By: The Rev. Michael Hinton
When we compare ourselves to others we get into trouble because we seldom see ourselves as others see us (or as God see us, for that matter).
The Pharisee in this passage compared himself to others. He obviously knew the law because most of the sins mentioned are in the law…except tax collecting, a legitimate government function.
The Pharisee knew something was wrong but could not quite put his finger on it, so personalized the issue by reference to similitude, something like the tax collector must be wrong, dealing with those Romans, you know? The Pharisee worked overtime in his mind to figure out just what was wrong compared to his presumably righteous life, though nowhere in the Bible does it say to fast twice a week!
Similarly, those of us aware of America’s present culture war and who take a principled pro-life and family point of view can get over-wrought about it to the point of abusing others. I have.
But where do we find freedom and peace? We find it in the attitude of the penitent one in the temple that day, who beat his chest, MEA CULPA, MEA CULPA, MEA MAXIMA CULPA.
When we see our own faults, then we know God’s grace and can extend it to others, for what is in our own hearts?
It’s the difference between approaching things from above or from below.
It’s always better from below because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. As the passage says, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Is it better to be right or redemptive? This in no way diminishes the need for just laws that protect innocent unborn children in the womb. But we do not now have that. What do we have? We have a chance up front to offer forgiveness, justification, to sinners like us in Jesus’ name.