The Pharisee and the Tax Collector Luke 18:9-14

Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz

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To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone
else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee
and the other a tax collector. 11 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. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13 "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.' 14 "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." (Lk. 18:9-14 NIV)

The Greek educational methodology teaches that the humble tax collector is the one Yeshua
determines will get into heaven because the Pharisee boasts about his being in alignment with
the Laws of the Torah. A great number of books on the Parables will say the same thing.
Using Hebraic study methods we can discover what a first century listener heard. Yeshua is
adding a clause to the Laws of the Torah. First the Pharisee. Going to the Temple to pray the
Pharisee offered prayers that he was a good Jew by following the Laws of the Torah. This is an
echo of the Hebrew Scriptures.1 The Pharisee was doing exactly what the Law says.
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Then say to the LORD your God: "I have removed from my house the sacred portion
and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, according to
all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any
of them. 14 I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while I was in mourning, nor have I
removed any of it while I was unclean, nor have I offered any of it to the dead. I have
obeyed the LORD my God; I have done everything you commanded me. 15 Look down
from heaven, your holy dwelling place, and bless your people Israel and the land you have
given us as you promised on oath to our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey."
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The LORD your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully
observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deut. 26:13-16 NIV)
You can read several of the verses before 26:13 and see the commands of what to do for the
Lord before making the boast. Therefore, the Pharisee was simply following the Laws. Pharisees
get a bad rap with Christians because the Greek interpretation (or you can say western
interpretation) always makes them look bad. In this case the Pharisee was doing what was right.
The tax collector was also doing the right thing. His pray is an echo of Psalm 51.2
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For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only,
have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and
justified when you judge. (Ps. 51:3-4 NIV)
So coming before the Lord in prayer to confess sin and to ask for forgiveness is also biblical. So
Yeshua has placed two persons each doing what the Scriptures call for against each other. What
did Yeshuas listeners hear? Yeshua is giving us an extension to the Law. Following the Law is

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2

Interpreting the Parables, Craig Blomberg, pg. 343

IBID, pg. 346

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extremely important. However, admitting to ones sin and praying for Gods salvation and
forgiveness is also important. Admitting to sin is a necessary component of our salvation.
Who can follow all the Laws of the Torah? Yeshua would be the only one who could. Since the
rest of us cannot follow all the Laws perfectly we need to accept that we do sin and those who
are willing to admit to our sin will be the ones who will receive forgiveness and salvation.
So for the listeners of Yeshua they received a new learning about the Scriptures. It is important
to follow the Laws and come before God and confess sin and repent.

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