Today I want us to think a bit about the two persons in Luke’s scripture in chapter 18 about the Pharisee and the tax collector. First it might help to know a little about these two types of citizens. I’m sure most of us know about all we want to know about a tax collector in our present day times, but in Jesus’ time a tax collector for the Roman empire was from a private company. The tax collectors required not only enough to send to Rome to pay for the demands of the state, but also retained a profit for their own use. This made them hated by the people, as many taxes waged were unfair. A Pharisee was a part of a powerful religious group that saw themselves as the overseers and responsible guides to keep the Jewish people on the right path. Some came to believe in Jesus as the Christ, but most dismissed him for his stands on some issues and his teaching with authority. Jesus criticized them for their self-righteous attitude and unrepentant hearts. Luke 18:10-19 tells this story: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, 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, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 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!’ 14 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.” (English Standard Version – ESV) In this story, our attention is focused on two main truths. God loves us and we are all sinners. Before we compare the two persons in the story, let’s look at another, more personal example. Imagine yourself holding these two truths, one in each hand. In your left hand is all the gifts you have that show you how much God loves you. He has given you the talents that make you unique, the very world you live in down to the food and clothes you have and air you breathe. He sent Jesus, his perfect son, to die for your sins, so you can redeem the right relationship with God again. In your right hand are all the things you have done that you know displease God and cause you to draw away from his knowledge and love. They are those things in thought, word and deed that we name as sin. We know that as hard as we might try we are all sinners. We remember Psalm 53:3 which states, “They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.” If we hold our two hands up like the pans of a scale. Some days we feel more loved and loveable and some days we feel totally unworthy, separated from God and readily acknowledging our sin. We are human. Now imagine yourself in the midst of a busy street crowd or at the stadium watching a ball game. All those people around you, your family, your friends, and total strangers are sinners. They all fit into the Psalm along with us saying, no not even one (except Jesus) is without sin! But if we blink our eyes, and look again we realize every one of them including ourselves, fit the other truth as well. God loves us all. God provides this world and all that is in it for us all! Now we think again about the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee understands only one of these truths. He sees only his strengths and good deeds and tells God about them. He also sees the only the faults in the people around him. The tax collector, however, understands both of these truths. He knows his weaknesses and sins. Angry people point them out to him regularly. But if that were all he knew, he would not be in the Temple worshipping. He also knows that God loves him in spite of his sins. Now while you still have the two truths in your hands, fold them together as in prayer. Jesus tells us to be honest with God. When we come to Him admitting our sins, and trusting that God loves and forgives us, we received his forgiveness. Our sins were already paid for by the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. Our debt for those sins is already paid!! Now that your hands are folded with these two truths of God joined together, my prayer for you is the forgiveness, only God can offer. When you confess and ask for forgiveness, may God grant you blessing and understanding of his great love for you. In the grace and peace of Christ, Carolyn Moe