WORLDS APART

Worlds Apart

Toni Babcock

“And [Jesus] spoke this parable unto certain people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are; extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.’

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:9-14 KJV)

The Pharisee used plenty of words but exercised no repentance. The publican, in contrast, prayed seven words, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” He felt no need to remind God about his own goodness because he knew he had no goodness to attribute to himself. He cast himself entirely upon the mercy of God. In this way, he acknowledged both who God is (all-merciful) and who he was (a sinner). This did not take a vast quantity of words. Clearly, one man was self-righteous toward God – the other full of contrition and humility. 

The Pharisee despised others and applauded himself. But Psalm 51 reminds us, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)

Toni M. Babcock is the author of The Stone Writer, and Reflections from the Heart, In light of the Gospel of Jesus. Contact