The Pharisee and the Tax Collector: Tim Horman
Have you ever felt like your prayers weren't quite hitting the mark? Or maybe you've wondered what God really looks for when we talk to Him? It's a common feeling, and something we explored recently here at One Church.
In a powerful message from our "Teach us to Pray" series, Tim Horman dived into a rather surprising story Jesus told. It’s found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 18, verses 9 to 17. This passage gives us an incredible insight into the kind of heart God is drawn to and the sort of prayer He truly values.
So, grab a cuppa, get comfy, and let's unpack this together. We'll look at what Jesus was teaching and how it can reshape our own prayer lives and our walk with God. We’ll also have some questions for you to ponder on your own or chat about in your small group.
We’ve also included audio and video recordings of the full sermon by Tim Horman.
Understanding the Message: A Tale of Two Prayers
Jesus was a master storyteller, and the parable in Luke 18 is a classic example. He told it, Luke says, "to some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else." Sounds like He was about to stir things up, right?
The Scene: Two Men in the Temple
Imagine this: two men walk into the temple, the most sacred place for Jewish people, to pray. First, there's a Pharisee. Now, in their day, Pharisees were seen as the spiritual superstars. They were meticulous about following God's law, devoted to religious practices, and generally looked up to. This particular Pharisee, as Tim pointed out, was even more devout than most – he fasted twice a week (the law only required once a year!) and gave a tenth of everything he got, not just his income. He was morally upright, passionate about his faith, and even generous to the poor. He sounds like a model citizen, the kind of person you'd want on your church board!
Then there's the tax collector. In stark contrast, tax collectors were pretty much universally despised. They worked for the Roman occupiers and were often corrupt, lining their own pockets by extorting their own people. Tim gave a pretty vivid picture: imagine someone betraying their own community for personal gain with the enemy. That’s the kind of deep loathing people felt. They were seen as traitors, shameful, and well beyond God's mercy.
Their Prayers: A Study in Contrasts
The Pharisee stands up, bold as brass, and essentially tells God how great he is. "God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get." Notice something? As Tim highlighted, his prayer is all about "I, I, I."
"The Pharisee separated himself off from the sinners. He stood by himself and he prayed to himself about himself." - Tim Horman
He was confident in his own goodness, his own spiritual achievements. He was basically giving God his spiritual resume.
The tax collector, on the other hand, couldn't even bring himself to look up to heaven. He stood at a distance, beat his chest in sorrow, and prayed a simple, desperate prayer: "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." He didn't offer any excuses, no list of good deeds (even if he had them – Tim reminded us that we don't actually know his personal life, only his profession). He just threw himself on God's mercy.
The Shocking Outcome
And here’s the kicker, the bit that would have made everyone listening gasp. Jesus says, "I tell you that this man [the tax collector], rather than the other, went home justified before God." Justified. Made right with God. Forgiven. The despised sinner, not the spiritual hero. Why? "For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
Jesus then immediately follows this with an encounter where people were bringing babies for Him to bless. The disciples, probably thinking they were protecting Jesus' time and importance, told them off. But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
The connection is crystal clear. Just like the tax collector came with nothing but his need, we too must come to God with the humility and simple trust of a little child – powerless, vulnerable, and completely dependent.
Connecting to Our Lives: More Than Just Sunday Best
So, what does this ancient story mean for us in our busy, modern lives here in Australia? It's incredibly relevant.
It’s easy to fall into the Pharisee trap, isn't it? Maybe we don’t stand on street corners boasting, but we can subtly start to think our good deeds, our church attendance, our theological knowledge, or our moral choices make us a bit more acceptable to God than others. We might not say it out loud, but we can start to look down on those who don't seem to have it all together like we (think we) do.
Tim put it quite directly:
"No one enters the kingdom of God on the basis of their merit. And likewise no one progresses in the things of God on the basis of their merit... otherwise we are practicing the religion of the scribes and the Pharisees." - Tim Horman
This isn't to say that living a good life, being generous, or pursuing spiritual disciplines is bad. The Pharisee's actions, in themselves, were commendable! The problem was his heart. He trusted in himself and his own righteousness. He compared himself to others to feel superior.
The message of the tax collector is a breath of fresh air. It tells us that God isn't looking for spiritual giants who have it all figured out. He's looking for honest hearts that recognise their need for Him. He's looking for humility.
Think about it:
When you pray, is it a performance, or a genuine conversation?
Do you ever find yourself comparing your spiritual journey to someone else's, either feeling smug or inadequate?
How does it feel to know that God's mercy is available to you, not based on how "good" you've been, but simply because He is merciful?
Coming to God like a child doesn't mean being childish. It means being unpretentious, trusting, and aware of our dependence. Children don't usually try to impress with their resumes; they just come as they are, expecting to be loved and cared for. That's the posture God invites us into.
This understanding changes everything, especially our prayers. We don't need to polish our words or list our achievements. We can come to God with our mess, our brokenness, our simple pleas for help, and know that He hears us. Because He’s not interested in our performance; He’s interested in our hearts.
The Invitation to Humble Prayer
The core message from Tim's sermon, drawn from Jesus’ powerful teaching, is this: God’s door is wide open to the humble. It’s not about how good we are, but about how good He is. The tax collector went home right with God because he understood his need for mercy. The Pharisee, despite all his outward religiosity, missed it because he was full of himself.
This is a message of immense hope! It means no one is too far gone, and no one needs to earn their way to God. He invites us to come as we are, with open hands and humble hearts, just like a little child.
One Way to Live it Out this week
Take a moment each day to pray the tax collector's prayer: "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Don't just say the words, but reflect on your own need for God's grace in specific areas of your life. Notice how it shifts your focus from your performance to His provision.
A Short Prayer:
Father God, thank You for the reminder that You don't demand perfection, but You delight in a humble heart. Help me to let go of any pride or self-righteousness, and to come to You with the simple, trusting faith of a child. Thank You for Your incredible mercy that meets me right where I am. Amen.
Reflection & Discussion Questions
Here are a few questions to mull over personally, and some for your small group to dive into:
Personal Reflection:
In what ways do you identify more with the Pharisee in the story? In what ways with the tax collector? Be honest with yourself.
How does the idea of "receiving the kingdom of God like a little child" challenge or comfort you?
What’s one area of your life where you need to specifically ask for God’s mercy, rather than relying on your own efforts?
Small Group Discussion:
What was one thing that stood out to you from the sermon or this blog post?
Tim mentioned the parable would have been "unbelievably offensive" to its original hearers. Why do you think this was the case, and are there aspects of Jesus' teachings today that still challenge our cultural or religious assumptions?
The Pharisee seemed to be doing a lot of good things (fasting, tithing, upholding the law). When do good actions cross the line into self-righteousness? How can we guard our hearts against this?
"The Pharisee prayed to himself about himself." What are some signs that our prayers might be more about us than about God? How can we cultivate God-centered prayer?
Discuss the statement: "No one is born again on the basis of their performance... and no one progresses in the things of God on the basis of their performance." How does this truth impact your understanding of salvation and spiritual growth?
How can we, as individuals and as a church community, better embody the humility of the tax collector and the childlike faith Jesus calls us to?
Tim suggested that the passage about Jesus and the little children (Luke 18:15-17) is directly connected to the parable. How does understanding this connection deepen the meaning of both passages?
How can we practically pray for one another this week to grow in humility and to more fully receive God’s grace, just as we are?