This article will deal with the first three, as the last one will require a post of its own.
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican
And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying these things to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other, for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:9 - 14. Legacy Standard Bible
Who were these men?
If you haven't heard, the Pharisees were a sect within Judaism that put an emphasis on keeping the law of Moses. This emphasis goes back to when the Jews returned from the Babylonian Exile.
Before the Exile, the Jews saw themselves as God's people; living in God's land; their capital, Jerusalem, was God's city; and within that city was God's house, the Temple. They saw the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, and the Exhile as God's judgment on them for not keeping the law.
Tax collectors were called pupblicans under the Roman Empire, but they were not on the government payroll. They were contractors. They would pay the tax for a given jurisdiction, a city or a district, and then recover that plus a little bit extra from the people. They got to keep that extra for their pay.
The Roman government would specify how much that extra was. But, the tax collectors would tell the people a larger amount than what the government specified.
That was fraud, but the people couldn't do much about it. The tax collectors would be granted Roman citizenship, and so they had the backing of the Roman Army.
Most of the tax collectors in the province of Judea were Jews. The taxes they collected financed the government operations in the region, from the army to building projects, including pagan temples. The other Jews didn't like seeing their money go to pagan temples, so they saw the tax collectors as traitors to God and His people
What did these men have in common, besides being Jews?
They most likely were rich. The Pharisees made a show of their religion, and people supported them for it, having been deceived into believing these "holy men" deserved to receive money. The publican took his by force of law.
Rich people like to spend money on nice things. The best food, housing, clothes, furniture and furnishings. Also entertainment, including the proverbial wine, women, and song.
What was the major difference between these men?
Pride, humility, and how they saw God.
The Pharisee saw God as a God of Judgment. When he looked into the Old Testament, he saw God acting in judgment, from the Garden of Eden, to the Babylonian Exile. When he looked at himself, he thought he was safe from judgment not just because he kept the law, but because his "devotion" to God went beyond the law and even the Jewish traditions. When he "prayed" he didn't talk TO God, he talked AT God. That is, he assumed God would hear him because of his righteousness. Self-righteousness is spiritual or religious pride.
The tax collector knew God was a God of Judgment, but he also saw God as a God of Mercy. When he looked into the Old Testament, he saw God acting in mercy every time he saw Him acting in judgment.
His view of God caused him to humble himself, and ask God for mercy. And he received mercy!
I see these two men in the Temple. The Pharisee is standing up, ramrod straight, nose up in the air, and speaking in a loud voice, not because he wants God to hear him, but so he would impress the people.
The tax collector is probably leaning up against one of the pillars at the edge of the Temple. His eyes are bleary, his head is pounding from a hangover, and his stomach is doingsomersaults, back flips, cartwheels, and pirouettes all at the same time. He knows he can't deny what he has done, or what he is. But he also knows God will hear him! That is why he cried out for mercy.
What about the children?
In verses 15 through 17, Jesus rebukes His disciples for preventing people form bringing their children to Him. He goes on to use children as an example of humility. Notice, the children did not come on their own. Their parents brought them. The parents wanted blessings for their children, and so the children submitted to their parents first. Jesus implies that as children in humility submit to loving parents, so we must humble ourselves to God as our loving
Father to be part of His Kingdom.
Most false religions, doctrines, and practices have a false view of God. A true view of God leads to humility.
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