So why did Jesus do this? Why did he speak to the crowds in parables, but explain everything to his disciples in private?
We find the answer in the gospel of Luke. There Isa says to his disciples, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, 'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand'"(Luke 8:10).
Here is one of my favorite parables from Jesus. I'm curious to hear your thoughts on what he says:
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." (Luke 18:9-14)This is always a convicting passage for me. It's easy to become arrogant and look down on others, thinking that our good deeds somehow make us righteous before God. But as Isa clearly points out - it is the mercy of Allah alone that justifies us before God. "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
What are your thoughts on this parable? Does it resonate with you? Which person do you more closely align with - the Pharisee or the tax collector? Feel free to leave a comment below.
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2 comments:
I align with both. It's interesting that the Pharisee is thanking God, but only in order to show God how good he is.
I don't think I often try to prove to God that I don't need His gracious forgiveness and guidance, but it can be hard for me to see my own faults; they can seem poorly defined to me, perhaps because I don't want to look at them or because I just don't quite know what to do about them. So I can ignore or avoid facing them.
But the two men's willingness to change as God wants is what distinguishes them -- their humility toward God. And in that I try to be like the tax collector, even if I don't know how to change. Alas, I say I am willing to change, but if I don't do so because I say I don't know how, I wonder if that is just a way of avoiding it.
The parable ends there, but I'm left thinking about how the tax collector will change as a result of his repentance and what the Pharisee is refusing to change.
Good thoughts Kevin. It seems like the Pharisee is not simply praying the wrong things. He is going down the wrong path altogether - trying to justify himself before God.
The tax collector, on the other hand, goes down the right path. He sees that he can't justify himself before God, and that only God can justify him (through His infinite mercy).
In this sense I know that I can often be just like the Pharisee. I'll try to tell God, "Hey, look at all these great things I'm doing for you! I pray, I fast, I read your Word, I tell people about you. Now what will you do for me?" The obvious problem is that this sort of thinking is all about me... not about God and His goodness.
Either way it's certainly a humbling passage. The religious leader's heart is totally in the wrong place, while the lowly tax collector has humbled himself before the Lord - and is justified as a result.
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