God, be merciful to me a sinner!

 

Icon of the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in the Temple door, Byzantine mosaic, 493-526.  Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy

 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  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.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'  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!'  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."

 

- Luke 18:9-14 

 

Yesterday we read that Jesus spoke a parable to His disciples, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying:  "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.  Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.'   And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'"  Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said.  And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?  I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.  Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

 

 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector."  My study Bible tells us that the Pharisee is highly respected and a careful observer of the details of the Law.  The tax collector, on the other hand, is despised as a sinner who collaborates with the occupying Roman forces, betraying and cheating his own people.  

"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.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'"  These practices named by the Pharisee are worthy examples to follow, and it's important that we understand it in the context of this parable as given by Christ.  His good deeds, in the words of the Pharisee, are fasting and giving tithes.  These are the primary weapons against the passions of lust and greed (adultery and extortion), my study Bible explains.  But without a humble and repentant heart, these outward practices are worthless, and they lead simply to pride and judgment of others.  Significant to note is the fact that he prays with himself.  My study Bible says that  God is absent where there is boasting.  

"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!'"  My study Bible comments that the tax collector shows by his posture an awareness of the state of his soul.  He stands far off from the altar of sacrifice, and his eyes are cast down.   His prayer, "God, be merciful to me a sinner," is the foundation of the Jesus Prayer (see 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), as is the refrain "Lord have mercy" which permeates worship and personal prayer.

"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."  To be justified is understood in the context of being face to face with Creator.  It means to be forgiven and set right with God, my study Bible explains, for inward humility is blessed while pride in outward deeds is condemned.  

My study bible comments that "inward humility is blessed while pride in outward deeds is condemned."  This is one aspect of the parable given by Christ that is frequently a part of the stories of the Gospels, and of the character of Jesus Christ.  Doing things to be noticed by others is something deeply frowned upon.  Going along with the crowds, we observe especially through the life of Jesus Christ, does not get one closer to God, and frequently leads one down the wrong path of great error.  When Jesus is approached in the temple to be tested by the Herodians and Pharisees regarding paying taxes to Caesar, they begin by saying to Him, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men" (Matthew 22:15-22).  They are trying to trick Him with the question they go on to ask about paying taxes, but the flattery remains a signal of this particular virtue that is already understood within this culture and within Judaism:  to be true and to teach the way of God in truth, to disregard "the person of men" (meaning that rank is not an object of servile obeisance) is to remain rooted in truth, to be unbiased, and not to follow the crowds nor perform apparently righteous acts simply to be seen by others or for others to have a favorable opinion of oneself.   It might be worth noting that the Herodians as well as the disciples of the Pharisees participate in this flattery, an indication that both within the Jewish tradition, and also the Greek and Roman inheritance of the Herodians, these words intended to flatter are images of what it meant to be a model of a human being and to teach truth.  In this sense, the Pharisee "prays with himself" as if to be admiring his own image in a mirror.  Absent from his prayer is a consciousness of being face to face with God, of one who is rooted in that "way of God in truth" and does not "care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men."  In fact, all he seems to really care about is his image in the light of others whom he finds inferior.  While the things he does are good practices, it's not so much that he's seeking to know that God is pleased with him, so much as it is that he's comparing himself to the tax collector and coming out with great self-approval.  The tax collector, truly and justly regarded with disdain in terms of common practices within the community, is, on the other hand, entirely justified -- because he really is in that place where he is seeking the way of God in truth and has put everything else aside:  the money he receives from his job, the power he wields, the graft that means he can put food on the table and buy property.  He can't even face God at the altar, nor stand close by.  This is about a reckoning in truth, and that is the place where Christ wants us to be.  This is the place where one does not regard the "person of men" and seeks the way of God in truth.  That is, to seek to stand face to face with God and really see where we measure up in the sight of God.  This is the place where we want to be when we pray, where we need to find out what is really what, what's important, and what is not.  This is the place where we are justified, "for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."