9 Also He
spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous,
and despised others: 10 “Two
men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax
collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with
himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust,
adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all
that I possess.’ 13 And
the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise 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, and he who humbles
himself will be exalted.”
Commentary
Vs. 9 “Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others”
Now in course of exhorting us all to seeking God in prayer, the Lord Jesus Christ now speaks a parable to those who trusted in themselves, that they were righteous, and despised others. For so it is wherever men and woman practice faith in God, there will be those who will think that by their doing so that they have made themselves righteous in the sight of God. Now when that happens, they will inevitably despise (turn up their noses at) those who have not done so, at least not done so according to what they themselves have done and are trusting in. And so that is who the Lord Jesus Christ is addressing His parable too, those who by way of their own works, righteousness, or obedience think that they have made themselves righteous in the sight of God, and thus are only trusting in themselves and not in God. And so, it is when someone trusts in themselves, in whatever they have done, or are doing, or whatever they are, they will inevitably start seeing themselves as being better than others. However, as the blameless and righteous Job had to discover for himself, God does not justify those who justify themselves. And so, God had to bring Job to the place where He could see himself as he really is, before He could have mercy on him and restore him to Himself. And of course, the Apostle Paul who before his own repentance and faith was a blameless Pharisee according to strictest sect of the Jews religion, and yet in all his religious zeal and obedience he never knew the love or the grace of God until He encountered the Lord Jesus Christ on the Damascus road, and when he did so and his eyes were opened to whom he was hating and persecuting, he repented and he believed, and so he went from being an enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ and His church to its greatest and arguably the most grateful and influential worker and ally, who then never again trusted in his Jewish pedigree, or religious obedience, but now with a clear vision of what he had done, he only saw himself as the chief of sinners saved by the grace of God, so that God could now present him as an example of His great mercies that are being freely extended to one and to all, who likewise repent and believe (See 1 Tim 1:15; also 1 Cor. 15:9-11; Phil. 3:4-9 etc.). And that is the grand Spiritual truth that the Lord Jesus Christ is revealing here in His parable, that God does not justify those who justify themselves, rather God only justifies those who see themselves as they really are, as sinners and transgressors, incapable of redeeming or changing themselves. Therefore, only those who see themselves as they really are, dead in their own sins and transgressions, and thus in need of salvation from God through the Lord Jesus Christ and His Righteousness alone, and thus His Holy Spirit changing and transforming and ultimately sanctifying them, will have it! And that is what I hope you take away from this commentary, that there is hope and salvation for everyone who sees themselves as they truly are and repents and believes!
Vs. 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.”
And so, to being His Parable, the Lord Jesus now tells us of two men, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector. Now from all outward appearances these two men were at the extreme ends of what people thought a righteous person was. A Pharisee of course was a very strict religious individual, who sought to live his life dedicated to observing the Law of God and serving Him through it. And so, amongst the Jews, the Pharisees where held in very high regard. Now at the other end of the spectrum was the tax collector, who though being taken from amongst them, were only highly despised by their Jewish brethren, because not only did they collect Rome’s taxes from them, which they did with the full power and force of Rome behind them, but they could also collect over and above what was required to make more profit for themselves. And so, tax collectors were held as being maybe one step above as being traitors to the nation of Israel. Now not all tax collectors were unjust, and certainly they were not all traitors, indeed Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus reveals as much (Luke 19:1-9). Similarity not all Pharisees were righteous and just men, Jesus’ many encounters and rebukes of them reveals that enough, that they could be exceedingly self-righteous, unjust and cruel. And so, it is these two men at opposite ends of the spectrum, whom Jews regarded the one as being righteous, and the other as being evil in the sight of God, now appear at the same time in the Temple to pray.
Vs. 11-12 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
Now Jesus mentions the Pharisee first, saying that he stood and prayed thus within himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And so the Pharisees’ prayer begins with “thanksgiving”, but not to God for who He is, and what He does, but only for who the Pharisee sees himself as not being! For the Pharisees thanks God that he is not like other men who are, “extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.” Also saying, “I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.” And so, in doing so, he is basically praising and justifying himself for what he has done, and does not do! The Pharisee then reveals not a love for God and His goodness and mercies and truth, but only an utterly arrogant and self-deceived attitude about himself, by comparing himself to others whom he considers far less righteous than himself, and then justifying himself by declaring his own works and deeds. Something that is not unique to him, but can manifest itself in our own hearts, minds, and lives, if we too likewise start to judge and despise others, forgetting that we also have many faults, failings, and short comings, and that we too were once dead in our own sins and transgressions, and so we (like all people who repent and believe) are only saved by the grace, goodness, and righteousness of God. For no one can stand justified in the presence of God based upon their own righteousness, works, achievements, or “merits” (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 3:19-28; 4:4-5 etc.). For you either stand on the Righteousness of God given us by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ Crucified and Risen from the dead, or you stand alone!
Vs. 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
Jesus, having told us of the Pharisees prayer to God, now tells us of the tax collectors prayer, saying: And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ What a contrast! For the tax collector does not even feel worthy to be in the Temple of God, for Jesus says of him, that he stands afar off, separate from the religious throng, because he knows he is not welcome there, like the seeking sinner standing at the back of church looking for any signs of hope, mercy, or acceptance for himself. And so standing afar off, far out of view of the religious crowd, feeling the weight and guilt of his own sins, he cannot even bring himself to raise his eyes to heaven, (which was the standard posture of those praying to God in heaven), but instead in a moment of heart poured out frustration, desperation and plea, he beats on his chest and says, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ For that’s all he can muster, and that’s all he can say, because he knows he doesn’t have a leg to stand on, either before God, or those present there.
Vs. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus then having revealed to us the prayers of the Pharisee and the Tax collector, now says of the tax collector that, I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” And so in a stunning reversal of thought of and established norms, Jesus says that the repentant and broken sinner, who had nothing to justify himself before God with, and so he threw himself on the mercies of God, went down to his house justified in the sight of God! While the Pharisee who had all the religious prestige and accolades as being thought of as a Godly person did not. For he only exalted himself in the Presence of God by declaring all of his own righteousness and deeds to Him. In fact, the Pharisee feeling so self-assured about himself before God saw no need for God to have mercy on him, because he was basically trusting in himself, in who he was, and what he did. While the tax collector knowing his own sinfulness greatly humbled himself in the Presence of God. Therefore, he went away justified by God for he greatly humbled himself! And that is the Spiritual truth that is to be received and believed and obeyed by us all, for as Jesus warns us all in concluding His parable, “for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” There is then no rejection or shame when anyone comes openly and honestly and humbly to God.
Scripture Quotations
Commentary
Vs. 9 “Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others”
Now in course of exhorting us all to seeking God in prayer, the Lord Jesus Christ now speaks a parable to those who trusted in themselves, that they were righteous, and despised others. For so it is wherever men and woman practice faith in God, there will be those who will think that by their doing so that they have made themselves righteous in the sight of God. Now when that happens, they will inevitably despise (turn up their noses at) those who have not done so, at least not done so according to what they themselves have done and are trusting in. And so that is who the Lord Jesus Christ is addressing His parable too, those who by way of their own works, righteousness, or obedience think that they have made themselves righteous in the sight of God, and thus are only trusting in themselves and not in God. And so, it is when someone trusts in themselves, in whatever they have done, or are doing, or whatever they are, they will inevitably start seeing themselves as being better than others. However, as the blameless and righteous Job had to discover for himself, God does not justify those who justify themselves. And so, God had to bring Job to the place where He could see himself as he really is, before He could have mercy on him and restore him to Himself. And of course, the Apostle Paul who before his own repentance and faith was a blameless Pharisee according to strictest sect of the Jews religion, and yet in all his religious zeal and obedience he never knew the love or the grace of God until He encountered the Lord Jesus Christ on the Damascus road, and when he did so and his eyes were opened to whom he was hating and persecuting, he repented and he believed, and so he went from being an enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ and His church to its greatest and arguably the most grateful and influential worker and ally, who then never again trusted in his Jewish pedigree, or religious obedience, but now with a clear vision of what he had done, he only saw himself as the chief of sinners saved by the grace of God, so that God could now present him as an example of His great mercies that are being freely extended to one and to all, who likewise repent and believe (See 1 Tim 1:15; also 1 Cor. 15:9-11; Phil. 3:4-9 etc.). And that is the grand Spiritual truth that the Lord Jesus Christ is revealing here in His parable, that God does not justify those who justify themselves, rather God only justifies those who see themselves as they really are, as sinners and transgressors, incapable of redeeming or changing themselves. Therefore, only those who see themselves as they really are, dead in their own sins and transgressions, and thus in need of salvation from God through the Lord Jesus Christ and His Righteousness alone, and thus His Holy Spirit changing and transforming and ultimately sanctifying them, will have it! And that is what I hope you take away from this commentary, that there is hope and salvation for everyone who sees themselves as they truly are and repents and believes!
Vs. 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.”
And so, to being His Parable, the Lord Jesus now tells us of two men, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector. Now from all outward appearances these two men were at the extreme ends of what people thought a righteous person was. A Pharisee of course was a very strict religious individual, who sought to live his life dedicated to observing the Law of God and serving Him through it. And so, amongst the Jews, the Pharisees where held in very high regard. Now at the other end of the spectrum was the tax collector, who though being taken from amongst them, were only highly despised by their Jewish brethren, because not only did they collect Rome’s taxes from them, which they did with the full power and force of Rome behind them, but they could also collect over and above what was required to make more profit for themselves. And so, tax collectors were held as being maybe one step above as being traitors to the nation of Israel. Now not all tax collectors were unjust, and certainly they were not all traitors, indeed Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus reveals as much (Luke 19:1-9). Similarity not all Pharisees were righteous and just men, Jesus’ many encounters and rebukes of them reveals that enough, that they could be exceedingly self-righteous, unjust and cruel. And so, it is these two men at opposite ends of the spectrum, whom Jews regarded the one as being righteous, and the other as being evil in the sight of God, now appear at the same time in the Temple to pray.
Vs. 11-12 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
Now Jesus mentions the Pharisee first, saying that he stood and prayed thus within himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And so the Pharisees’ prayer begins with “thanksgiving”, but not to God for who He is, and what He does, but only for who the Pharisee sees himself as not being! For the Pharisees thanks God that he is not like other men who are, “extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.” Also saying, “I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.” And so, in doing so, he is basically praising and justifying himself for what he has done, and does not do! The Pharisee then reveals not a love for God and His goodness and mercies and truth, but only an utterly arrogant and self-deceived attitude about himself, by comparing himself to others whom he considers far less righteous than himself, and then justifying himself by declaring his own works and deeds. Something that is not unique to him, but can manifest itself in our own hearts, minds, and lives, if we too likewise start to judge and despise others, forgetting that we also have many faults, failings, and short comings, and that we too were once dead in our own sins and transgressions, and so we (like all people who repent and believe) are only saved by the grace, goodness, and righteousness of God. For no one can stand justified in the presence of God based upon their own righteousness, works, achievements, or “merits” (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 3:19-28; 4:4-5 etc.). For you either stand on the Righteousness of God given us by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ Crucified and Risen from the dead, or you stand alone!
Vs. 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
Jesus, having told us of the Pharisees prayer to God, now tells us of the tax collectors prayer, saying: And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ What a contrast! For the tax collector does not even feel worthy to be in the Temple of God, for Jesus says of him, that he stands afar off, separate from the religious throng, because he knows he is not welcome there, like the seeking sinner standing at the back of church looking for any signs of hope, mercy, or acceptance for himself. And so standing afar off, far out of view of the religious crowd, feeling the weight and guilt of his own sins, he cannot even bring himself to raise his eyes to heaven, (which was the standard posture of those praying to God in heaven), but instead in a moment of heart poured out frustration, desperation and plea, he beats on his chest and says, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ For that’s all he can muster, and that’s all he can say, because he knows he doesn’t have a leg to stand on, either before God, or those present there.
Vs. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus then having revealed to us the prayers of the Pharisee and the Tax collector, now says of the tax collector that, I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” And so in a stunning reversal of thought of and established norms, Jesus says that the repentant and broken sinner, who had nothing to justify himself before God with, and so he threw himself on the mercies of God, went down to his house justified in the sight of God! While the Pharisee who had all the religious prestige and accolades as being thought of as a Godly person did not. For he only exalted himself in the Presence of God by declaring all of his own righteousness and deeds to Him. In fact, the Pharisee feeling so self-assured about himself before God saw no need for God to have mercy on him, because he was basically trusting in himself, in who he was, and what he did. While the tax collector knowing his own sinfulness greatly humbled himself in the Presence of God. Therefore, he went away justified by God for he greatly humbled himself! And that is the Spiritual truth that is to be received and believed and obeyed by us all, for as Jesus warns us all in concluding His parable, “for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” There is then no rejection or shame when anyone comes openly and honestly and humbly to God.
Scripture Quotations
New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson
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