Preaching and the Land - Luke 18:9-14

This Sunday's lectionary text is the second of consecutive parables only found in Luke. Both parables of Jesus touch on one of Luke's favorite themes, prayer.  The audience for this parable is "some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others."  In this context, we can safely assume that the "some" are Pharisees, and the "others" are the rest of humanity.

Over the life of this series, "Preaching and the Land," we have sought to offer insights for interpreting the weekly lectionary text for use in Sunday worship or Sunday School.  Our main source for such insights come from an understanding of the land itself.  The common term for this source is "Fifth Gospel."

 

Here then are some insights for this week's lesson:

• we should not assume that all Pharisees were the target of Jesus' sharp condemnation
• consider also Pharisees like Joseph and Nicodemus who struggled with the issue of righteousness
• neither should we assume that all tax collectors were law-breakers and traitors
• consider the tax collector Zacchaeus
• this Pharisee distanced himself from "others" literally and in his prayer 
• the Pharisees' prayer was one of self-promotion and self-righteousness
• in fact, he did go beyond the requirements of the law regarding fasting and tithing
• fasting was required only once yearly, and his tithe was 10% of everything, not simply the designated items
• this tax collector stood far off, refused to lift his eyes to heaven, and beat his breast while pleading for mercy (a common practice for women but not men)

In the judgment of Jesus, the tax collector departed the Temple for home "justified," rather than the Pharisee. 

The tax collector's humility in the presence of God brought the requested mercy.  Righteousness is not self-generated; it is the gift of God.