent in the eyes of God. As Proverbs 16:18 warns, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." The Pharisee's prayer was a testament to his spiritual blindness, trusting in himself and despising others, exactly as Jesus described his audience in Luke 18:9.
The Humble Tax Collector
In stark contrast to the Pharisee stands the tax collector, or "publican." These individuals were universally despised in Jewish society. They were often Jews who collaborated with the Roman occupiers, extorting more money than legally required for personal gain, and were therefore viewed as traitors and egregious sinners. Yet, this man enters the temple with a completely different demeanor:
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
His physical posture speaks volumes about his spiritual state. He stood "afar off," feeling unworthy to approach the holy presence. He "would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven," indicating profound shame, remorse, and humility. Instead, he "smote upon his breast," a gesture of deep anguish and self-condemnation. His prayer is remarkably brief, yet profoundly powerful: "God be merciful to me a sinner."
This tax collector offers no excuses, no comparisons, no boasts of good deeds. He presents no list of accomplishments, for he has none to offer that could commend him to God. He acknowledges his utter sinfulness and throws himself entirely upon the mercy and grace of God. His prayer is a desperate plea from a broken and contrite heart, recognizing his desperate need for divine intervention. He understands that he has nothing to offer but his sin, and his only hope is in God's unmerited favor. This aligns perfectly with the truth found in Psalms 51:17: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."
Jesus' Verdict: Justification and Humility
After presenting these two contrasting figures and their prayers, Jesus delivers His unequivocal verdict, which overturns all human expectations and religious conventions:
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The tax collector, the one despised by society and self-condemned, was the one who "went down to his house justified." To be justified means to be declared righteous, to be acquitted of guilt, and to be deemed right in God's sight. This is not merely forgiveness, but a positive declaration of righteousness. The Pharisee, despite his impeccable religious resumé, went home unjustified.
This verdict reveals a fundamental truth about God's nature and the nature of salvation. God does not justify based on human merit, religious performance, or self-righteous comparison. He justifies those who, like the tax collector, acknowledge their sinfulness and cast themselves solely upon His mercy. The Pharisee's self-righteousness was an insurmountable barrier between himself and God's grace, for he felt no need for it. The tax collector's profound humility and awareness of his sin opened the door for God's boundless mercy to flow into his life.
The concluding principle of the parable serves as a timeless warning and a profound promise: "for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." This principle echoes throughout Scripture, from the Old Testament to the New, emphasizing that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5). True exaltation in God's kingdom comes not through self-promotion or human achievement, but through humble submission to His will and a complete reliance on His grace.
Lessons for the Believer Today
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector offers profound and enduring lessons for every believer:
- The Danger of Self-Righteousness: The Pharisee represents a universal human tendency to trust in our own goodness, morality, or religious practices for acceptance with God. This is a fatal error, for it blinds us to our true spiritual condition and the absolute necessity of Christ's righteousness. As Romans 10:3 states, "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."
- The Necessity of Humility: Justification begins with a humble recognition of our sinfulness and utter dependence on God's grace. Like the tax collector, we must come before God acknowledging our spiritual poverty and crying out for mercy. This humility is not self-depreciation, but a truthful assessment of ourselves before a holy God.
- Justification by Grace Through Faith: The parable powerfully illustrates the doctrine of justification by grace through faith alone. The tax collector offered no works, only a plea for mercy, and he was justified. This aligns with Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Our salvation is entirely a gift, not something earned.
- The Nature of True Prayer: The parable teaches us that true prayer is not a performance or a list of our accomplishments, but an honest, humble conversation with God. It should be characterized by sincerity, brokenness over sin, and a complete reliance on God's character and promises, not on our own perceived worthiness.
- Avoiding a Judgmental Spirit: The Pharisee's prayer was filled with contempt for others. As followers of Christ, we are called to love, not to despise, and to recognize that we are all sinners in need of God's grace. We are not to judge others, lest we be judged (Matthew 7:1).
Conclusion: The Path to God's Favor
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector serves as a perpetual mirror, inviting us to examine our own hearts and the posture we assume before God. Do we approach Him with an attitude of self-sufficiency, listing our good deeds and comparing ourselves favorably to others? Or do we come with a contrite spirit, fully aware of our sinfulness, and wholly reliant on His mercy and grace?
The pathway to God's favor, to true justification and spiritual exaltation, is not paved with human achievements or religious rituals, but with humble repentance and faith in His redeeming love. It is the path walked by the tax collector, who dared to acknowledge his brokenness and cast himself entirely upon the boundless mercy of God. May we, therefore, learn from this profound parable, continually humbling ourselves before the Lord, trusting not in ourselves, but in Him who alone can justify the ungodly and exalt the humble heart.