On July 16, 2012 at Walnut Hill Community Church, I painted this approximately 36×24” live oil on panel meditation about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. I was imagining what would be seen in the spirit world between the spiritually dead, self righteous Pharisee, and the spiritually alive, contrite tax collector whom Jesus was contrasting in the famous parable from Luke 18. Funny enough, there was little to know interest in this work when I created it, and the painted sat in storage for a few years after being overlooked in one or two displays. I painted over it afterwords, converting it into a second work, and then people began reaching out in droves asking for prints of the work. Every two years when the global lectionary covers this story, churches reach out asking to use this image in their sermons, on bulletins, or just for themselves. It’s ironically become one of the most widely requested works in my catalog… and one that was overlooked and painted over (just like that Tax Collector).

New Living Translation:

Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector

9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer[b]: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”