The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Jesus had been teaching about the Kingdom of God.  Mostly he had been teaching how the Kingdom of God was nothing like what people assumed it was like.  It wasn't a place that one could "get into"; Jesus said it was already among us.  There were no signs that would tell us when it was coming; we wouldn't understand the signs if there were.  We would long to see the Kingdom of God, but it wouldn't appear to us, but then when we least expected it, we would be there.  Jesus asserted that we must, like the persistent widow, pray always and never lose heart.

Jesus noticed that some of the people listening to him were very self assured.  The Pharisees thought that because they followed all the rules from the Bible exactly the way they read them and that because they were direct descendants from Abraham, they didn't have to worry about the Kingdom of God.  The Pharisees thought they were righteous enough and didn't have to listen to Jesus.  But they treated other people, poor people, uneducated people, people who were not as religious, and people who had different ethnic and religious backgrounds with contempt.

So Jesus told this parable:

"Two men went up to the temple to pray.  One was a Pharisee and the other a Tax collector.  The Pharisee knew he was well respected.  But everyone hates a Tax Collector.

"The Pharisee stood aside and prayed aloud, 'Lord, I'm so glad that I am better than other people…"

"While the Tax collector prayed, 'Into your hands I place my life, O God; to you, I give my soul.'

"The Pharisee prayed out loud, 'Lord, I'm glad I'm not like thieves, rogues or adulterers!'

"While the Tax collector prayed, 'Into your hands I place my life, O God; to you, I give my soul.'

"The Pharisee prayed out loud, 'Lord, I'm glad I'm not like this worthless Tax Collector who takes money from Jews and gives it to the Romans while pocketing a large cut for himself!'

"While the Tax collector prayed, 'Into your hands I place my life, O God; to you, I give my soul.'

"The Pharisee prayed out loud, 'Lord, I'm glad I'm not like other people who are gluttons and drunks and have no self-control; I fast twice a week!'

"While the Tax collector prayed, 'Into your hands I place my life, O God; to you, I give my soul.'

"The Pharisee prayed out loud, 'Lord, I'm glad I'm not like people who are cheep and selfish and do not honour your presence: I give a tenth of all my income to the Temple!'

"While the Tax collector prayed, 'Into your hands I place my life, O God; to you, I give my soul.'

"It is the Tax Collector rather than the Pharisee who is in right relationship with God.  Because those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted."