“God, I thank you that I am not like other people- robbers, evildoers, adulterers- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I have.”- Luke 18:11-12
Kyle Idleman continues Chapter 3 of The End of Me with a discussion of The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14). Pastor Idleman states people looked up to Pharisees because they were committed to Hebrew law and were likely to be upstanding, educated, and influential. Although the Pharisees began with good intentions, eventually their faith became defined by an “unbearable, infinite collection of dos and don’ts, mostly don’ts.”
Luke clues us in that Jesus’ audience consisted of people “who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else” (v.9). Kyle observes that when we read such a description, we almost immediately assume Jesus is talking to someone else. However, as soon as we assign negative descriptors to others, we become the very people Jesus is addressing.
The issue in this parable is pride versus humility. Pastor Idleman explains:
“Fake humility expresses itself in a pride that is obvious to everyone but the speaker. . . . Ultimately our words betray us, no matter how much we guard them.”
In the next several blogs Kyle discusses six verbal symptoms of a prideful heart that indicate an internal Pharisee is about to flow out of our mouths.
Today’s question: How has your internal Pharisee been displayed following your vocation loss? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “You may be a Pharisee if . . .”
