Furthermore, that Pharisee, who was overbearing and
excessively proud, who not only was cocky on account of his righteousness but
also disparaged the tax-collector who was standing before God, lost the
righteousness in which he could boast because of his sin of pride. Indeed, it
was the tax-collector rather than the Pharisee who went down [to his house]
made righteous. For the tax-collector glorified the holy God and did not even
dare to lift up his eyes, but sought only mercy, accusing himself by his posture,
by beating his breast, and by seeking nothing other than mercy. So then, see
and beware of this example of the painful loss incurred through pride. The
Pharisee was deprived of his righteousness by being proud and lost his reward
by being cocky. He made himself inferior to that humble and sinful man by
exalting himself above him and not awaiting the judgment of God, but instead
rendering his own judgment. But as for you, never exalt yourself above anyone,
not even above great sinners. It is often the case that humility saves a person
who has committed many serious sins. So then, do not make yourself righteous
over against another, lest God decide to condemn you for deciding to make
yourself righteous. Paul says: I do not
judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not
thereby made righteous. It is the Lord who judges me [1 Cor 4:3–4]. (Basil
the Great, Homilies 20.4, in On Christian Doctrine and Practice [Popular
Patristics Series 47; Yonkers, N.Y.: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2012],
114-15)
According to Basil, the “ground”
of the publican’s justification is not an uncreated, forensic, alien righteousness
but an inner disposition he had (this was said in the context of a sermon on
humility).
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