“Hypocrites”
(Luke 18:9-14)
The Greenhouse ~ 16th Sunday after Trinity
The context of the story we explore today tells us that this tale about the prayers of a Pharisee and a tax collector are a parable. Unlike comparing the good news of the kingdom to a seed, or the kingdom to a treasure, or another obvious metaphors, this story feels very real, much more literal and much less symbolic than other parables. Indeed, two other gospel passages come to mind that bear striking resemblances, and neither is a parable. In one passage, Mark 12:41-44, Jesus and the disciples observe people putting money into the offering box. Though many rich people put in large sums, Jesus observes a poor widow put in two small coins. Yet Jesus points this out to the disciples and tells them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box” (v. 43). Perhaps the parallel with today’s parable is not so obvious, but I find some close parallels between the wealthy and respected doing what is expected of them, but Jesus praising the one who is an outcast and does what is unexpected. A much closer parallel, however, comes in Jesus’ teaching on prayer in His Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6:5, Jesus says, “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others.” In contrast, Jesus says his disciples should pray in secret (v. 6). Here we have those who pray that they may be seen, that they may be compared favorably with other “lesser” persons who are around them. In contrast, Jesus praises praying in secret, in a position of humility, or at the very least, one of obscurity.
In Luke 18:9-14, we have another story of one who prays to be seen, a hypocrite, one who flaunts his self-righteousness in an unrighteous way. The other character, a tax collector, humbles himself before the Lord, asking for mercy because he knows he has acted sinfully. Luke tells us that Jesus shares this story “to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else” (v. 9). The Pharisee in the parable says, “thank you that I’m not like other people—greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.” The Pharisee’s response has much to unpack. First, he expresses thanks that he is not like other people, which seems clear enough, but with the context it becomes certain that he looks down upon these other people as lesser than himself. Second, he shares what kind of people he looks down upon—greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, and tax collectors. Presumably, this Pharisee thinks that giving a tenth of all he has makes him not greedy and fasting twice a week makes him righteous. But the way in which he trusts in his actions for his righteousness betrays a lack of dependence on God’s mercy. Moreover, the way he elevates himself above the tax collector betrays self-righteousness, arrogance, and superiority, none of which illustrates the virtues of God’s kingdom.
The tax collector, by contrast, comes with no misconceptions about his own righteousness; he knows he is unrighteous. He does not make excuses; he does not feign righteousness; he asks God for mercy. And God will give it. Jesus says it was this man, this obvious sinner, who went away justified. Why? Because the one who humbles himself (the tax collector) will be exalted, while he who exalts himself (the Pharisee) will be humbled.
The message is straightforward: humble yourself and ask God for mercy. Don’t approach God in arrogance claiming to be better than everyone else. Simple enough. Or is it? The challenge is that a hypocrite like this Pharisee is rarely aware of his hypocrisy. In fact, each one of us probably perpetuates at least one hypocrisy in our lives. The challenge is to identify it and root it out. It is one thing to say, be humble, ask for mercy, and confess your sin, but what do you do if you are unaware that an action, an attitude, or a practice in your life is sinful?
For example, American culture, especially in the past decade, has been hyper-focused on “cancel culture.” In Bible-belt Midwest, I encounter many who regularly complain about how the “Left” is canceling Christians. They can, and often do, speak at length about all the things the “Left” is canceling, and they reject outright the notion of cancel culture. Within days, or sometimes within minutes in the same conversation, these same people “cancel” (many Christians like to call it “boycott”) Nike, Target, and any other organization that they view as promoting a “liberal” agenda. I’ve spent a good bit of time talking to people on both sides of this “cancel war” pointing out the inconsistencies in what they are doing. I often speak publicly about how we are to love our neighbors, not cast them as the enemy and go to war with them. They are not our enemy. As Paul writes in Ephesians 6, “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (v. 12). The cancel culture is part of a culture war that I think it unwise as Christians to fight. And yet, I have at times found myself proud of this position, of staying out of the culture wars, only to realize how often I am tempted to cancel certain individuals who are involved in these culture wars. In standing outside with eyes to see their possible sin, I can easily become blind to my own and act in hypocrisy. I now am more keenly aware of this tendency, and I am trying to learn how to guard against it.
But this is not the only area where we tend towards hypocrisy. I was telling a story in premarital counseling recently about how children are sanctifying because the sins we point out in their lives that make us as parents so frustrated are often only a mirror on our own lives. The sin I see in my children is merely my own sin on display. To call it out in them without correcting it in me is, you guessed it, the epitome of hypocrisy. I don’t set out to be a hypocrite, but hypocrisy sneaks in unawares and can lead us astray silently. Yes, some Christians struggle with overt, blatant, public sins, and they, like the tax collector, should plead to God for mercy. But many Christians, and I count myself among them, have become, at least at times, Pharisaical, very good at doing the right things, looking pious and holy on the outside, but then veering silently into hypocrisy. I confess that publicly.
What, then, can we do? First, we must pursue true humility. Stop elevating ourselves above others. Jesus sets the example of this for us in His earthly life, summarized so well by Paul in Philippians 2:1-11:
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Second, we must spend time in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and expose our hidden faults. Though it is very difficult to discern our own hypocrisy, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us into this knowledge, but we must ask Him and stop suppressing His conviction when it comes. Receive correction, repent, and in humility walk out that repentance in love.
Third, ask others to hold us accountable. Establish relationships with people deep enough that they can and will point out the hypocrisy they see in our lives, and then receive that correction with thankfulness and a plea to God for mercy.
Discussion Questions
How might Jesus retell a parable in our context if he wished, as he does here, to tell a parable “to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt”?
What are some ways we can fall into self-righteousness today?
Have you found helpful ways to identify hypocrisy in your life?
Feature and In-Text Image: The Pharisee and the Publican by James Tissot
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