Jesus, we’ve noticed. Time after time, you unloaded on those who set the example of what the Law required. What was worse, you buddied up with those of questionable repute. You’d think if you’d really wanted to change the world, you’d garner influence from those who ran things. Usual common sense just isn’t your forte.

Jesus didn’t tell stories or preach so good people can be good people. The Trouble with Jesus is good people are not much use to him.

The Holy and the Scumbag

Take the story known as the Pharisee and Tax Collector. Pharisees were the gatekeepers of the Law, the over 600 dictates in the ancient texts. They policed the people to keep them in line with how things should go. Granted, they had a big role in negotiating a livable existence with the Romans occupiers. If the people were to practice their lifestyles and rituals, the synagogues and Temple had to be secure. Just another example of go along to get along. It may have made sense in the long run. Some say it was vital for the Jews to keep the over 600 laws dictated in the ancient texts, for if all of them kept it for 24 hours, the Messiah would come and release them from this political oppression they endured. Pharisees were needed to hold the bar high.

Jesus doesn’t buy into their kind of goodness. He describes a scene that likely the people had seen or known by the snotty attitudes these priests often had. A Pharisee is in the Temple praying. Praying by himself no less. He positions himself away from the people because they aren’t like him. They don’t keep the fine points of the Law like tithing even the amount of spice they are given or not taking too many steps on the Sabbath day. He’s a good man after all. He fasts twice a week, he doesn’t cheat, he doesn’t commit adultery. He reminds God in his prayer how he “doesn’t sin.” All of this is fact. So he thanks God he’s not like everyone else. God doesn’t have to worry about this one.

In a more remote part of the Temple, another man prays who “dared not even lift his eyes to heaven.” He’s a tax collector, a Jew who works for the Romans. Not only that, while they did the dirty work of the regime, they also profited beyond the taxing by taking extra money from the people for themselves. These wealthy traitors supported the oppression of the people, for certainly none of the tax benefited them. Suffice it to say, they were an easy target if you needed to point out a sinner.

Jesus contrasts the two characters, for while the first prayer celebrated himself, the second prayer of the tax collector was of such remorse he “beat his chest in sorrow.” He didn’t make excuses about how he was raised or had a family to support or fell in with the wrong crowd. He only asks for mercy upon himself, a sinner, one who is separated from both God and others.

Build Up with a Put Down

Now if you’d admit it, everyone gets to the top by stepping on others, right? In the spiritual realm, this story exposes how comparison with others is really an element of pride. Jesus doesn’t lift a scale for people to determine how good they are, especially by looking at what others do. But don’t people connect with that kind of thinking? A ladder to climb upon is all they’re looking for.

That might not be so egregious except how it keeps distance with God as far apart as the Pharisee stayed from the tax collector. In a deeper way, it also keeps God out of one’s business. How much more pride can you have?

The Moral Inventory

Regardless, this sinner didn’t need an accusation from a Pharisee. He saw in himself how much of a sinner he was. You can’t fall lower than that. Step Four in recovery groups requires a “searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.” Such honest effort looks in the mirror at the ugliness of who we are on our own. No excuses or denial allowed. Take that to God.

Beyond these two characters, others are significant in the telling of this story. Jesus is speaking to “some who had great self-confidence and scorned everyone else.” It’s not hard to guess who they were, those religious spies who often stood on the perimeter as Jesus taught. They were there to collect data and spin how this popular self-called rabbi/teacher was up to no good. Or not the goodness they thought was enough to please God. If good people were of no use to Jesus, then neither were they.

Even so, why can’t Jesus leave it at that? Just show two extreme characters in their spiritual states and just tell people to beware of being like either of them. Both sides would appreciate being able to take away something for themselves with their dignity intact. Except that’s just another way of leaving them in their pride. Jesus, why do you do this, shoot surgical knives into the soul and take away what makes the heart beat?

Reversed Goodness

Jesus takes the side of the tax collector: “I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For the proud will be humbled, but the humbled will be honored.” His messages upend what’s thought to be appropriate with a spin of reversal.

When you’ve done all you can for God, don’t dare touch the glory.

Your goodness doesn’t even come close to what God wants of you.

Jesus wants that reversal, that beating of the chest to be what you haven’t been, not for your own sake or pride. Recognize there is nothing about yourself that can save you from yourself, who you are, what’s at the deepest center of your soul. Moral justification leaves no room for God.

Only an honest, broken heart is a heart that God can move and move into with love, mercy and grace.

Now that is good.  

Luke 18:9-14

Named 2024 Notable Book Award by Southern Christian Writers Conference!

The Trouble with Jesus: Considerations Before You Walk Away by Constance Hastings

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