1085. The Pharisee and the Publican a Contrast

The Pharisee and the Publican a Contrast

The Pharisee Acknowledged No Sin (Luk_18:11).

The Publican Boasted No Righteousness (Luk_18:13).

The Pharisee Trusted in Himself (Luk_18:9).

The Publican Trusted Not in Himself (Luk_18:13).

The Pharisee Compared Himself with Men (Luk_18:11, l. c.).

The Publican Compared Not Himself with Men (Rom_7:18).

The Pharisee Confessed No Saviour (Jdg_1:11, f. c.).

The Publican Confessed a Saviour (Luk_18:13, l. c).

The Result (Luk_18:14).

Here we have a theme which has been thoroughly digested by nearly everyone. Who is there that has not been stirred as they read the story of the Pharisee and the publican? They stand and always will stand in striking contrast–not a contrast between poverty and wealth, not a contrast between the supposed religious leader and the supposed man of the street; but a contrast between the right and the wrong way of approaching God. The wrong way of approach is made by the Pharisee, while the right way of approach comes from the publican.

There are only two reasons that we can see why Christ sets forth the Pharisee over against the publican.

1. The contrast was true to facts. The publicans received Christ far more readily than the Pharisees. Christ explains this in His parable of the two sons. The elder son is the type of the Pharisee. He was the one who said, "I go;" but he went not. The younger son is the type of the publican, who said, "I go not;" but afterward he repented and went. The conclusion which our Lord drew is very plain. "Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the Kingdom of God before you" (see Mat_21:28-31).

2. The second reason that Christ represents the wrong way of approach by the Pharisee is because, of all men, the Pharisee should have known the right way. On the other hand, the publican who approached God rightfully, stood as the man who was supposed to be taught by the Pharisee, his religious overseer; yet he who knew least knew most. The study of this incident will make plain the fact that the Pharisee and the publican bring before us afresh the story of Cain and Abel. The Pharisee is typed by Cain, because Cain came to God with nothing in the world as a basis of approach, save his own goodness. He had an altar freighted with fruits and festooned with ferns and flowers. Just as the Pharisee had a speech freighted with the works of his own hands and the flowers of his own goodness.

The publican is typed by Abel, who came claiming no worth of his own; but through the sacrificial offering of shed blood, confessed his own sin and sought for pardon.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR