A Story About the Pharisee and the Tax Collector—Luke 18:9-14
Note: This article is an attempt to reflect on a scene from the Bible. It does not assert any specific denomination or position; please read it while respecting the freedom of religion, thought, and conscience.
Introduction
The "Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector" recorded in Luke 18 is one of the most striking of Jesus' parables that question the essence of faith.
This short parable features two characters: one is a Pharisee who strives to keep the Law, and the other is a tax collector who stands before God while being aware of his own sin.
Through the prayers of these two men, Jesus poses a fundamental question to us: "What is righteousness before God?" Superficial goodness versus inner humility—which is accepted by God? Also, what kind of attitude of heart is considered righteous before God?
Here, while organizing the backgrounds of the Pharisee and the tax collector, I would like to reconsider what the "righteousness before God" that Jesus spoke of really is.
Luke 18:9-14
Jesus told this parable to some who were confident in their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said,
'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
Reflection 1
Luke 18:9-14 contains the famous parable of the "Pharisee and the Tax Collector." This short story impressively conveys how important the "attitude of the heart" is in faith.
Here, I would like to briefly organize the two characters who appear—the Pharisee and the tax collector—and then consider what this parable teaches us.
1-1. Who is a Pharisee?
The "Pharisee" refers to people belonging to the Pharisee sect within Judaism. They had a strong commitment to keeping the Law, that is, God's commandments, down to the smallest detail. They took pride in strictly observing purification regulations and Sabbath rules in their daily lives, and they held a position of respect in the Jewish society of that time.
However, in the Gospels, Jesus often criticized the Pharisees severely. This can be understood as being because they were obsessed with keeping external forms and had lost the heart to humble themselves before God. It can be thought that in their pursuit of "righteousness," their faith led them to look down on others and distance themselves from God's love.
1-2. Who is a tax collector?
On the other hand, a "tax collector" refers to people who collected taxes under the Roman Empire at that time. Since the land of Judea was under the rule of the Roman Empire, tax collectors were people who worked for foreign rulers even though they were fellow Jews. It is said that some of them collected extra taxes to increase their own share. For this reason, they were considered "traitors" and "sinners" in Jewish society and were intensely hated by the people.
However, in this parable, that "tax collector" stands at a distance, bows his head deeply before God, beats his breast, and prays, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." There is no looking down on others or boasting of righteousness there. There is only the figure of one who acknowledges his own sin before God and asks for forgiveness.
1-3. "Righteousness" before God
At the end of this parable, Jesus said that it was the tax collector who was justified. This means that what God looks at is not external goodness in actions or forms, but honesty and humility of heart.
In the world of faith, it is said that "everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." While this saying can be understood as a life lesson, it is also a profound truth that strikes at the essence of faith. In the Kingdom of God, those who act haughtily on earth will be humbled, and those who were looked down upon will be exalted. It feels as though it is saying that such a reversal of values occurs in the Kingdom of God.
I believe that we ourselves also have moments in our daily lives where we think, "I am more righteous than someone else" or "I am better than someone else." However, it is thought that the one who is justified before God is not the one who boasts of their righteousness, but the one who is aware of the unrighteousness within themselves.
Reflection Part 2
Through the story of "The Prayer of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector," I believe many people learn that "a humble heart is more important than formalistic faith." However, as I have read this passage over and over, there were times when I thought the following.
──Should we really just consider the Pharisee as an evil existence?
Using this question as a starting point, I would like to think about this parable from a slightly "reverse perspective."
2-1. On the goodness of the Pharisee
First, I think we must not forget that the actions of the Pharisee himself were, as far as they appeared outwardly, good. It can be understood that they kept the law, fasted, gave tithes, and aimed for a morally pure life. If there were people like them in modern Japan, they might have been called "moral role models," "high achievers," or "elite figures."
It also seems possible to think that Jesus told this parable not to completely deny their actions, but to show that the values of the Kingdom of God transcend "common-sense goodness."
2-2. Imagining the opposite parable
What if the situation were the opposite?
Even if it were one person out of ten, if a certain Pharisee were a person who did not boast of his own righteousness, but quietly acknowledged his own incompleteness or faults before God and prayed, "God, have mercy on me," what then? It might be possible to think that such a person was the one who was justified.
Conversely, if there were a tax collector who did not reflect on his own actions, took it for granted to steal, and yet prayed while believing "I am a good person," it might be considered that even if he were a "vulnerable person" socially, he was not justified before God.
Thinking about it this way, it seems that this parable is not merely a dualism of "Pharisee = evil, tax collector = good," but a story that questions "how anyone stands before God."
2-3. Jesus and the Pharisees—On interest in the other
In the Gospels, it can be said that Jesus often threw harsh words at the Pharisees. He called them "hypocrites" and said, "You are clean on the outside, but inside you are full of filth." However, the fact that he repeated such warnings so many times seems to be evidence that Jesus held a special interest in them.
Perhaps it is also possible to understand that Jesus was calling out to them with the strongest words precisely because he was close to them. It might be possible to think that even behind the harsh words, there was a possibility that a call such as "Wake up" or "Stand in true righteousness" was resonating.
I also think that by not unilaterally making the Pharisee a villain and thinking from the opposite position, the words of the Bible might become more three-dimensional.
It seems that what Jesus showed was not a simple contrast between good and evil, but the truth that no matter how righteous a person may appear, or how sinful a person may appear, they are all invited in the same way before God.
I think it is possible to consider that this parable was not only "told to teach using the Pharisee as a negative example," but also "told to teach and admonish the Pharisee as well."