9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 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. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 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!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18: 9-14 ESV
Luke 18: 9-14 Two Different Approaches
MacArthur points out that we have to keep in mind the larger context of this section, which is the subject of the kingdom of God which became a major focus beginning in Luke 17:20-21 (and extending through Luke 18:30) when He was "questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming," and Jesus answered explaining that “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” He went on to explain that the Kingdom of God had a present spiritual aspect (in the hearts of those who received Christ the King). But that is just one aspect of the kingdom which consists secondly of a coming literal, earthly Millennial Kingdom and thirdly an eternal Kingdom. So naturally, the question arises "Who will get to enter the Kingdom of God?" In other words, who is a part of that spiritual kingdom, and will therefore participate in the earthly kingdom and live forever in the eternal kingdom? Who is qualified? Who is acceptable to God in the kingdom? Jesus answers that question in the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. - Precept Austin
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous - So, similar to the last parable, Luke again gives the meaning, the words before the word picture. In the last parable we were instructed straight away that it's intent was to teach us to always pray and not lose hope, to be persistent in prayer. Now we are told that this is a parable about self righteousness versus reality, those who would try to justify themselves versus those who seek God's mercy in their unworthiness. This is clearly about being justified by faith rather than by a system of works and outward appearance.
…10As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. 11There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”… Romans 3: 10-12
…31but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33as it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”… Romans 9: 31-33
…11There is a generation of those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers. 12There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes and yet unwashed of their filth. 13There is a generation—how haughty are their eyes and pretentious are their glances—… Proverbs 30: 11-13
And treated others with contempt - The Pharisees had a very vain and delusional sort of religion. God had told the Jews to be a light to the nations, a city set high on a hill. They were called out from all peoples on the earth, out of the mire, the filth, shown the ways of God, His holiness being made known to them. Instead of walking in the light of this they made a Judaism that twisted the Scriptures, added to the Scriptures their own extrabiblical writings which often contradicted the plain and clear teachings of God's word. We read before how they cleaned the outside of the cup, they tithed down to the very herb seed to appear more pious before other men, and they looked down upon anyone who wasn't like them. It is a perverse religion that looks like this: I am a son of Abraham and you are not, I don't eat pork, and gentiles do, I worship at the temple in Jerusalem and you worship an idol you made with your hands. All these things are true, but they don't save you. Being related to Abraham, Moses, or David doesn't save you. Having Mary, the mother of Jesus, as your mother would not save you either. It is not a matter of physical, genetic relations, but about of a new heart regenerated by the Spirit of God. It is a matter of being related to Christ in His living a perfect life that you did not, dying the death that you deserved to die, and rising up in Christ as a new creature. The Pharisees faith was not founded in God, but in themselves and what they had deemed righteous, where they had set the bar for holiness, in a sense of moral superiority to their lost neighbors. This is not the place to put your faith, as the Bible makes clear, there is none righteous not even one, and so to think you are is apostasy, and to look down on someone else for not being a part of your apostasy only drives those you were supposed to reach further away. In every age God has reserved a remnant though who truly believe, who have looked to Him rather than themselves as the answer.
…9For this reason Christ died and returned to life, that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 10Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.”… Romans 14: 9-11
…5This is what God the LORD says—He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it and life to those who walk in it: 6“I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, 7to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house.… Isaiah 42: 5-7
V. 11 God, I thank You that I am not like other men - I can't act like I have not thought or said this. I hear so called Christians, we who should no better, have conversations like this all the time. It's not wrong to be upset over sin, not wrong to want justice like the widow in the last parable, but it is grossly wrong to have sin in our own lives that we think is okay because at least we aren't sinners like that guy. Jesus called the Pharisees out for the sins of bad doctrine, the sin of overriding God's law in order to serve their own greed and take advantage of widows and orphans. He called out their prosperity gospel which ultimately sought to say that the rich were healthy and wealthy because they were doing the right thing. The poor and sick were being punished for being sinners of a higher magnitude, but this was their own vain teaching, not the Scriptures, just look at Job. He even had the audacity to call them out for what they were thinking, accusing them of wanting to kill Him, because He knew their hearts. That is the place where we are to measure, this is where God looks and what He weighs, just read the verse below and tell me, do you make the cut? Are you without sin?
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
Lust
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. Matthew 5: 21-30
By that standard, God's standard, I am a murderer, an adulterer, and I don't know anyone who isn't, for we are all fallen in Adam. You're not the standard bearer for me, Christ is, and so your sins should be of no comfort nor shock to me. I am as lost as all men if in the end I have trusted in something I have done rather than in the full and finished work of Christ. We are called to repent of sin, and included in that is the sin of self righteousness, of believing in your own inherent goodness.
…5You welcome those who gladly do right, who remember Your ways. Surely You were angry, for we sinned. How can we be saved if we remain in our sins? 6Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. 7No one calls on Your name or strives to take hold of You. For You have hidden Your face from us and delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.… Isaiah 64: 5-7
Extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector - This is some strange fire here. He is approaching God and like Cain, he is saying, "yea, I know the wages of sin is death, and so You require a life for a life, but here are some veggies I grew in my garden, You need to accept these as good enough. I didn't feel like buying a lamb from my brother, besides, I'm a vegetarian." Remember, God accepted Abel's offering, and why? Because it pointed to the promised offering of His Son. This Pharisee is saying that He is acceptable by his outward standard, what men can see and know of him. He is self deceived and a liar, because God looks at the heart, so remember, if you thought it, that is enough reason for God to cull out what is unacceptable to His holiness. God says His holiness is the bar, and He is looking at the inward person, and you are saying, no, that tax collector is the bar and I am way better than him.
…4because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me. 6In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight.… Hebrews 10: 4-6
9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. James 2: 9-12
9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 10 All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”… Galatians 3: 9-11
Only Christ kept the law perfectly so only in Christ can you be found righteous.
The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself (NET and NIV have "The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this...") - If this translation is correct (see below) What a picture! His prayers are to self and not through the Savior to the Father (1 Ti 2:5)! SELF-righteousness is SELF-deceit! It is one of the most deadly of sins because when a person is deceived, by definition they do not enough know they are deceived (see Deceitfulness of sin).
There is another way one could interpret praying...to himself and that is that he is simply speaking in a very low tone, essentially inaudible to others, and audible only to himself. There is still no doubt about who was on the altar of his deceitful heart - it was self not God (and certainly not the Savior). We can discern his self-focus even in the repetition of the first person pronoun "I" five times in two sentences. This pseudo-pious Pharisee was praying in essence a “self-eulogy," a tribute to self, for "self" was on the throne of his heart, not God! - Precept Austin
I fat twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get - Oh, so God owes you. This is not prayer, this is self promotion, self reliance, pride, the original sin. Jesus also tells the Pharisees, "you are like your father the devil," and he was a proud liar as well. We are gross in this, and no different than anyone else who would try to overturn God's pronounced judgment against sin. Works, hail Mary's, all these things are worse than rubbish, they are an affront to God's Holiness and sovereignty. Again, this is strange fire, contrary to the call of the gospel.
…12How you have fallen from heaven, O day star, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O destroyer of nations. 13You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north. 14I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”… Isaiah 14: 12-14
But the tax collector - The one the Pharisee looked down on, the scourge of Israel, a man who was in the minds of most of Israel, an ethnic traitor. These men collected taxes on behalf of occupying Roman authorities, and they were hated.
…10Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.… Matthew 9: 10-12
Standing far off - Not presumptuously, but where he was, as he admittedly knew himself to be. I have seen somewhat of Who God is, and it is so foreign to me. I have seen a more realistic picture of who I am and I dare not approach any closer than this.
…4At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke. 5Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.” 6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.… Isaiah 6: 4-6
…7To You, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but this day we are covered with shame—the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, and all Israel near and far, in all the countries to which You have driven us because of our unfaithfulness to You. 8O LORD, we are covered with shame— our kings, our leaders, and our fathers— because we have sinned against You. 9To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, even though we have rebelled against Him… Daniel 9: 7-9
Would not even lift up his eyes to heaven - The complete opposite approach to the Pharisee's, the tax collector comes in humility. Men think far too much of themselves when all they should expect is God's wrath. I hear a lot of created beings, fallen ones at that, talk of God as though He should answer to them, as if they stand on some great high ground of moral superiority, not needing a Savior.
36Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!” 37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “ Brothers, what shall we do?” 38Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.… Acts 2: 36-38
But was beating his breast - An expression of sorrow, deep hurt over sin that cannot be fully expressed with words.
…10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong or the one who was harmed, but rather that your earnestness on our behalf would be made clear to you in the sight of God.… 2 Corinthians 7: 10-12
God be merciful to me a sinner - He knows he is owed something else, and so he doesn't come with a list of demands, a worthless resume of good deeds based upon some apostate notion, no, he comes with his sins. He comes announcing who He is, describing his very essence, his nature, a sinner, that's what I am, the very thing You hate, and with an eternal, Holy hatred. I have nothing to offer You other than my sin, my sorrow over it, and I don't deserve it, but I have to ask, please have mercy on me.
Do not remember the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you, Lord, are good.
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
11 For the sake of your name, Lord,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great. Psalm 25: 7-11
…15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4: 15-16
…8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.… 1 John 1: 8-11
The one who humbles himself will be exulted - Pride is not a good vehicle to approach God in, it presumes upon things it doesn't understand. It is built upon a foundation that will not hold up. Who are you? The Creator has a right to expect and see what He expects in His creation. Being granted a choice does not nullify the expectation, it does not grant us the ability to cast accusations at God. He said, be holy, and you are not, so be humble, and ask for mercy, ask to be made holy.
5Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you. 7Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.… 1 Peter 5: 5-7
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