He then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. "Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity– greedy, dishonest, adulterous– or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.' But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.' I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Lk 18:9-14)
Could we say that one behaves according to his attitude towards God? The Pharisee thinks that God is a judge and a rigorous one at that. God gives an account of all what one does and hence one has to regularly give the correct account to God. This is what the Pharisee is doing in this parable. So the relationship with God is more of listing of things. Indirectly this also makes him compare himself with the other. Even moral values become a commodity to be compared with or to be calculated about.
The tax collector thinks of God as a merciful God. The relationship is more personal. He does not compare himself with the other persons. He only speaks about his integrity – his life within himself. God is the one who constantly pours mercies on the people. His prayer is only his presence in front of God.
Vindication by God is seen in the attitude of the person in front of God in his sufferings, holiness and service. Vindication will not be seen in the outward badges of virtue, and in the minute observance of Jewish laws. Vindication is seen in the genuine penitence and genuine casting of oneself on the mercies of God.
