NOTES for Luk 18:9-14
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: |
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. |
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. |
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. |
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon 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 every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. |
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The parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee was told to those "who were confident in themselves that they were righteous and despised others." And really, how can one be righteous while despising other people? One cannot. But one can simply fail to see something in oneself...
The Pharisee thanks God. And who knows what there is more of in this prayer: boasting and pride in his beloved self, or sincere gratitude to God for giving strength to fulfill the commandments, and for the fact that the Pharisee himself was born into a normal family and not into some family of robbers? But in his prayer he condemns not only sin, but also the sinner, as if raising himself up at another's expense. And when we condemn, there becomes one fewer person among those who allow for the possibility that a person can be corrected.
The Lord calls us to leave open the path to repentance and the mercy of God. We do not. Not to mention that through us the Lord can no longer help anyone, neither ourselves nor the people near us.
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