Two prayers, two perspectives, and a challenge for us to choose
By Dean Collins
Some of us have read and reread our Bibles over and over again. The discipline of reading Scripture regularly can help us develop good theology and assist us in understanding the whole narrative of God’s grand plan for all creation. However, if we are not careful, we can fall into the same trap of some Pharisees Jesus denounced.
Spiritual elite?
The scribes and Pharisees spent their lives both studying and memorizing the law of God. They could quote Scripture as easily as you can quote your phone number. Their problem was that in mastering all of the minutiae, they had failed to grasp the nature of God. Their focus on the details blinded them from seeing and knowing the richness of God’s love, grace, and mercy.
Their confidence in their knowledge created a blind spot about their pride and arrogance. They genuinely saw themselves as the spiritual elite. So it doesn’t surprise us, then, that when Jesus said things that didn’t fit their preconceived perceptions and understanding, they would react negatively, even angrily.
Several of the parables Jesus told had some sting in them. I think it might be wise to consider that some of the sting wasn’t just for the Pharisees. Since the Word of God is living and active, some of the sting might be for us as well. We certainly have the same potential and at times the same practice of thinking too much of our spiritual knowledge, which can lead to spiritual pride.
Two prayers
In Luke 18 we find the parable Jesus told about two men who went to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. We might picture the two as a preacher/priest and a thief or criminal. The visual of a professional saint and a professional crook praying side by side is intentional on the part of Jesus.
The parable has us overhearing the prayers these two offered. And quickly we are disgusted with the pride and arrogance of the Pharisee as he prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” And then we are touched by the humility of the known sinner who prayed, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
Humility is the beginning place and the ending place in our relationship with God.
Pointing fingers
It is easy to read this passage and decide, Jesus really told them! And if that is what we do, then we have likely drifted to the same place of stubborn arrogance that characterized the Pharisees. In our current cultural moment, it is easy to point our fingers at the many people who are clearly wrong on everything from politics and economics to sexuality. I suspect we often see other people as obviously wrong just as we think we have it all figured out and are completely aligned with God and Scripture.
We might even be right with some or much of our understanding of Scripture and how it applies to various issues in society. But even if we are right, I can assure you that arrogance and pride have no place in the Christian life. Humility is, however, the beginning place and the ending place in our relationship with God. Whatever we think we know and understand about God and his plans is only a fragment of who he is and a sliver of how he is working in the world to bring about the full renewal and restoration of his creation.
Lord, today we confess we have often stood in the place of the Pharisee thinking we are fully aligned with you. We acknowledge that our pride and arrogance have caused us to look with disgust and judgment on others. Forgive us. We humbly ask that you be merciful with us. We surrender our lives to you today. Open our eyes to see our pride and fill us with compassion for those around us who struggle with needs and issues different than ours. May we demonstrate mercy with everyone we encounter today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your time with God’s Word
Luke 18:9-14 ESV
Photos by YUXUAN WANG and nega on Unsplash
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