The scope of this parable of Jesus addresses the subject of righteousness. In the scenario He presents we see two men who goes to the temple to pray. We know who they are and for whom the message was intended. It was not the appropriate time for public prayer but these two men went up to the temple (which stood on top of a hill) to engage in personal devotion which was customary at that time. One man was a Pharisee and the other a Publican. Now the Pharisees were known for their ability to pray long prayers, but oftentimes meaningless. They were, if you will, master of words. Furthermore, they were what I would call religious perfectionists. They had a rule to govern their religious life and we know some of them sought to live up to it. This particular Pharisee stood tall. He apparently lived a clean and respectable life and took care of all his temple obligations. He was indeed a good man as least to himself. The publican and the Pharisee went up into the temple to pray but they were not friends. They lived in two different worlds. The Pharisee would not dare consider the publican, a mere tax collector, on par with himself. The publican was dirt under his feet. They were not friends though they were both seeking the favor of almighty God. The Pharisee in his prayer thanked God he was not like the publican. He wanted God to know that the publican was something less than himself and so he prays: 'God, I thank you that I am not like this tax collector. Luke 18:11. What I have said in many of my articles bears repeating. When a man stands before God, his true nature is revealed. What we are in the real sense of the word comes to surface. We do not have to tell God who we are, He KNOWS. He knows the mind and heart of man. In His presence, we cannot bluff. Most men feel in their hearts that they are just until they meet God. Then they discover sometimes to their great surprise, how far removed from God they really are. No iota of sin escapes Gods notice. Every Christian is a sinner saved by grace. We are not perfect or sinless, we are saved. Isaiah put it this way: We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; Isaiah 64:6a. This is shocking but what the prophet is saying is that righteousness from our stand point is nothing in the sight of God. Isaiah knew well what he was talking about because he himself had been in the presence of God. You recall in 6:1 when he said, In the year that King Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. In that same year and at the same time Isaiah said of himself, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts (6.5). Now, you can see why the publicans prayer went straight to the heart of God and the Pharisees prayer fell on deaf ears. When we seek the presence of a Holy God we must do so in utter humility. Who are we to address God in any other fashion? So what is righteousness? Well, lets begin by addressing what it is not. Righteousness is not simple goodness. Goodness is an element of righteousness but in itself is not righteousness. Goodness is just goodness. I have talked with people for hours on their goodness. I try to do the right things, I try to be a good person, I do good things. This is fine. Goodness is a commendable thing. A good clean life, if you will, is what God loves and men respect. Certainly superlative goodness is a rich asset in ones life. But, righteousness is not simple goodness. The Pharisee was good; they did not come any better. Any man who could stand in the presence of another and say what he said without fear of contradiction is indeed a good man. He said he was not an extortionist; he did not do anything unlawful. He did not oppress his debtors, He was law abiding in everyway and in everything. He was not unjust. He claimed to be fair and kind to all. He was not an adulterer. His marriage vows of faithfulness were untarnished. Not many people can publicly make these assertions without fear of being caught in a lie. The Pharisee was a good man, but mere goodness in no key to the Kingdom of God. Righteousness is not simple goodness. Righteousness is not being different for the sake of being different. In other words, just to say I am different from others does not mean one is righteous or justified in the sight of God. You see, it is not a matter of being different but rather what constitutes that difference and in what regard. There are thousands of people who are perfect in their living but vile in tempter and mean in heart. The Pharisee looked down on the publican with utter contempt and hatred. At this point, the Pharisee, a perfectly good man, different from the general run of men, became unacceptable to God. You cannot serve God and look down on your fellow man. Continued in Part 2. |
