Standing Before God

Can there be anything more nerve wracking than being evaluated at work or school? When we are criticized or graded, we are vulnerable and exposed. We may wonder and think, “What will people say or think of me? Is what they are saying true or accurate? Do they truly see my talents and abilities, and who I really am? Will their feedback at least be constructive?” We can get anxiety or worry about what people will say or think of us as our standing and image before others is critiqued, or even questioned. This morning, we see a similar situation in our text with Jesus’ parable and the incident with the children. The theme that ties both of these things together is this question: What determines our standing and acceptance before God? In our text, we see three different answers to this important question.

Jesus helps us with this question by directing this parable towards “some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt.” Jesus is going to teach us what really determines our standing and acceptance before God. To do this, He presents to us a pair, (what a surprise). He gives us a Pharisee and tax collector. The Pharisee thinks that his relationship with God is based on his own works and righteousness. We see this through his actions.

The Pharisee stands by himself to pray. He wants to bring the attention and focus to himself. He is displaying his righteousness before all of those in the temple. He then begins to pray out loud, so that everyone can hear. He says, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.” He thanks God that he is not like these other sinful people, especially that no good, rotten, stinking, horrible and traitorous tax collector. He admits that he is much better than them, and that is not sinful like them.

He continues by giving God his “righteous” credentials. He says, “I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” He does things above and beyond what the Law demands. He says these things make him great. He interestingly doesn’t ask God for mercy or forgiveness, but he focuses on himself. The word “I” is used five times in his prayer. He focuses on what he does in his relationship with God.

Sometimes we can echo the Pharisee’s attitude and actions in our own lives. For example, when we say something like, “Why did this horrible thing happen to me? I’m a good person. I read my Bible, help others, and I go to Church. I didn’t deserve to lose my job.” When we think or speak like this, we base our requests and standing before God on our own righteousness, as if our good works or lives could bribe God or excuse us from bad things. We can be like the Pharisee. The Pharisee thinks that his standing before God is based on his works and righteousness.

Now, what does the tax collector think? He gives us his answer. The tax collector sees his relationship based on God’s mercy and grace. He acknowledges his sin and unworthiness, and reflects that in his actions. Unlike the Pharisee, the tax collector keeps his distance and stands far away. Perhaps that is why Lutherans sit in the back of the church?

He doesn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven where the Holy God dwells. He beats his chest, perhaps in anger or in frustration at himself for his actions. The tax collector doesn’t try to explain or excuse himself. He doesn’t blame anyone else. Instead, he throws himself on the mercy of God and says, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”

We can be like this man when we recognize our sin and truly repent of it. We have all had those moments when we realize the horror of our actions and ask for God’s forgiveness. We can be like this tax collector when we don’t try to explain or justify ourselves before God. Instead of explaining why we sinned, or putting the blame on someone else, we just go to God and throw ourselves on His mercy. The tax collector sees his standing and acceptance before God based on grace, His undeserved kindness towards sinners.

The disciples now chirp in with their own answer. They have their own idea. They see one’s standing or acceptance before God as depending on the achievements and capacities of the person approaching God. This is seen in verse 15 of our text: “Now they were bringing even infants to Jesus that He might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.” You can only imagine what was said to those parents and people.