People forget that the early humanists and most Western Philosophers were Christian. Or they forget the philosophers and thinkers of the past matter. They do not understand that the Latin tags you see at universities — Sapere Aude, Dare to be wise — were once rallying cries.
The reformation fell our of the renaissance because of one of these comments: to the source. Read the Bible in the original, and read the Bible, not the glosses. When you do that you realize your credentials have a risk.
They make you consider others as lesser, and have pride in the letters after your name. And that keeps you from the gospel.
Humanus sum: nihil humanum a me alienum puto. I am human, and anything of humanity I do not consider strange or alien. Another humanist saying. And true. For the Tax collector in this paragraph is all of us.
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 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. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 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!’ 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.”
We must never forget that Jesus had a clear teaching on the politics of his day. The Sadducees may have been in power, but their liberal, sceptical manner and theology allowed compromise with the Greeks and Romans. They were not those who taught the Law or inherited that authority. The Pharisees did. And for that reason Christ used them frequently as illustrations of what not to do.
There is nothing wrong with what the Pharisee is doing. It is what he is not that is needful. He has forgotten that he is made of the same dust and mud as all of us. He has forgotten that he is a sinner. He has accounted himself as righteous, and his self righteousness has blinded his conscience.
The notorious sinners — ad a Tax Collector was considered lower than a thief, a beggar or a whore — know they need mercy. And in seeking that, may find salvation.
And, as Matthew and a woman of the town once did [1], give up their wealth and trade, repent, and follow Christ.
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1. I am alluding the the woman of the town who took her nard — a very expensive perfume — and broke the vessel, bathing Christ’s feet with it.
I know its sinful but I like the concept that a tax collector is to be regarded as a low life.