The Pharisee's Prayer Analyzed.
This prayer consists of two parts. The first is occupied with an enumeration of his neighbor's bad qualities—"I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican." The second with a statement of his own good qualities—"I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess." This is done by way of comparison—"I am not as other men are." He seeth his own supposed excellence in contrast with the vileness of "other men." All his supposed goodness he ascribes to God's grace—"God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are." The prayer contains neither confession of sin, nor petition for mercy, but only thanksgiving. He manifestly considers himself as "rich and increased in goods, and having need of nothing," save only to thank God for his abundance. 1. It is a certain mark of Pharisaism that one regards himself with self-complacency, and his neighbors with contempt. 2. Pharisees always compare themselves not with God's law, but with "other men." 3. Pharisees never look to the state of the heart, but only to their outward performances. It is not humility, or faith, or purity of heart, which this man boasts—things of which men are not apt to be proud—but of fasting and alms-deeds, outward works which the most wicked men can perform. 4. Pharisees are quite willing to thank God for their superior goodness, provided only that it be acknowledged without contradiction. But if you attempt to show them that they are not so righteous as they supposed themselves to be, then they are offended. 5. A prayer without either confession of sin or petition for mercy is very suspicious. 6. The Pharisee will always meet with an awful repulse at the throne of grace. This man who "trusted in himself that he was righteous, and despised others" was rejected, while the publican was graciously accepted.