The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector ~ Reflection

Luke 18: 9-14
New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
 

This parable is a reminder to all of us to stay humble and kind and to never judge the other people from their shortcomings and mistakes. Reading the Words of the Lord, living with it day by day, helping the poor and being honest with our offerings are indeed the righteous way to live but it still neither sets us apart nor above the other people who are doing differently. Just because they are not as righteous as we think we are we can already look on them as some untouchable, hopeless, sinner people. Most people tend to lose the spirit of righteousness and value themselves greater than the rest who do less. They are living with the thought that since they are doing their duties of being a good Christian they are now the more favoured individuals. 

Brothers and Sisters in faith, sometimes we tend to forget ourselves and become condemnatory in our thoughts and words like the Pharisee in the parable. Thus, we must always keep in mind that we are in no place to judge and criticize others for the wrong that they have done, but let Him the Lord our God judge them. We might have never known it but our sins could be more terrible than these people whom we thought are worse than us. 

The tax collector in the story could have really done something that is worth a hundred times of punishing and the Pharisee might be right about his judgment on him, however, by thinking in such a way, the Pharisee is committing sin against his neighbour and that made him no less than the sinner that he judged. 

Most people must be guilty about this kind of thing. We exalted ourselves for being dutiful to our Christian responsibilities, we already feel like we are raised above the others who are not doing the same things that we do, then we eventually feel proud about it. Sadly but it really happened to many of our brothers and sisters. Where is the essence of being righteous there? We all know how being proud attracts all the tendencies to be arrogant, big-headed, and conceited. 

Humble yourself and understand those who are not yet enlightened by the Words of God. Instead of judging them, pray for them. Instead of sending them away, try your best to understand them and help them get through their test by sharing to them the good news. Instead of looking down on them, extend them your hand and pull them up to where you are. We are just no one but we became someone when we finally welcome the Lord to our heart thus, we must not set ourselves above from the others who are sinners like us. We must be the one to understand them the better because we used to be in their shoes before. Maybe not as worse as their situations are but we’ve been there and we know how terrible and dark it is to live a life that is not submitted to God.