It took me about 15 minutes to read this passage. Jesus told a parable that featured two men; a Pharisee and a tax collector. The point of the story was to show that it is not religious position that produces God’s reception, but rather that it is the attitude of the heart. If we wanted to archive the same level of “offense” for today’s hears as was felt by the people who heard Jesus tell this story, what occupations would we assign the righteous (tax collector) and unrighteous (Pharisee) men? Would it be a garbage man and a preacher? Would it be a homeless person and a legislator? Would it be a child molester and Bible college professor? I think any of those combinations would drive home Jesus’ point that righteousness in God’s sight is based upon the actions of God’s grace in a life, not the noticeable actions of the person coming before God.
Stuart
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