Which one are YOU?

Dearest Ones,

Jesus often taught in parables. One of the shortest and in my estimation the most important, is the one of the Pharisee and the Publican. It may be well to review just what is a Pharisee. The Pharisees were Jews who obeyed all the countless rules of fasting, traditions and laws to the letter. They considered themselves to be the only true followers of God's laws, and thought they were much better and holier than anyone else.

The Publicans were also Jews, but they were looked down upon and considered the worst kind of characters - the scum of the earth. Here is the parable in Jesus' own words:

"Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a Publican. The Pharisee stood up and prayed like this: 'O God, I thank you that I am not like OTHER men are: robbers, unjust, evil-doers, adulterers - or even as this Publican! I fast twice a week and I faithfully pay the church one tenth of all I earn.' But the Publican knelt in the back of the temple. He would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but he beat his breast and said, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' Then Jesus said to those around him, 'I tell you the truth that this man, the Publican, rather than the other, was more pleasing to God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." - Luke 18:9-14.

Sometimes I think the whole world is divided into two groups - Pharisees and Publicans. Pharisees are either judging or condemning others, while Publicans are so busy making their own hearts pleasing to God, they don't have time to judge others. The Publican does not see the faults of others because he really rejects himself. The Pharisee is interested only in making himself look good to others, while deep down inside he hates his neighbor. He feels he is above them. He even feels he is doing God a favor by praying to him. Notice that he didn't ask God for anything - just told Him how good he was. This is the sin of pride, which is the greatest and worst of all sins.

This holier-than-thou attitude, causes people to despise others they do not consider as holy or as good as they think they are! When people get this way, others usually find them to be the hardest, most narrow-minded folks they have ever met. Because instead of loving and forgiving, they are always criticizing, judging and condemning folks who don't do all the "good" things they do! But Jesus says He would rather you'd give LOVE to others than to be so condemning.

I think what Jesus hated the most about the Pharisees was that they pretended to be so good all the time. (God loves the sinner and hates the sin.) He called them blind and ignorant. He said these words, "Woe to you hypocrites - you make clean the outside of the cup and plate, but WITHIN you are full of dead men's bones. On the outside you appear as good, but on the inside you are full of evil." - Matt 23:25-28

The Pharisees were too proud to confess that they were sinners like everyone else. They not only couldn't confess, they couldn't even see their sins. They couldn't admit there was possibly anything wrong with them. The worst kind of people in God's sight are those who PRETEND to be good and look down on everybody else. God came to those who know they need Him. They are the ones He came to save.

We are all sinners saved by grace. Those are the ONLY kind of saints there are! There are no others. So which of the two are YOU like - the Pharisee or the Publican? Some of us are probably a mixture of both.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, please help us to love and forgive others as You have forgiven us. Help us not to condemn others, or even think , "I thank you that I am not as others." If we're critical, lifted up in pride and glad we're not as bad as others, then we are even WORSE!

Love and prayers,
Sister Francelle