Sir 35:12-14, 16-19; 2Tim
4:6-8,16-18; Lk 18:9-14
In
the 10th century BC, after King David captured the city of Jerusalem and made
it the capital of the Israelites, he chose a high place as the site of a great
temple to house the Ark of the Covenant (2 Samuel 24:18-25). But the
construction of the project was completed by King Solomon in
957 BC. The Temple of Jerusalem was an important centre of religious and national identity from the beginning, but it became even more important at the time of King Josiah (640–609 BC) He abolished all other sanctuaries and established Solomon's Temple as the only acceptable place for sacrifice in the Kingdom of Judah. The prayer at the temple is considered particularly efficacious. Therefore whenever possible the Jews went to the temple to pray. When away from Jerusalem, the Jews would turn in the direction of the Holy city and the Temple.
957 BC. The Temple of Jerusalem was an important centre of religious and national identity from the beginning, but it became even more important at the time of King Josiah (640–609 BC) He abolished all other sanctuaries and established Solomon's Temple as the only acceptable place for sacrifice in the Kingdom of Judah. The prayer at the temple is considered particularly efficacious. Therefore whenever possible the Jews went to the temple to pray. When away from Jerusalem, the Jews would turn in the direction of the Holy city and the Temple.
The Temple
of Jerusalem played a significant role in the life of
Jesus too. After his birth, Jesus was dedicated at the Temple in
accordance with the Law of Moses (Luke 2:22-28). When he was a boy, he
impressed the Jewish teachers with his knowledge (Luke 2:41-52). Jesus was
later tempted by Satan to jump off the Temple to prove his status and he
angrily overturned tables of moneychangers during the "Cleansing of the
Temple" (Matthew 21:12). Jesus chose the temple as the background for
today’s parable. Jesus said: "Two men went up to the temple to
pray” one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The name
Pharisee was given to a group that had come into existence at a time when,
on account of persecution, many Jews abandoned their religion. Their aim
was to set an example of faithfulness to the Jewish religion. But gradually
their descendants grew proud and self righteous. They began to boast of
their holiness and despised the weakness of others. This attitude is
clearly seen in the words of Rabbi Simeon Ben Jacai, who wrote, “If there are
only two righteous men in the world, I and my son are these two; if there is
one, I am he.” Jesus teaches that this attitude is unacceptable before God.
Two men went
up to the temple to pray. The Pharisee stood at a prominent place and
enumerated the things that he was doing. Some Pharisees liked to impress the
people with their show of devotion. So they chose Mondays and Thursdays as
fasting days. Mondays and Thursdays being market days, many
people would visit Jerusalem on these days. They stood in the market
places covered with ashes, as a sign of their fasting. The common people saw
these external signs and were impressed with their holiness. But Jesus went
deep into the spirit of their prayer and religious observances. He depicted the
Pharisee as a symbol of pride. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about
himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers,
evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a
week and give a tenth of all I get.'
But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would
not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on
me, a sinner.’ The only similarity that Jesus presents between the two is:
"Two men went up to the temple to pray." The parable
highlights the differences between the two. The Pharisee prided himself in
the fact that he was a keeper of God's law and not among "robbers,
evildoers, adulterers." The Publican, by contrast, could only say,
"God, have mercy on me, a sinner." The Pharisee exuded
confidence; the Publican depicted a lack of confidence.
A humble prayer is always welcome before God. One
of the greatest examples of this is the prayer of King Solomon. He stood before
the Lord with an attitude of Humility, "I am a little child; I do not know
how to go out or come in." He prayed, “Give to Your servant an
understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and
evil." (I Kings 3:9). Humble prayers are always answered. God said to
Solomon, “"See, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that
there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise
after you. I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and
honour, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your
days." To those who are humble God promises great things, "I
dwell in the high and holy place; with him who has a contrite and humble
spirit." (Isaiah 57:15). Whenever people approached Jesus with humble
requests Jesus never turned them away empty handed. The people who sought
comfort in Jesus, and the People who sought cure from Jesus all went back
satisfied. Jesus says the tax collector who came to the temple with
a humble heart went home justified.
Another difference between the Pharisee and the tax
collector is that “One stood up and one stood off”. The Pharisee chose a
prominent place to be seen by others. While the sinner stood away. People who
are aware of the holiness of God and their own sinfulness never dared to stand
up in the presence of God. The holiness of God is so inspiring. So the book of
revelation declares "Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, (Rev. 15:4).
The tax collector who had this experience stood off. “Fools rush in where
angels fear to tread”. (Alexander
Pope ).
Thirdly, one exalted himself and one humbled
himself. The Pharisee was proud of his humility, and the tax collector was
humbled by the realization of his pride. The Pharisee despised the Publican who
was unaware of anything else but the presence of God. God always exalts those
who humble themselves and exalt their fellow men. James Henry Leigh Hunt’s poem
“Abu Ben Adhem” describes it in a moving manner. Abou Ben Adhem was a religious
person. One night when he was sleeping peacefully in his room, a sparkling
light woke him up. He found out that this bright light was due to the presence
of an angel who was writing something in a golden book. He asked the angel what
he was writing in the book. The angel replied that he was writing the
names of all those people who love God. About asked the angel curiously if his
name was in the list. The angel replied that his name was not there. He then
politely requested the angel to write his name as the one who loved his fellow
men. The angle wrote and disappeared. The other night, the Angel came again
with a still glistening light and displayed the names of people whom God loved.
Abou Ben Adhem saw that his name was on the top of the list.
Let us stand before the Lord with an attitude of
humility. Then our prayers will be acceptable before God.
Satish