Parable Of The Pharisee And The Tax Collector

Spring, c. 33 AD

Parable Of The Pharisee And The Tax Collector

To address those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and viewed others with contempt, Jesus delivered a piercing parable. He described two men going up to the temple to pray: a respected Pharisee and a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed about his own fasting and tithing, thanking God he was not like the swindlers around him.

In contrast, the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift his eyes to heaven. Beating his chest, he offered a simple, desperate plea: "God, be merciful to me, the sinner!" Jesus shocked His audience by declaring that the tax collector went down to his house justified, while the Pharisee did not, for whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

"But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'"
— Luke 18:13 (LSB)

Timeline Box: This parable is situated in the later Judean/Perean ministry block, confronting the prevailing self-righteousness of the era.

Divided Kingdom Era, c. 865 BC

Elijah Fed By Ravens At Cherith

During a severe, divinely ordained drought in Israel, the prophet Elijah has been commanded to hide by the brook Cherith. In a bizarre display of God's provision, Yahweh has commanded ravens to bring the prophet bread and meat every morning and evening. God is sustaining His messenger in the wilderness while the nation starves under Ahab's wicked reign.

"And it will be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to sustain you there."
— 1 Kings 17:4 (LSB)

Timeline Box: Elijah's time at Cherith marks the beginning of the three-and-a-half-year drought.

Conquest Era, 1405 BC

The Sun Stands Still For Joshua

In one of the most astonishing miracles recorded in military history, Joshua has commanded the sun to stand still over Gibeon and the moon over the valley of Aijalon. Yahweh listened to the voice of a man, pausing the celestial bodies for nearly a whole day so that the armies of Israel could complete their victory over the five Amorite kings.

"Then Joshua spoke to Yahweh in the day when Yahweh gave over the Amorites before the sons of Israel... 'O sun, stand still at Gibeon, And O moon in the valley of Aijalon.'"
— Joshua 10:12 (LSB)

Timeline Box: This miracle occurred during the southern campaign following the fall of Jericho and Ai.

Editorial: Miracles And Mercy

God responds to those who recognize their complete dependence on Him. Joshua needed daylight to win a battle he could not finish; Elijah needed food in a drought he could not survive; the tax collector needed mercy for a debt he could not pay.

The Pharisee in the parable asked for nothing because he believed he needed nothing, and therefore he received nothing. But when we beat our chests in humility, the God who stops the sun and commands the ravens is the same God who pours out justification. True power is found only in absolute reliance on the mercy of the Almighty.

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