Similarities Between The Parable Of The Pharisee And The Tax Collector

Olivia LaBonte

New Testament

Professor Duff

May 8, 2023

Final Essay

The Parable of the Tax Collector, also known as the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, is one of the most well-known parables taught by Jesus in the New Testament. This parable is recorded in Luke's Gospel and Luke 18:9-14. The story recounts two men praying to the temple, a Pharisee and a tax collector. The Pharisee prays with a sense of self-righteousness and thanks God that he is not like others, including the tax collector. In contrast, the tax collector humbly asks for God's mercy, acknowledging his sinfulness. The Parable of the Tax Collector has been analyzed and interpreted by many scholars, with varying views on its meaning and significance. Two prominent

According to Levine, the story casts doubt that morality is primarily determined by one's religious beliefs and social standing. She emphasizes that Jesus' depiction of the Pharisee is not intended to disparage all Pharisees but rather to criticize those who use religion to elevate themselves above others and to condemn others. Levine further notes that the parable stresses the value of humility and admitting one's own mistakes. The Tax Collector receives God's mercy because of his humble demeanor despite his social disgrace. Levine also explores the parable's historical setting, focusing on the conflict that existed in Jesus' day's Jewish culture between the Pharisees and the Tax Collectors. While Tax Collectors were frequently disliked for their ties to the Roman government and apparent greed, the Pharisees were revered leaders who faithfully followed religious tenets. Jesus questions cultural conventions and the idea that someone's status or religious practices define virtue by contrasting the two characters in the tale. Amy-Jill Levine views the story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector as challenging conventional wisdom and emphasizing the value of humility and self-awareness. Levine's interpretation of the story elucidates its historical setting and profoundly comprehends its message.

Miller analyzes the parable from a literary perspective, focusing on its structure and meaning. The writing discusses Jesus' parable of the Tax Collector, which invites us to decide which of the two men we would rather be like. However, a historical-critical parable analysis shows it is more mysterious than edifying. The story is composed of a parable that Luke inherited, plus his own interpretive embellishments, and has the potential to provoke a searching examination of our self-serving motivations. Two types of analysis are needed to understand the story; literary and social-historical. In the opinion of Miller, the most important details in the text are the two statements Luke added to the parable, instructing the audience on how to evaluate the characters in the story. Luke's interpretation of the parable is obvious and easily summarized in that self-righteous arrogance is bad. It is argued that Luke's portrayal of the Pharisees is a self-serving Christian fabrication that reflects the bitter relations between the leaders of mainstream Judaism and the marginalized Jewish followers of Jesus. Jesus' original conclusion to the story is unexpected, as God approves of the prayer of the sinful toll collector and rejects the Pharisee's gratitude for the blessings of his extraordinary