Luke 18:9-14 English Standard Version

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 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. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 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!’ 14 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.”

Which of the two, Pharisee or Tax Collector had an ego?

Dictionary – EGO

Definitions from Oxford Languages 

E·go – noun

a person’s sense of self-esteem or self-importance.

Psychoanalysis
the part of the mind that mediates between the conscious and the unconscious and is responsible for reality testing and a sense of personal identity.

Both had ego’s and both met dictionary definitions. The Pharisee’s ego provided him with a sense of self worth. The Tax Collector’s ego performed a reality check and saw the truth about himself.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 English Standard Version

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
10 “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Consider this to be a valid truth. Only God knows the heart of each and every one of us and we need an honest mediator to sort out the true condition of our hearts and minds. Using the psychological definition of ego, a sick mind cannot be a mediator of reality. Only He who is true can reveal the truth about the condition of our heart.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

If in your mind you believe that Jesus Christ is on your side in this mediation, you do not know His role in all this. He isn’t here to support one side of the other but only to determine what the truth is in our hearts. He is our reality check restoring balance between the conscious mind and the subconscious mind. Pride is an ego that refuses mediation.

1 Corinthians 8:2 English Standard Version

If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.

1 Corinthians 8:2 King James Version

And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

1 Corinthians 8:2 Living Bible

If anyone thinks he knows all the answers, he is just showing his ignorance.

In your opinion, which version satisfies your understanding?

Here are the three basic rules of opinions: imagination, rational thought, ego. Proof is not required to have an opinion. Facts can be merely data points collected and analyzed to satisfy a specific opinion that has already been formed.

If we are going to sit down and share the gospel with the lost we need to understand one basic rule. Don’t let our ego get in the way.

Listen to their opinion and ask the most basic questions, like; “How did you come to that conclusion?”

Do not question their sincerity which places them on the defensive. Ask them to self-reflect.

I asked a Muslim friend why he became a Muslim. His answer was honest and heartfelt. “I love and respect my father.” He left me no room to explore his opinion because that would have only attacked his father which would alienate him and close off access.

This is a common approach in religious beliefs. They are based on relationships.

If we are to have a close personal relationship with God then His opinion is the only one that matters.

Here is my opinion. God will make Himself known to you in a way that you cannot deny Him.

That is an opinion because it satisfies me and I don’t get to choose what satisfies anyone else.

To think otherwise is just ego.