The prayer of the Pharisee
Luke 18:11-13
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
The prayer of the Pharisee
The prayer of the Pharisee
echoes through the ages.
“I am glad I am not like him”,
was his battle cry.
“Look at me he whispered”,
in a state of great contentment.
“I am not like that man up there,
he does not even try”.
The other one just stood,
looking up at Heaven.
All he could whisper,
“I am full of sin”.
“I’m worn down and helpless.
I’m out of resistance.
Stress and strain have drained me.
You know where I have been.”
The Pharisee then moved
in solemn retribution.
He went home and took a bath
for by the other, he felt defiled.
The other on the other hand
just stood there quietly trembling
not knowing God had heard him
and cleansed him from inside.
Jan Wienen