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October 24, 2004
Mercy Me!
Luke 18:9-14
There is a story told about a politician, who, after receiving the proofs of a portrait, was very angry with the photographer. He stormed back to the photographers studio and arrived with these angry words, "This picture does not do me justice!" And the photographer quickly replied, "Sir, with a face like yours, you don't need justice, you need mercy!"
That story has a lot to say to us—not that any of us aren't great looking, but rather when it comes to our lives, we tend to think we need justice more than mercy. 'If they would only give to me what I really have coming to me." "If I would only be treated the way that I really deserve." Those are the sort of statements which we often make. And at times that is correct. Current events do seem to show us once again that there is far too little real justice in the world.
Our problem, however, is that we also at times think the same way about God. "If only God would give me what I deserve…" But to think in that way is truly problematic, for if God gave you and me what we justly deserve, you and I would be in dire straits indeed. You and I are far more in need of God's mercy than His justice, yet we do tend to forget that.
The parable which Jesus tells in our Gospel reading today is meant to be a corrective to that way of self-deception. It is the story of two men who stood out in a crowd. One was a Pharisee who had separated himself from the common folks by the high level of his piety. The other was a tax collector who had separated himself from the common folks by the depth of his sinfulness.
Both men stand apart from the rest of the worshippers one day at the temple. {read v. 11a} The "with himself" is better translated, "by himself." Now, Pharisees were always careful in crowds. They did not want to risk becoming ceremonially polluted by accidentally bumping into someone who did not keep the law to the extent which they did. So they would go out of their way to remain at a distance from the "hoi polloi." The Pharisees were kind of folks who liked to go around saying little poems like "I don't smoke and I don't chew and I don't go with those who do." "Holier than Thou!"
Now, it seems to me that it is important that we do not underestimate the Pharisee's religiousness. He isn't really a phony but is a person who goes above and beyond what is required of him. {read v. 12} The law required only one weekly fast — this brother does two. And even more impressive, this committed person tithes on his gross pay and not merely the net. Now, I've got to admit to you, there's a part of me that thinks, "Oh, for a congregation full of such Pharisees." Such religious commitment is rare, indeed. These are the committed folks who really help pay bills of any religious organization. At least, they help in a certain way more than your average tax collector.
Well, speaking of tax collectors, let's take a look at him before we go any further with the Pharisee. For just an we should not underestimate the Pharisee's religious commitment neither should we underestimate the tax collector's sin. I'm sure that for some of us, working for the I.R.S. is reason enough to consider this fellow a great sinner. But there is more. Tax collectors at Jesus' time were more than nuisances, they were traitors. They were the guys who collaborated with the hated enemy in order to turn a buck for themselves. They were more extortioners than collectors. That is the way the system worked. Tax collectors had territories which the Romans assigned them, along with a quota that they were expected to turn into the Romans. An so a profit was turned for the tax collector by bleeding out of people whatever they could, above and beyond what they had to turn into the Romans.
The tax collectors tended to become fabulously wealthy as they would slither about with their thumb-breaking goons extorting widows and so forth. And it probably won't be a surprise to you that these guys didn't tend to be good givers to their local religious establishment. Their favorite charity was always themselves. Charity began at home and stayed at home. No doubt about it, the tax collector in the parable has committed plenty of sins for which he should repent. And remarkably enough, one fine day, one of these great sinners did wander into the Temple in order to repent.
He, too, stood apart from the crowd. But this time, not because he thinks that he's better, but that he is far worse than the rest of the folks gathered together that day. And be assured the rest of the congregation is in no hurry to extend to him the right hand of fellowship — they are too accustomed to having to count their fingers to see whether or not such a person has stolen any. But there he is, way over in the corner, as far away as one could be from the high altar, saying over and over, "God be merciful to me a sinner." {pause} And then Jesus has the audacity to say, that of the two, the extra-holy Pharisee and the extra sinful tax collector, it is the tax collector whose prayer God hears. {pause}
What's going on here? What is Jesus trying to tell us with this parable? Well, it is certainly not that it's better to be a sinner than a religious person. The Pharisee does things that do promote spiritual maturity — fasting and tithing are spiritual disciplines that do have the potential to help make us better people. I recommend them highly to all of you. And, on the other hand, the tax collector has lived a life of corruption. He has done things which are unconscionable. His behavior has been more than naughty, he's been down right evil at times. There is nothing commendable about his life as such.
Well, in answer, it seems to me, that the real problem which Jesus is attacking here, at first might seem to be a small one. It is simply this: the Pharisee peeks when he prays.{pause} He peeks when he prays. When he talks to God, he looks at other people. And he does that because he is looking for examples of folks who aren't even half as righteous as he is. And can you imagine how his eyes must have lit up when he caught sight of the tax collector over in the corner. So excited is he, that he even refers directly to him {read v. 11b} "Boy, here's a great example of the kind of guy that I'm not." The Pharisee prays this way because in doing so, he is able to remind God of what a good boy he really is.
But the great tragedy here, is that this super righteous man isn't really praying at all. All he does is review a list of his virtues, assuming that when God notices them, God will respect and marvel at them as well. "Surely God will be as impressed with his goodness, as the Pharisee, himself, is." But God isn't impressed, because the great irony is this, in spite of his peeking, the Pharisee is spiritually blind. First, of all, he cannot see his own pride. He is blissfully ignorant of what real righteousness is. He thinks that one can earn God's favor and that he has done a much better job at that fool's errand than the common person.
But second, the terrible degree of the Pharisee's blindness is demonstrated when he looks at the tax collector. All he can see is a terrific example of a sinner - a wonderfully juicy illustration of what he is not. But the reality is quite different. For reality is what God sees and what God sees is a miracle in the making, for a terribly wicked man is finding his way home to God. {pause}
The Pharisee lacks self knowledge because he only looks at others in order to support his ignorance. He doesn't really know his neighbor, or his God, or even himself. In contrast, the tax collector can see himself all too clearly. He knows that he needs mercy and not justice and so he has turned to the merciful God. {pause}
I have read that the Chinese have a saying that there are really five points to the compass: north, south, east, west and where you are. And "where you are" is really the most important. Because we can never really know which way to go until we know where we are.{pause}Do you know where you are? Do you know who you are? {pause}
Until you come to understand like the tax collector, that you are a sinner in need of redemption, then like the Pharisee you will simply wander in circles, playing petty games of one-up-manship and with your neighbors. But when you come to realize where you really stand with God, then you can know where to go. And then we go to the only place we can - into the waiting arms of the merciful God — the God who loves you more than you can imagine. He is the God who can only forgive and restore sinners because they alone have begun to recognize their great need for mercy. And so let us draw near to the tax collector and with him join to the great God of mercy who will never reject those in need of Him.
Let us pray.
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First Presbyterian
Church of Cedar Rapids
310 Fifth Street SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: 319-364-6148
E-mail: church@fpccr.org
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