Adapted from “L’osservatore del sabato, Vol. 40, No. 4”
“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 every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth him-self shall be exalted.” Luke 18:9–14
Dear readers, how many times have we read this parable? How many times have we heard it read in church or quoted it
ourselves during a reflection? Presumably, many times. Rightfully so, you might say—it is one of the most famous parables Jesus told and, in some ways, also one of the most striking. It clearly shows the difference between self-righteousness and the grace of God. But that is not the main focus here. Instead, we will reflect on why Jesus told this parable in the first place. The reason is found in verse 9: “And He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.” What drove Jesus to tell this parable was prejudice and the sense of superiority that arises in some hearts.
Let us read another parable:
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24–27.
This parable is also very well known. Once again, Jesus leaves His listeners with an important and foundational teaching. What connection ties these two parables together? Let us look at a few verses earlier in the same chapter of Matthew to better understand the context:
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1–5
There is something we often fail to realize in our Christian walk: the Pharisee is me.
What does this mean? Often, when we read these parables or reflect on them, we instinctively identify with the publican or the wise man who built his house on the rock. We assume we are on the right side, doing the right thing. Rarely do we see ourselves in the foolish man who built on sand or in the Pharisee. And yet, the reality is that more often, we are the Pharisee rather than the publican. As a result, we are quick to judge, quick to point fingers, and we feel superior to those around us. Deep inside, we think our condition is not so bad, and in fact, we are keen and quick to spot the faults and flaws in others. But Jesus said, “with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged.” We become our own standard.
How often do the calls and appeals from God really touch us? When reproofs, admonitions, and warnings come, do we truly feel they are directed at us? Or do the words simply roll off, because we think we’re doing fine?
“Though I should die with Thee, yet will I not deny Thee.” Matthew 26:35. Do you remember these words? Peter said them after Jesus warned him that he would deny Him. But Peter, like many of us, was self-confident. He would never deny the Master. He was not like the others—he would not run. That is what he believed in his heart. But Jesus warned him: “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41. Peter did not realize his true condition—just as many of us today fail to see ours. When the warnings come from the Lord, we think they are meant for someone else. We feel strong and ready. Nothing could ever make us flee from Christ. But we do not realize we are relying on our own strength, not on the strength of the One who gave His life for us. And our strength is not enough—in fact, it often fails us completely.
“And he is full of self-praise. He looks it, he walks it, he prays it. Drawing apart from others as if to say, ‘Come not near to me; for I am holier than thou’ (Isaiah 65:5), he stands and prays ‘with himself.’ Wholly self-satisfied, he thinks that God and men regard him with the same complacency. . . . Whoever trusts in himself that he is righteous, will despise others. As the Pharisee judges himself by other men, so he judges other men by himself. His righteousness is estimated by theirs, and the worse they are the more righteous by contrast he appears. His self-righteousness leads to accusing. ‘Other men’ he condemns as transgressors of God’s law. Thus he is making manifest the very spirit of Satan, the accuser of the brethren. . . . For each of the classes represented by the Pharisee and the publican there is a lesson in the history of the apostle Peter. In his early discipleship Peter thought himself strong. Like the Pharisee, in his own estimation he was ‘not as other men are.’ When Christ on the eve of His betrayal forewarned His disciples, ‘All ye shall be offended because of Me this night,’ Peter confidently declared, ‘Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.’ Mark 14:27, 29. Peter did not know his own danger. Self-confidence misled him. He thought himself able to withstand temptation; but in a few short hours the test came, and with cursing and swearing he denied his Lord. . . . The evil that led to Peter’s fall and that shut out the Pharisee from communion with God is proving the ruin of thousands today. There is nothing so offensive to God or so dangerous to the human soul as pride and self-sufficiency. Of all sins it is the most hopeless, the most incurable.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 150–154
We today are not immune to these same feelings. The Lord’s warning to the church of Laodicea still applies: “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Revelation 3:17. These words are directed at us, yet though we often repeat them, they rarely move us deeply. We fail to see our real condition and how desperately we need God’s mercy.
Our attitude risks following the path of the rich young ruler: he thought he was already keeping all of God’s commandments. But when Jesus pointed out what he lacked—when He touched his exposed nerve—the young man went away sorrowful. Let us not make the same mistake. Let us not lull ourselves in the comfort of self-sufficiency.
Matthew chapter 7 gives us further light: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13–14
Notice those words: not only do few walk the narrow path, but few even find it. The narrow way must be found. Are we sure we have truly found it? Are we sure of the path we are on? Perhaps we think we are headed the right way and look down on others, assuming we are walking the road of salvation. But we need to open our eyes; we need to buy eye salve from the Master “that thou mayest see.” Revelation 3:18. We must examine ourselves in light of Christ’s character. Then we will see our flaws, and we will feel our need for His mercy and grace.
“Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:17–20
Let us ask ourselves: what are my fruits? What am I doing with the talents God has given me? If we are truly walking the narrow path—if we are indeed the publican, or the wise man who built on the rock, or the faithful disciple following Christ—then where are our fruits?
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5
“Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21–23
These are the words with which Christ ends His discourse before the parable. They are strong and hard to hear—but they must lead us to true self-examination. They must prompt us to ask: where am I building my house? How do I pray? How do I judge those around me? Am I truly walking the narrow way? Have I found it? For whom and for what am I labouring? Where are my thoughts and energies directed?
Brothers and sisters, let us not feel secure just because we go to church on Sabbath or because of the truth we know. Unless there is a change in our lives—unless we are grafted into Christ—we are still in danger.
Let us open our eyes. Christianity begins with honest self-awareness; recognizing our true condition is necessary in order to feel our need for Christ. We must look into the mirror of God’s law, we must compare ourselves with His character. Only then will the darkness that blinds us begin to lift, and we will see ourselves as we really are. Then, having seen ourselves, we will run to Christ for cleansing, to be clothed in His righteousness and washed in His blood.
So my final appeal to each of us is this: let us recognize that I am the Pharisee in the parable, I am the one building my house on the sand, and I am the one in desperate need of Christ’s transforming power. Let us pray to the Lord and allow ourselves to be changed, so that we will no longer be lukewarm, but decisively and fully committed to Christ. Amen.
By Emanuel Ciprio (Italy)