Prayer Of The Modern Day Pharisee

Prayer Of The Modern Day Pharisee

A Poem by Jeff Bresee
"

Oh praise be that I’m not as other men are...

"

Sinners & publicans. Pharisees, scribes. 

Unto neither of these could I ever subscribe,

for I read of these groups in the scriptures each day 

and both make me feel to exclaim when I pray:

  

“Oh praise be that I’m not as other men are,

like those sinners and publicans, God keep me far

from their damnable words and their damnable deeds, 

and more so than this, Oh God keep me free

from those scribes and those pharisees, they above all 

are the worst kind of people and destined to fall."


"Oh Lord I pray, keep me apart from these men,

and I promise my life will go on as it’s been -

fasting two times a week, paying tithes of my gain, 

doing all that I do, but I need not explain

for Thou knowest all this. Yes, the time has come when 

I must wrap this prayer up and close with amen."

  

No, I’ll never be like anyone from those tribes, 

not like sinners and publicans, pharisees, scribes.

For I’m nothing like them. No, my time is well spent! 

Me, a just soul who has… no need to repent.

 

Reference:

Luke 18: 10-14

Luke 15:7

© 2024 Jeff Bresee


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Reviews

An interesting piece, steeped in scripture. This is a very uncommon concept. Prayer supposed to be an outpour of a soul to it's maker now becomes a means of displaying the worst form of arrogance. In short, the purpose of praying in the first place is defeated.
Akinlolu

Posted 2 Months Ago



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36 Views
1 Review
Added on February 2, 2024
Last Updated on February 2, 2024
Tags: church, religion, judgement, being judgmental, judgmental people

Author

Jeff Bresee
Jeff Bresee

Dallas, TX



About
I love to write poetry and then turn it into songs. I am a singer/songwriter for Weathered Pages, a Fort Worth, Texas based music charity. Check us out on Apple Music, Spotify, I Heart Radio, Pandora.. more..

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