The Parable of the Pharisee
General Idea of the Lecture
The lecture revolves around the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, explaining that God does not look at outward appearances in worship, but rather at the depth of the heart and the spirit of prayer. God’s standards are completely different from human standards, and may even be the opposite.
Spiritual Teaching Essence
- His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that the length of prayer or the number of words does not justify a person before God, but rather true contrition and a deep sense of need for mercy.
- The Pharisee offered a long prayer full of outward thanksgiving, yet his heart was filled with pride and judgment of others, and he did not mention his sins or weaknesses.
- The tax collector, although considered a sinner by people, stood far away, with a broken heart, and confessed his sin in very few words that came from deep inner humility.
- God, who examines hearts, accepted the prayer of the tax collector, who went out justified, while the Pharisee did not benefit from his fasting, prayer, or tithes.
- True prayer is not merely spoken words, but a condition of the heart that lives in humility, contrition, faith, and love.
- The main warning in the lecture is against self-righteousness and comparing oneself with others, because this leads to pride and condemnation.
- Orthodox Coptic teaching affirms that remembering one’s own sins leads to repentance, while forgetting them leads to falling into judging others.
- The concluding message is that God does not want a person’s time or words, but rather a contrite and humble heart, which is the true path to justification and closeness to God.
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