THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: - Vital Christianity

174The Pharisee and the tax collector in this story show the vast contrast between a personwho is full of himself and one who feels his unworthiness very deeply. While the Pharisees weremembers of a very conservative party of the Jews who believed in meticulous observance ofGod's law, the tax collectors followed the rules of their Roman oppressors since it was their jobto collect taxes for the Romans. They would collect the tolls, taxes and tariffs from the people.Therefore, they were considered turncoats, traitors and also cheaters because they wouldsometimes assess more taxes than was legal and keep the extra money for themselves.Furthermore, if a person couldn't or refused to pay what they demanded, they would turn himover to the soldiers.Extortion and threats were the name of the game. Is it any wonder that the tax collectorswere considered the scum of the earth?A SELF-RIGHTEOUS PRAYER (18:12)Self-righteousness often shows up in our praying. It is certainly evident in the prayer ofthis Pharisee:“ The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I amnot like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this taxcollector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get‘” (vv. 11-12).When the Jews prayed they often stood, looked up to heaven and prayed out loud withtheir hands raised. The devout Jews prayed three times daily: 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. Prayerwas considered especially effective if it was offered in the Temple. This is why at these timesmany went up to the Temple courts to pray.Luke points out that he "prayed about himself." Instead of thanking God for Hisblessings, he thanks Him that he isn’t a sinner like others, that is, robbers, evildoers andadulterers.If such a display of self-righteousness were not enough, he goes on and reminds Godhow pious he is since he fasts “twice a week and give[s] a tenth of all [he] gets” (v. 12). ThePharisees developed the practice of fasting on Mondays and Thursdays to intercede for the nationas a whole and thereby exceeded the requirements of the law in this regard. Such religiousdevotion is in contrast to the one fast a year on the Day of Atonement required of Jews{Lev16:29} Only those who wished to gain special merit would also fast on Mondays and Thursdays