Dear saints, this morning’s parable is probably familiar with most of us. As we hear it, there is likely one character who seems attractive to our sensibilities, and there is another whom we would find reprehensible. One we would want our daughters to date, and one who we would want them to run away from. One who is an upstanding citizen, and one we would see as a traitor to our people.
Just look at the Pharisee: He does not extort people. He is not unjust. He does not commit adultery. He is very religious, fasting twice as often as his law requires and tithes on things he does not even have to tithe on. He seems like the very guy that we would want to be like. The type of guy we want our sons to be and our daughters to marry. On the other hand, we have the tax collector. If the Pharisee is the model for us to follow, this man is the model of whom we would flee. He is the type we would not want to associate with, let alone be friends with.
Our impressions of our fellow man can often be off, as they would be here. Jesus sees not only their actions but also their hearts. Our lesson begins with this parable being told to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt. It immediately follows another parable in which his disciples are encouraged to always pray and not lose heart. This morning’s parable is addressed to the scribes and Pharisees:
Jesus says, two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The two men come to the Temple just as we come here. They come to worship. They come to where God’s presence was at that time. Just as God’s presence is here and we come to worship him and receive his gifts.
The prayers are offered at one of the two daily times public prayers were offered: when the morning and evening sacrifices of atonement were made. The reason the Temple, and before it, the Tabernacle existed was for sacrifices of atonement. A lamb would be sacrificed; incense would be burned that the people would be forgiven of their sins. And so, these men come at one of these appointed times of sacrifice. The sacrifice that pointed to the promised sacrifice of The Lamb, the One who would take away the sins of the world once and for all.
With that context, we hear the prayers: “The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get. But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’”
First, we note their content. The Pharisee’s prayer is not giving thanks for what God has done for him. He does not petition God for his needs because he does not think he has any. He asks God for nothing because he thinks he needs nothing. He thinks he is already perfectly righteous. Which is why when he does thank God for something, he is thanking God for himself. He is exalting himself even while speaking ill of others, specifically the tax collectors. The Pharisee is busy in his prayer telling God how much good he is. The prayer of the Pharisee is no prayer at all.
The tax collector, however, has a completely different attitude. He does not stand out in the crowd and boast before everyone. He stands apart from the rest, he takes a humble stature, not even lifting his eyes to heaven, and beats his chest saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” He comes to the Temple to pray.
Most English translations use the word merciful. It works; it is easy to understand. Yet the word the tax collector uses is not ἐλέησον (eléēson), as in Kyrie Eleison, “Lord, have mercy.” He cries out to God, “ἱλάσθητί!” (hilasthēti). It is from the verb ἱλάσκομαι (hilaskomai), and means, “to make propitiation for.” I understand why the word is rendered ‘mercy.’ But we lose a lot of meaning when it is.
Remember, it is at the same time the atonement sacrifices are made. And he asks God to be merciful, or even more precisely, he cries out to God that he would be propitiated. That his sins would be wiped away and forgiven. That the sacrifice being made would be applied to him. As these two men pray, the lamb is being sacrificed to make atonement; to wipe away and remove the sins of the people. The tax collector is begging God to apply that sacrifice to him, for he knew his sins were many.
The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews uses this verb the other time we see it in the New Testament. He writes, “Therefore he [Christ Jesus] had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”
Unlike the Pharisee, the tax collector is relying fully and only on the Lord for his salvation and righteousness. He does not put any stock in what he has done. He is praying to God to have mercy on him. That is why he goes down to his house righteous when the Pharisee returns to his with only his own self-righteousness. The righteousness which earns him nothing before God.
Yet even though we know the tax collector is the one who goes home justified and righteous, we still far too often act like the Pharisee. I am not saying we go out into a public place and compare ourselves to others and thank God that we are not like them. We might do it on social media. But we do do it in our own minds. “I’m so glad I’m not like that politician.” Or like the car salesman who preys on those who do not know that they are being taken advantage of. Or the real estate agent who tries to make a property look better than it is so they can make a better commission. Or the activist who asserts another’s guilt of something they, and not the other person, is guilty of. When we compare ourselves to others, we minimize God’s Law. We undermine God’s Word. Instead of realizing we do not keep the Law, we try and get out from under it by comparing ourselves to someone we think is worse than us to alleviate the sting and the burn of the law on ourselves. Law that is showing us that we do not keep it or measure up to it.
Perhaps the more sinister way of being like the Pharisee, however, is by looking at what we do. For example, we know that we are saved by grace through faith. But when we think about why we are saved it is easy for us to think instead about what we do. We think about the boards we have served on. The meals we have prepared for shut-ins. The good deeds we have done with things like giving to disaster relief efforts. Even simply giving to the church. These are all good things to do. In fact, they are good works. You should do such things and more! The issue with this is not the action but putting your trust in these works rather than the work of Christ for us on the cross.
This was the fault of the Pharisee. He did not compare himself against the demands of the Law. He compared himself to other people. And when he did so, he saw himself as better and thus justified. He looked at what he did. And when he did, he saw in himself a good person who had to be worthy of God. He does not fear, love, and trust God above all things. He trusts in himself. Therefore Jesus tells the parable against those who trusted in themselves for righteousness. Like faith, righteousness only comes from God.
Right before our parable, Jesus asks if he would find faith on earth when he comes. The parable this morning answers that question with a resounding, “Yes!” Yes, Jesus will find faith when he returns. And where will he find it? He will find it in the likes of the tax collector. Faith will be found in the most unlikely of places. Even in people who we sin against when we look at them and think them unworthy of faith. Like when the Pharisee looks at the tax collector with scorn and disdain in his heart.
Though we are broken and sinful, remember that God sent his own Son to be your atoning sacrifice, nailed on a cross nearly two thousand years ago. When we pray God hears our prayer. And more than that, he answers it for the benefit of our soul. So, take comfort and know that as one baptized into the family of God, you are a child of the Father. He has washed you clean, clothed you in righteousness, and forgives, feeds, and nourishes your soul. You can know that when you return to your home that you are justified and declared righteous. Thanks be to God. The Atonement Sacrifice is applied to you. Amen.
Rev. Brent Keller
Peace Lutheran Church
Alcester, SD
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