PHARISEE
(Religion of merits)
The Pharisee was an upright and honest man. He kept God’s laws. He avoided all sins. He was not a thief, adulterous and unjust. In fact he did even more than was required of him. For example, the Law prescribed fasting once a year (Lev. 16: 29), but the Pharisee fasted twice a week. The farmer at harvest time was to give the tenth part of his main crops but the Pharisee would go beyond that and pay from his own pocket for other farmers (Deut. 14: 22-27). However, in spite of his moral integrity, the Pharisee takes up the wrong attitude in the sight of God (Luke 18: 9-14). What was his mistake? He went to the temple thinking wrongly that his good deeds would merit him a good standing before God.
The Pharisee practiced a religion of merits; wrongfully thinking that because he was a man full of good deeds, he had an automatic ticket to salvation and that affected his prayer life. Anybody performing good deeds and relies solely on that to gain God’s attention, cannot merit anything in the sight of God. He must only be thankful to the God who helps him to stay on the right course to happiness. In other words, he must stay humble before God. What finally brings God’s attention to us is not our money, our good deeds, our titles, but a sincere and humble disposition before God; “For he is a God of justice who knows no favorites” (Sir: 35: 12).
The Tax Collector on the other hand! He was not the meek man that we imagine. In fact, he was an experienced thief, a heinous exploiter, a jackal. He did not steal from the rich, he exploited the poor, forcing miserable peasants to pay exorbitant taxes. Jesus was not praising the Tax Collector at all, nor does he approve of his sin. He only says that he was taking the right attitude in the sight of God. At the end of the day, that’s what matters; our attitude in the sight of God especially at prayer because a sincere attitude can turn the devil into an angel. Scripture says: “the prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal…and the Lord will not delay” (Sir. 35: 16-18).
Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Peter Obele Abue PhD, and does not represent TheLumineNews, its agent or the organisation the author works for.