The Pharisee & Tax Collector: The Graciousness of God's Grace
A very non-inspired commentary of an incredible text on the gospel of free grace
This is a type of modern commentary worked into a re-telling of a famous parable. In no way, shape, or form is this meant to replace Holy Scripture. This is Scripture applied to speak to us today.
For the actual text, see Luke 18:9-14.
Jesus also told this parable to those who pridefully trusted in themselves. They thought that they, of all people, were the righteous ones—especially when they were compared with others. And this prideful self-righteousness resulted in lethal legalism and prideful prejudice against others.
“Two men went up into the temple to pray. They could not be more different from each other. One was a Pharisee. He was the type of person who you love to write recommendation letters for. His résumé is stacked. His philanthropy is unmatched. His virtue signaling is top notch. If anybody is the Christian of the Year then it is this guy.
The other guy…not so much. He was a tax collector. Let’s just put it this way: It’s virtually synonymous to say he was the chief of thieves. He’s despicable. He hangs out with the prostitutes and the pimps. Listen, he’s the type of guy that you hope fails in life. You want to see him lose. You hope his life finally catches up to him and he’s publicly made a fool.
The Pharisee goes up to pray. Now, when he goes, he stands by himself—maybe even prays to himself. This Pharisee belongs here. Temples are where you find guys like him. Matter of fact, you might even think he makes the Temple even better with him there!
So, this guy begins to pray, and here is how his prayer went:
God, I thank you that I am awesome. I’m not like anybody else in this entire Temple. They wish they were me. I wish they were like me! I’m the biggest influencer here. If you were to look down from heaven to find a reason to pour out blessings upon us you couldn’t ignore me. I’m the exact opposite of these other sinners—guys like extortioners, the unjust, adulterers, porn addicts, homosexuals, bi-sexuals, transgenders, social justice warriors, Christian nationalists, white supremacists, power abusers, and definitely this tax collector. All these guys are the worst. They’re the reason why we have so many problems in this country. But, especially this tax collector—he is truly despicable.
But me, I’m pretty proud of what I’ve become. I’ve become the best me that I can be. I fast twice a week in order to make you proud. I don’t just tithe but I tithe more than anyone else.
[He thinks to himself: Maybe when I die they’ll name this Temple after me because of how much I have given."]
His prayer continues…
If anyone points out something wrong with society, it’s me. If anyone makes sure others know what’s right and wrong, it’s me. If anyone wants to know which way to vote politically, it’s me. If anyone wants to see how to be a mature Christian, just look at me. If anyone is going to take back this country for Christ, it’s me. If anyone is going to bring social justice and love for all, it’s me. No one is more kind, nice, or politically correct than me. I am the perfect combination of a Republican and Democrat.
By the way, this is what you sound like when you trust in yourselves. But let me keep going…
Then there is the tax collector. Nope…he hasn’t run away yet. I’m sure you’re wondering why he’s in this story. These guys shouldn’t be in the Temple. They’re not holy enough. They’re one of the reasons why God hasn’t restored to us the days of David. If someone is to blame for our problems it is these guys—at least that’s what most of you think.
By the way, this guy has lived a long life doing some truly wicked things. What must have happened to bring him to the Temple? How horrible of a sin must he have committed to make him see his need of atonement?
Anyway, this guy barely makes it in the Temple. His conscience is wrecked. No amount of mental jiu jitsu could make these hounding convictions go away.
He is so in despair over his life as a sinner that he stands far off. He is beginning to have a sense of his utter unworthiness. This guy won’t even look up to heaven for fear that God might smite him right then and there. The moment his sin is brought to his mind he beats himself—and when I say beat himself I’m talking about the kind of beating that is torturous. If he could rip his sinful nature out of his heart he would do it in a heartbeat.
Then, he prays. Here is how his pray goes:
God, apply your propitiation—your atoning sacrifice that appeases your anger for sin—apply that to me! For no one is a sinner like me.
That’s the end of the parable. Now, let me ask you a question, which one of these two men do you think God favors?
I’m going to tell you by my heavenly authority—which I know you still don’t believe yet—the tax collector went down to his house justified forever. Yes, the final judgment that takes into consideration all sinful actions ever committed and all of our sinful nature. That Final Judgment has its verdict already rendered on this tax collector. And he is accepted as righteous, fulfilling God’s Law, forgiven of all sins, and covenantally blessed by God.
This justification is not because he had something justifiable in himself. He didn’t do anything to deserve it! It’s not because this guy forced God’s hand—for God is self-sufficient and impassible so how could God be forced to give this tax collector salvation? The only thing this guy deserves is eternal wrath. Rather, God freely bestowed on him justification. It was given to him. It wasn’t because his prayer was magic. It wasn’t because God felt bad for him after he felt bad about his sins. It was freely, completely, wholly by sovereign grace alone on the basis of the atoning sacrifice. It was because God exhaustively poured out His wrath on something else rather than him.
This justification lasts forever. Even if this guy didn’t immediately quit his job as a tax collector he would still forever be justified. Even if you didn’t see the fruit of it until weeks, months, or years later. Even if he wasn’t genuine enough. Even if he went back down and sinned the following week like he did before. If there was the smallest amount of faith given to Him by the regenerating Holy Spirit, He is justified by grace alone through faith alone in [spoiler alert] Me alone.
This justification is 100% monergistic. God bestowed it. He passively received it. And the salvation that God bestows, don’t worry, God will continue to work new life in him. But, never will those good works contribute to, secure, or aid that justification. They just reveal that new life has been given to him.
Yup, even if he royally sinned again. Yes, even he had a really bad streak of falling back into previous sins. Yeah, even if he sinned so grievously that the result was that it ended his life. Regardless, his justification would never change. He is as secure in salvation the first millisecond he is justified as Abraham, Moses, and Elijah are even now while in heaven.
Once this is given, heaven is guaranteed. I know…I know…this is infuriating! And now you’re beginning to understand what I’ve been talking about. You can’t earn it. You can only receive it. Even the faith to receive this with has to be given to you! And if you receive it by grace alone then none of your sin can ever mess it up. It’s the end-time judgment already rendered. It is the judgment that has taken into consideration all your past, present, and future sins along with your very sin nature itself. And the atonement has covered all of it!
This propitiation is enough for you! By the way, the blood of bulls and goats can’t take away sin—they’re looking forward to the true Lamb of God. Do you remember what John the Baptist said about me?
Now, the Pharisee…remember him? He is actually condemned. Yes, you heard that right. He is condemned with all the wicked men and women of the world. He has nothing to commend himself. He has nothing to offer God. He is damned and cursed. Hell will be his eternal home unless he does the same thing the tax collector did. No matter what good deeds he does, no matter how often he comes to the Temple, no matter how hard he prays, no matter how much he memorizes the Torah—none of this moves him an inch closer to being saved. Matter of fact, because he puts his faith in those things it only makes him more worthy of hell. In order to be saved, he has to cling solely, wholly, only to the atonement that God provides.
If you want to know what it’s like to have faith, don’t look to the Pharisee but look to the tax collector. Unless you wholly cling with both hands of faith to the propitiation—by the way, this is going to be me on the Cross—then you won’t be saved. I save by grace alone through faith alone. No one deserves salvation! Rather, God graciously gives it to His chosen people.”
Providentially, providing a real life picture of this, people started bringing even infants to Jesus. And Jesus made it clear that one must be as dependent as an infant to receive the kingdom of God.