He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

via Passage: Luke 18.9-14 (ESV Bible Online).

What is this passage?  I will tell you.

This passage of Scripture is the official rationalization for Reformed zealots who trust in themselves that they are righteous and treat others with contempt.

That was an observation; here is a question:

Is God’s only problem with the Pharisee that he didn’t truly measure up?  Is God’s word to the Pharisee, “Well, if your righteous behavior was as great as you say it is, then your attitude toward yourself and the tax collector would be completely justified and I would approve of it”…?

Was it morally indifferent to Jesus whether to have mercy on people like the tax collector or to justly condemn them?

Is Jesus’ mercy a true revelation of God’s character?  Is it a revelation of God’s eternal righteousness that we are supposed to emulate in order to conform ourselves to God’s righteousness?