Luke Chap 18:9-14

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

  1. He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.
  2. Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Parush, and the other was a tax collector.
  3. The Parush stood and prayed to himself like this: 'Elohim, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
  4. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.'
  5. But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'Elohim, be merciful to me, a sinner!
  6. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Comments

"I fast twice a week" refers to the belief of the Pharisees that Moses went up on Mount Sinai to receive the Torah on a Thursday, and returned with it on a Monday. Thus, to the Pharisees, fasting on those two days is considered to be a special mark of holiness.

This parable is addressed to people who pride themselves on being righteous and despise all others as inferior. The tax collector was a striking contrast. Standing before Elohim, he sensed his own utter unworthiness. He was humbled to the dust. He would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast and cried to Elohim for mercy. He did not think of himself as one sinner among many, but as the sinner who was unworthy of anything from Elohim

Adonay Yeshua reminded his listener that it is this spirit of self-humiliation and repentance that is acceptable to Yahweh (Elohim). Elohim exalts the humble ones.