The Pharisee vs the Tax Collector
(true outtakes, not today’s false teaching of it)
May 29, 2021
by Dan Li
Luke 18
9 And He spoke this parable unto certain persons which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector.”
11 “The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.”
12 “I fast twice a the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.”
13 “And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but beat upon his chest, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”
14 “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.”
Popular (Worldly) Culture’s Teaching and Its Attempt at Scripture Interpretation (or twisting of it):
Today, in our time of great polarization, it seems the truth is often missed, many now seeing the Holy Scriptures through the warped lens of popular culture. Popular culture (a work of the Devil) attempts to warp the truth, muddy the waters, so people can’t see clearly. Using partial aspects of Scriptures, this popular culture acts as if its fully true, even purporting itself as godly, despite being polluted with false teaching. I will explain what I mean.
In the above Scriptures, we might from our angle of our popular culture, either 1) conclude that a person should not lift up their eyes and claim righteousness or speak against sin, but instead we should hang our head and eyes downward always. Or, from our angle of popular culture, 2) we might conclude that the Pharisee was proud in claiming to be without sin. Both these conclusions are incorrect (only partly right), but they would line-up nicely with today’s popular culture’s (the world’s) rhetoric.
Pride:
Everyone can see there is pride and arrogance on the part of the pharisee; but in what way, because of which part that was mentioned in Scripture?
Correct Interpretation of Scripture:
The correct interpretation is that the pharisee thought he was righteous before God, not only through his works-based righteousness, but moreover, by comparing himself with the tax collector, and thus feeling better about himself because he was not as evil as the tax collector. This is ‘Relative Righteousness’. It (Relative Righteousness) compares ourselves with others around us, instead of seeing ourselves in the light of a Holy God. But compared to the Holy God, who then is is righteous before Him? Paul discusses this in Romans (quoted below). Was Abraham a righteous man? Was Abraham righteous before God, in God’s eyes?
“What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he has something wherewith to glory; but not before God. For what does scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness”. Now to him that works is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.” Romans 4:1-3
Works-based Righteousness (something that one can self boast about) vs. Righteousness by Faith in God:
Abraham had accounted-righteousness, not earned righteousness. He had righteousness before God by faith upon God; and not his own righteousness, but the righteousness that God accounted unto him.
“For if Abraham were justified by works, he has whereof to glory; but not before God.”
Is there boasting (pride) in ‘Relative Righteousness?’ – You bet!
More of Today’s Popular (Worldly) Culture’s Wicked/Wrong Scriptural Interpretation:
On the polar opposite, we have the tax collector who could not lift his eyes, and stood afar off. Popular culture today would say that it is because he knows he should not be speaking out against sin, because he himself is not righteous either. — and that would be a wrong conclusion, being only partly true.
The correct interpretation is that the tax collector had no pretense of being better that the other guy, and knew already that he was not righteous before the Holy God.
“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23.
“For all…” means everyone, … everyone, absolutely everyone.
How then can we have ‘Relative Righteousness’ and stand before God clothed in that? We can’t- filthy rags it is. And the required righteousness to be in Heaven, is perfect righteousness, not ‘relative righteousness’.
But the popular culture fails to read the end of the verse, after tax collector’s prayer, that the tax collector went away justified. Or, if popular culture does read that he went away justified, they would say it is because he did not speak out against other’s sins – and that too would be a wrong interpretation. He went away justified because he looked for his righteousness to not come from himself, but from God. And, yes, he humbled himself, and God gives grace (in this man’s case, justification) to the humble who look unto God, but resists the proud (in the pharisee’s case, no justification, no righteousness imputed to him).
Justified by Faith in God, Imputed Righteousness:
Justification means God forgave the tax collector, and being cleansed from his sins, no longer had any sin, and stood right before God. “What I have called clean, that, do not call common” Acts 10:15. The tax collector received the perfect righteousness that came from outside himself, that is, only from God, not of himself, and not in comparison to others. The tax collector had ‘Imputed Righteousness’, the kind accounted (given to) to him, perfect righteousness before God through faith.
Relative / Comparative Righteousness:
‘Relative Righteousness’ is wickedness before God- it is self-righteousness, which is proud, arrogant, earned, compares itself to others, and is abhorrent to God. Paul says this about his own righteousness– says he counts it as rubbish, in order to have the righteousness that comes through Christ, by faith in Him:
“But whatever gain I had, I count as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Phil 3:7-11 (ESV)
The Test – See if Boasting in One’s Self is Possible:
If a person holds their ‘Relative Righteousness’, which is a works-based righteousness, they have forsaken ‘Imputed Righteousness’ (Gal 5:2-4).
‘Relative Righteousness’ is proud, it boasts in its own righteousness. But ‘Imputed Righteousness’ cannot boast in one’s self, but rather boasts in the cross of Christ, in Jesus, the righteousness that was given to us by faith in Christ Jesus, its the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Once Washed/Cleansed by God, One is No Longer Unrighteous nor Stained by Sin Anymore:
Popular culture is full of pride. It claims a righteousness by not claiming righteousness (yeah), as if that makes a person righteous – that is self-righteousness! But the tax collector went away having righteousness from God. And having received God’s forgiveness and the righteousness that comes from faith on Christ Jesus, the tax collector could now speak against sin- he could now say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” 1Jn 1:9-2:2
A person who is washed clean is no longer unclean. “What God has cleansed, that, do not call common.” Acts 10:15b, and it is God’s desire we stay that way: “My little children, these things I write unto you, that you sin not.” 1 Jn 2:1a
Questions for Self-Evaluation in the Light of Scriptures Presented:
1) Have we become like the world, popular culture, where, observing our own ‘Relative Righteousness’, compare ourselves with and despise those who we have seen as sinners, yet it is they that are actually righteous, who, having confessed their sins to God, and have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb?
2) Do we, like the world, popular culture, mistakenly think that it makes us righteous to not speak out against or take a stand against sin?
3) Do we still carry condemnation for things that God has truly washed clean? Shame?
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.” Romans 8:31-33
If we have been washed of our sins, and stand right before God in Christ Jesus, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” Rom 8:1.
“Who can bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.” Rom 8:33
4) Instead of grieving over sin (our own or other’s, past or present), do we ever, in our heart, feel better about ourself or find consolation in ourself, simply because someone else’s sin is “greater” than ours or because compared to the sin all around you, you appear better? If so, this is ‘Relative Righteousness’.
5) Do we think that warning of the wrath of God to come and calling for repentance from sins is the same as condemning others?
“If anyone hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects Me and does not receive My words has a judge; the Word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority, but the Father who sent Me has Himself given Me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”” John 12:47-50
Today’s Popular (Worldly) Culture’s Teachings are False-Teaching (lies):
Today’s pharisees are those who have self-righteousness, have ‘Relative Righteousness’, and includes those who claim ‘righteousness by not claiming righteousness’ – there is no such thing.
“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. You therefore be not partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. Eph 5:6-10
Once Cleansed, Then We Are Able to Help and Correct Others:
We, who have been washed from our sins, having confessed them to God and asked for forgiveness, trusting in the completed work of Jesus on the cross for our righteousness, are truly righteous, not with ‘relative righteousness’ of our own, but really righteous before God, really truly clean, by the blood of Jesus.
And having gotten right with God, we can now urge and plead with others to do the same, without any hypocrisy.
“My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know, that he which converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20
and,
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.” 2 Cor 10:5-7
and,
“If you forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou say, Behold, we did not know it; does not He that ponders the heart consider it? and He that keeps your soul, does He not know it? and shall He not render to every man according to his works?” Proverbs 24:11-12
Accountability Unto God Towards Our Brethren to Warn, Correct, Help, Rescue Those Perishing in Sin:
We are held accountable before God to warn others, to pray for them, to stand against sin in our society (see also Ezekiel 3 and 33). But, first we must get right with God ourselves. If we have not gotten right with God yet, how can we deal with sin in others?
So, we should first deal with ourselves, and then we can be helpful to others afterwards:
“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” 1 Cor 11:31-32
and,
“Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part You shall make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” …
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence; and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation; and uphold me with Your free spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways; and sinners shall be converted unto You”. Psalms 51:6-7,10-13
and,
“You hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of your own eye; and then you shall see clearly to cast out the mote out of your brother’s eye.” Matt 7:5; Luke 6:42
Jesus is teaching us to get right with God first, then deal with others- in that order, else we are hypocrites. Not dealing with our own sin and then also not dealing with the sins in others afterwards, does not deliver us from condemnation, since we ourselves know what is right, and haven’t done it (James 4:17; and John 12:47-50). So, while we won’t be a hypocrite (that’s good), we ourselves remain in sin along with the other guy, and we know better (that’s real bad). So, repent therefore, for your sake, and your brother’s sake also.
But once we have truly turned from our sins in repentance towards God, and have asked and received forgiveness of sin from Him (1 Jn 1:9), we are washed clean, and can now help others out of sin as well – Praise God!
“My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know, that he which converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20
and,
“Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are His. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet/useful for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Tim 2:19-22
We can be a vessel of honor before God and useful to our glorious Master, Jesus Christ. Praise God! And, may we serve the Lord in godly fear. The enemy, the Devil, would like to keep Christians remaining in their sins: and he is using today’s Popular (worldly, demonic) Culture’s teachings to try to silence the mouths of correction using guilt and shame for sins that were already repented of and forgiven by God. Sometimes when a Christian brother or sister is confronted by someone the Lord has sent to question their sinful behavior, they chafe at that and begin to falsely accuse the correcting brother of being a Pharisee. They say things like, “are you judging me?”, or “you are being a hypocrite” (when you aren’t), or “who are you to judge me – we are all sinners” (we were, but we no longer are). So don’t accept those false accusations, hold firm to Jesus, and keep speaking the truth in love (for their sake and yours too). Say, “Yes I have sinned, but I have repented of all known sin, asked for and received forgiveness, and was washed by the blood of the Lamb, and you can too – repent for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand”.
“Therefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted by Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” 2 Cor 5:9-11
Let us also, continue in Christ!
“Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not you. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness: otherwise you also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.” Rom 11:20-23
