Description
Narcissism in Religion: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:11–14)
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Transcript
“They do all their deeds to be seen by others, for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honour at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces, and being called Rabbi by others.”
Jesus is describing narcissistic religious leaders. This is not a new, modern 21st century phenomenon.
Luke chapter 18 verses 11 to 14. ‘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.’
There’s a clear contrast here, isn’t there, between the tax collector and the religious leader. But who in that little example is the narcissistic one?
