13 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.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Luke 18:13-14, The Bible
Poem: The Publican
The publican would not lift up his eyes; He knew that God could see through his disguise; He knew that he got rich by telling lies; "Please show me grace and mercy, Lord", he cried.
Yesterday I spoke about what to expect from Pharisees and how their mentality makes them think of themselves as better than their fellow men.
Today, I would like to talk about the yin of the Pharisee — the publican — and what we can learn from the sinner.
Who were the publicans?
Publicans were the tax collectors in the Bible; they collected tax on behalf of the Roman government.
I always wondered why they were mentioned a lot in the New Testament of the Bible. What was their significance?
So I asked ChatGPT, and here's what it said:
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Despised by Jews: Publicans were often Jews working for the Roman occupiers, so they were seen as traitors. Many were also corrupt, charging extra and keeping the surplus.
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Symbol of sinners: Because of their reputation for greed and dishonesty, publicans became a symbol of moral and spiritual failure in Jewish society.
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Outcasts: Publicans were social and spiritual outcasts, yet were still capable of redemption through humility, repentance and faith.
From what ChatGPT said, we can come to some interesting conclusions:
- Publicans were willful sinners; they were knowingly overcharging people in taxes to make a quick buck.
- Publicans had a bad reputation and were looked at as the scum of the earth.
- Publicans were rejected by many people, making them outcasts.
Who were the prostitutes?
Prostitutes were women who engaged in sexual relations outside of marriage for payment.
The prostitutes were also despised by Jews, symbols of sinners and outcasts. The main difference was that publicans charged extra to get a financial gain, and prostitutes charged sex for the same advantage.
Just like the publicans:
- Prostitutes were willful sinners.
- Prostitutes had a bad reputation.
- Prostitutes were rejected by many people.
Pharisees would look down on both publicans and prostitutes thinking, "Why can't they both be more like me?" or "Thank God I'm better than them."
What the Bible says about publicans and prostitutes
Publicans and prostitutes may seem like they are beyond redemption; they are willful sinners that do not want to change, or want to change but refuse to do so. But there is even hope for them, according to Jesus:
Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
Matthew 21:31b, The Bible
The main attribute that distinguishes them from the Pharisee is their understanding that they need a savior. They know what they are doing is wrong, but they know only a higher power can deliver them from it.
These people are more likely to believe in Him than the Pharisee, because the Pharisee is trusting in his own power.
As stated in the Bible, God desires to show us mercy (to the publicans and prostitutes), not to demand sacrifice (as the Pharisees believe):
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Hosea 6:6, The Bible
We can see when he showed Zacchaeus the publican mercy (Luke 19:1-10) and when he showed a woman who committed adultery (similar to a prostitute) mercy (John 8:1-11). In both cases, none were worthy of salvation, but Jesus proved that the gift of salvation is for everyone, if you are humble enough to receive it.
Bottom line
The moral of the story is not to live like the Pharisee or to live like the publican or prostitute, but to understand that Jesus' mercy is limitless. Whether we like it or not, we will sin, but this should be a reminder of Jesus' mercy on us and how we should show mercy to others.
It also reminds us to be careful not to think we know what to do at all times like the Pharisee but to be humble enough to seek it out from God; the knowledge of God is more than burnt offerings.
Or, as Paul the apostle put it:
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1 Corinthians 10:12, The Bible