1090. The Pharisee Compared Himself with Men

The Pharisee Compared Himself with Men

"I thank Thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican" (Luk_18:11).

The Pharisee not only compared himself with men, but he compared himself with the worst of men. This is usually the case. When the devil wants to bemean the Lord, he usually selects some old hypocrite and then magnifies his faults.

Why didn't this Pharisee pick out Elijah or Abraham or Enoch? Why didn't he choose Daniel? Why not point to these and say: "I thank Thee I am not as other men, especially as these true and stalwart servants of Thine."

The fact is, the sinner has no right to compare himself with anybody, "for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Why should the kettle call the pot black? Why should one who is blind point a finger of scorn at another one who is blind? The Word of God says that those who compare themselves among themselves, and measure themselves by themselves are not wise.

The Word of God says "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven." The Pharisee of our lesson claimed to be better than a poor publican, God said that he needed to be better than a Pharisee.

Some things which look white over against that which is dark, will look miserably dark when placed over against that which is a perfect white. Suppose the Pharisee had stepped into the presence of the One in Whom there was no sin–the spotless Son of God–how the iniquity of his heart would have been made manifest!

This Pharisee boasted nothing but his own righteousness, and yet he was, in fact, one of the most heartless and' despicable of men.. With what irony and scorn, with what condemnation and almost cursing, did he pronounce the words, "This poor publican!" If ever a man needed to fall upon his face and confess his sins, this man needed so to do.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR