The Tax Collector and the Pharisee...and Us!

Preached at Hallam and Martell UMCs, October 28, 2007.

The gospel reading for today is a story that Jesus told. And although we like to think that we want to hear the words of Jesus, it is not an easy story for us to swallow. Jesus tells the people about a Pharisee and a tax collector. The Pharisee lived a good life, he fasted, prayed, tithed, followed all ten commandments to the letter, he was a good man. But the tax collector, that was another story. Everybody knew tax collectors were the scum of the earth. They cheated everybody—the way it worked was that the tax collector contracted with the government to raise X amount of money, say 10 shekels per person. The tax collector would then try to get as much money as he could from the people. Anything he collected over the amount owed the government went into his pocket. So the tax collector would collect as much as he possibly could—perhaps 20 from the poor fisherman, but 500 or more from the carpenter that did well.

You can understand why no one liked tax collectors—they made their living by trying to cheat you from as much money as they could! And you can understand why everyone thought the Pharisee was a holy person. But that is not the end of the story, rather, it is just the beginning.

Both men went to the temple and began to pray. The Pharisee looked up to heaven and said, “God, thank you for not making me like one of those sinners.” In contrast, the tax collector prayed, “Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.” Jesus goes on to tell us that the one who was justified that day was the tax collector. That must have really rubbed the Pharisees in the crowd the wrong way.

But how do we apply this passage to today's context? It makes us a bit uncomfortable to even begin. Why? Because we like to think we live a pretty straight life. I mean, you go to church regularly, study the Bible, give generously to the church, even give generously to other charities. Maybe it's easier to list the bad things you don't do! Kind of like that old saying, “I don't drink, smoke or chew or go with girls that do.” You are a good person! And here comes the tax collector in his limo, complete with fully stocked bar, and an expensive call girl on each arm. We want to think that we are a bit closer to heaven than he is, don't we?

But wait! That sense of knowing we are closer to heaven puts us in the shoes of the Pharisee, doesn't it? And we know how Jesus felt about Pharisees! Now maybe you are thinking that you can stand beside the tax collector because you are far from perfect. You said some choice words when that player from Texas ran for an 86 yard touchdown yesterday, you cheated on last years taxes, and kicked the dog last week. But at least you're not a murderer, or cheating on your spouse—wait, there it is! You are the Pharisee again!

Why do we struggle with this idea? Because we want to know that grace is not cheap. We want to know that God is fair, that he punishes those who are evil, and rewards those who are good. So this story Jesus tells rubs us the wrong way.

It seems that no matter our sin, we want to justify ourselves by saying, “At least I don't...” We drive a little over the speed limit, but we justify ourselves by saying that if we hadn't we would've been late, like so and so... or at least we didn't have an accident on the way. I speak to my spouse like they are dirt, but at least I don't cheat on them. No matter what it is, there is always something worse and it seems we can justify our sin. There is the problem. We can't justify ourselves, and no matter the sin, it is still sin.

The truth of the matter is that there is nothing you can do to earn God's love—it is a gift. You can't earn it, you just have to accept it. That's what this story is about—not humility, or thankfulness, or even judging others—it's about the gift of grace, period.

Place yourself there with the tax collector, repentant and humble. Receive the gift of God's love, accepting it as it is—there is freedom in forgiveness.