Published October 28th, 2007
Gone home justified
Cannon UMC Oct. 28, 2007
Luke 18:9-14 (NRSV)
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:
10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’
13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
This is, of course, a very familiar passage. And it’s a passage we enjoy reading, because we like seeing the Pharisee get his comeuppance. It’s a typical Hollywood story. We enjoy seeing the high and mighty taken down a notch.
But when I was writing this sermon, one of the commentaries I read pointed out that we can’t get too excited about this. Jesus was trying to get us to understand how often we – you and I – play the part of the Pharisee in this little story.
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