The parable of the Pharisee and the Publican illustrates the problem with the very human tendency to make comparisons. Is Ziva David better than Ellie Bishop? Is the pitcher we traded for better than the other? Which is the lesser of the evils that I should vote for in the next election? Jesus wants us to understand that in the spiritual life it is deadly to compare ourselves to others. The Pharisee looked around and thought he must be okay since he wasn’t as bad as the other guy. The only criterion the Publican used was who he was supposed to be before God. Since we can’t know what another person has gone through we must only compare ourselves to the child of God whom we were created to become.
MARCH52016
By Church Staff