310: Why the Tax Collector Went Home Justified

Self-righteousness looks impressive on the outside, but Jesus exposes the heart. In this conversation, Rohan Bell and Jeanie Schwarz unpack the Pharisee and the tax collector to show why contrition, not credentials, makes us right with God.

👀 What you’ll discover in this episode...

✅ 🧭 Outward polish vs inward posture: why two “good” lives can spring from pride or humility—and how you tell the difference

✅ 🗣️ The telltale sign of self-righteousness: scorning others reveals a heart trusting in itself, not God

✅ 🧾 Why tax collectors were despised—and why temple access and grace still extend to the “worst” of us

✅ 🙏 “Justified before God”: repentance isn’t a ticket to heaven; it’s a new heart that bears real-life fruit

✅ 🔄 A better prayer: “Thank you, Lord, I’m not like my old self—by Your grace—and keep changing what I can’t yet see”

✅ ⚖️ Warning and promise: those who exalt themselves will be humbled; those who humble themselves will be exalted

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Cold open, intros & setup for the parable

01:06 – “Confidence in their own righteousness”: what Jesus is targeting

04:30 – Why tax collectors were despised & could still come to the temple

08:06 – “Justified before God”: repentance, mercy, and real change

15:04 – Warning and invitation: humbled vs exalted in Jesus’ upside-down kingdom

17:42 – Who Jesus is in this story & a practical way to pray with humility

🙋‍♂️ Reflection and Application

Where do you notice “Pharisee energy” in your inner dialogue—especially when you compare yourself with others? What would it look like this week to pray honestly about your own blind spots, seek mercy, and take one concrete step that matches a repentant heart?

💬 Share your thoughts below or in the comments — we’d love to hear from you!

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