The spirit of Pharisaism existed in Jewry long before the time of Jesus. Indeed, in human nature of a certain sort it is endemic. “There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up” (Proverbs 30:12,13; and cp. 28:13). And Isaiah pilloried those “which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me: for I am holier than thou” (65:5). These area smoke in God’s nose, and not sweet incense. “They trusted in themselves that they were righteous” (v. 9) is very close to the LXX text of Ezekiel 33:13; “if he trust in his own righteousness,” a passage which has a marked contrast (in v. 14-16) appropriate to redemption in Christ.
Jesus feared the growth of this self-righteous spirit in his disciples and in a short parable of matchless incisiveness he warned them against it.
First, there is the picture of the Pharisee who goes into the temple court and there strikes an attitude which will impress others whether they hear the tenor of his prayer or not. The Lord’s phrase provides a withering exposure: “he prayed with (more exactly, towards) himself.”
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Author: Harry Whittaker
Keywords: Pharisees, Pharisee, Publican, Pharisee and publican
Bible reference(s): Luke 18:9-14
Source: Studies in the Gospels.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.