A Legalist and A Tax Collector

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes We sometimes struggle to relate to biblical stories. Sometimes the roles of the characters, the historical implications of their actions, or just the way they are referenced can get in our way. Parables are often especially difficult to understand. The Parable Today, we discuss a topic that can get lost in one of the simplest but most powerful parables of Jesus. This parable is about a Pharisee, who is a legalist, and a tax collector, who is poorly regarded by society. The legalistic arrogance of the Pharisee is clear in this parable and elsewhere in Scripture. But the challenge for us is that we are drawn to this legalism, this self-sufficiency, today. The Gospel The parable is about a response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Pharisee says that he is worthy and not inferior like the tax collector. The tax collector begs for mercy and calls himself a sinner. We tend to obsess over the past, and we struggle to employ the biblical imperative to look forward. My hope is that this episode encourages you in your faith. I pray that it prompts us to humbly see ourselves and our sin clearly as we rest in our Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on our behalf. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at [email protected], and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “The parable is about a response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” John Warren