Luke 18:9–14
Jesus told this parable to those who were confident in their own righteousness and looked down on others. Two men went to the temple to pray—one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people,” listing the sins of others and reciting his own spiritual accomplishments. Meanwhile, the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift his eyes toward heaven. Beating his chest in grief, he prayed simply, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Jesus’ conclusion turns expectations upside down: it is the tax collector, not the Pharisee, who goes home justified before God. He finishes with these words: “All those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” This parable reveals the power of genuine humility in our relationship with God.
This story is a favorite because it speaks to those who believe a spiritual life with God is beyond their reach. Paul writes in Romans 8, “Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.” Even a tax collector—a collaborator with Rome and a cheat among his own people—is not beyond the reach of God’s love in Christ.
This truth brings hope, but it also calls us to spiritual discipline. God is not impressed by spiritual scorekeeping. As 1 Samuel 16.7 says, “God does not look at outward appearances but at the heart”. True prayer is never a performance—something staged for God or others—but an honest, vulnerable turning toward God, seeking healing and restoration.
Pastor Todd