Trusting Self or God
by Doy Moyer
Jesus told a parable “to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt” (Luke 18:9). What a statement! Jesus targeted head-on an attitude that was common enough that He wanted this parable to be known by future generations.
“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:10-14).
Jesus turns expectations on its head. Between the Pharisee and the tax collector, everyone would know that the Pharisee was righteous and the tax collector was a sinner. Tax collectors were often grouped with other sinners. For example, Matthew, a tax collector, recorded this: “And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’” (Matthew 9:10-11). His response was, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners’” (Matthew 9:12-13). Jesus was mocked for associating with them: “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds” (Matthew 11:19).
To contrast the Pharisee with the tax collector would have seemed foolish to those who were self-righteous. The problem, however, is that those who have such self-trust likely don’t realize it. Of course, they trust in God! Of course, they are doing what’s right. Just ask them! They are happy to tell you.
“The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus.” Some indicate that he prayed “to himself” or “about himself.” Likely, he was standing “by himself” as he prayed, and certainly he was praying about himself as he compared himself with others and boasted about what he did. “God, I thank you that I am not like other men…” should send up a red flag. This shows how easy it is to downplay sin. “I’m not that bad, like those people over there who do these terrible things.” We might be tempted at times to think, “I may not be perfect, but at least I’m not like them.” Comparing one’s life and accomplishments to the sins of others is one of the most dangerous paths to take. We feel self-justified on the basis that our sins just aren’t as bad as theirs. We may be thankful to God, but even thankfulness can be wrong-headed when the object is our proud, self-righteous trust.
The tax collector, on the other hand, standing far off, “would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” He sees himself before God as “the sinner” (NASB). He is not comparing himself with others. He is not calling out how bad others are. He isn’t showcasing his works as if he should be praised. He offers only a confession and a plea for mercy. Here is revealed where our trust abides.
A worldly consideration of these two might see the Pharisee as strong and the tax collector weak. The Pharisee is confident in himself; the tax collector appeals only to God. The Pharisee boasts in his works; the tax collector grieves over his actions. If the tax collector is the sinner, surely the Pharisee is righteous.
Not so, for righteousness is never self-defined. It is not for the proud. Jesus’ words would have hit like a ton of bricks: “I tell you, this man (the tax collector) went down to his house justified, rather than the other (the Pharisee).” Why? That hardly seems fair. The tax collector admittedly is not righteous in himself. He is a sinner. How can he be justified? Here is the Lord’s answer: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Self-exaltation never sits well with God. The problem of sin cannot be met with, “But I’m not as bad as they are, and look at the good I’ve done.” Justification can only come when we realize the depth of our sin and trust God for mercy. That takes humility, and humility runs contrary to trusting in self-righteousness.
Only when we abandon the pride of, “I’m thankful I’m not like other men,” and embrace the humility of, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner,” will we know justification. This exaltation only comes from the God who opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble (I Peter 5:5).
