“And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 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. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 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.

“I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” -Luke 18:9-14.

In our Lord’s parables he dealt chiefly with the Pharisees and the publicans; for the Sadducees were Jews in name only, not believing the Scriptures nor expecting a future life. The Pharisees were orthodox, reverenced the law and taught it to the people. Outwardly they were very correct; but Jesus in various parables pointed out that with many of them religion was a ceremony and the keeping of the law an outward obedience, which did not extend to the heart. The Publicans did not profess holiness; but rather confessed estrangement from God and lack of harmony with his law.

The Pharisees treated the Publicans as though they were Gentiles-refused their company and would not even eat with them. The Pharisees recognized Jesus as being exemplary, and his teachings in full accord with the highest principles. They wondered, therefore, that he did not join with them, and wondered still more that he would have fellowship with Publicans­ confessed sinners.

The secret of the matter  is that Jesus  looked not  upon the outward  appearance,  but  upon the heart. He did not love the Publicans because they were sinners, nor disapproved of the Pharisees because they outwardly kept the law. We remember the case of the young Pharisee who came to Jesus and who when questioned about the law, said, “All these things have I kept from my youth up.” We read, “Jesus beholding him loved him.” He was a sincere Pharisee.

The parable of our lesson illustrates this matter. It shows us the  heart-attitude of some of the Pharisees and of some of the despised Publicans: Both men went up to the Temple to pray. The one said in his heart, How thankful I am that I am not a sinner, like the majority of men and like this poor publican! I thank God that I am a Pharisee-that I am righteous! But the Publican felt differently. The weight of sin was upon him. He could not look up to heaven. Striking his hand on his bosom, he exclaimed, “God be merciful to me, a sinner!”

From God’s standpoint, both men were sinners-both needed forgiveness of sins. However, the one trusted in his own imperfect works, and asked no forgiveness; the other realized his blemishes, and prayed for mercy. We are not to get the impression from this that God is more pleased with people who live in sin than with those who strive to live to the best of their ability in harmony with His law. The lesson is to the contrary. We must all realize that we come short of perfection, and that we need divine mercy. The sinner who recognizes this is more pleasing to God and nearer to forgiveness than the more moral person who fails to see his blemishes.

At another time, Jesus referred to this same error of the Pharisees, saying, “The whole need not a physician,” and “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” By these words he sought to call attention to the fact that although the Pharisees claimed to be righteous, they were not so. They were sin-sick, imperfect, needing a Savior. They were not in a condition to appreciate their need and to come to the Lord for forgiveness-not until they should learn their need-that they and all other members of the fallen race are sin-sick and need the remedy which only Jesus can give.

Not realizing their need, the Pharisees did not come to Jesus, did not become his disciples; and thereby they missed a great blessing. On the contrary the majority of Jesus’ followers were made up of publicans and sinners-people who had not been living proper lives, but who were earnest, who acknowledged their faults, turned from them, and accepted the forgiveness and healing of the Good Physician.

Both classes are still represented in the world, amongst Christians. Some are trusting in their church membership, their benevolence and general morality, for salvation, and ignoring the  fact that all are sinners, and that forgiveness of sin is obtainable only through faith in the crucified One. Others today, not so conspicuous in religious circles, are all the more ready to discern their own weaknesses, to confess them, and to accept forgiveness of sins and everlasting life as unmerited gifts of God based upon the sacrifice at Calvary. These latter, we may be sure, will have much advantage every way over the others as respects divine acceptance to joint-heirship with Christ in his kingdom.

The general lesson to us all is expressed by the Apostles James and Peter: “God resisteth the proud, but showeth his favor to the humble” -the penitent. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” Confess your sins, strive manfully against them, and trust for deliverance, ultimate victory, and life everlasting through the merit of the crucified One, whose footsteps you seek to follow.

R 5464 (1914)