Today’s parable must be one of the best known. The front seats in church are usually vacant, since many people don’t want to be seen behaving like the vain protagonist in the story. In reality, however, there is no difference between front seats and back seats. The locations simply describe the attitude of the two men. The Pharisee was probably a good man, who punctiliously obeyed the law. However, he had become obsessed with his own virtue and had no compassion for those who could not measure up to his standards. He probably saw himself as a privileged courtier in God’s Kingdom. Though he had would have studied the scriptures intently, he had not discovered the God that Jesus proclaimed.
The Tax Collector believed in a God of mercy and compassion. In collecting taxes for the Romans and probably taking a cut for himself, he knew his failings well. He put himself into the hands of a God who he believed could forgive him. His relationship with God was far more genuine.
Jesus’ parable describes two incomplete people. The Pharisee needed the humility of the tax collector, and the latter could benefit from the self-esteem of the Pharisee. He could then - like Zacchaeus - make a commitment to a change of direction. The Pharisee could become like St Paul, using his gifts to benefit others.