Kingdom Prayer: The Gospel of Luke With N.T. WrightSýnishorn

Understanding this parable requires us to recognise a few things about Jesus’ day. We’re used to automatically placing the Pharisees in the ‘bad guy’ role in the Gospels. This is a problematic modern practice. The Pharisees were the group of piety. They strove to be upright; to promote the teachings of Torah among the people; to make the life of the Temple relevant for everyday living. And all for the sake of the people. They were not ‘legalistic’ in the sense that we think of that word today. They believed, as did many Jews, that their collective righteousness would hasten the return of God and the restoration of the people.

To Jesus’ hearers in Luke 18, the Pharisee would be set up as the ‘good guy’. The tax collector, as a tax collector, would certainly be assumed the ‘bad guy’. Attentive readers, then, will not be shocked when Jesus does the divine reversal thing that we’re so familiar with by now. This move is especially potent, because the prayer the Pharisee prays is exactly in line with the presumptions Jesus has been warning about throughout the Gospel, and maybe even the presumption of his hearers (then and now) as they decide who the ‘good guy’ and ‘bad guy’ in the story is. ‘Thank you that I’m not like those other people.’ Jesus sets up the question. Are you so sure?

Jesus used a telling word to round off the parable. Justified, or vindicated. The tax collector goes home vindicated. Vindication is a major theme in Luke, set up all the way back in the Magnificat. God is coming back to reign and set things right. Who will be vindicated when that happens? Those you wouldn’t expect. The lowly, the outcast, the humble, the meek. (Paul later expounds this theme of vindication into the realm of justification to show that this same reversal applies to who becomes members of God’s family.)

Just in case anyone missed the point, Jesus spells it out. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted. It’s almost as if Jesus’ mother had taught him that song of hers, and he had never forgotten it.

Reflection:

When are you tempted to thank God that you are not like other people? Who are those other people? How can you pray for and love them more?