9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon 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 every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:9-14 KJV)
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
The point of this parable is stated at the beginning, and we are told (Luke 18:9) who it was meant for—those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on others. They had a high opinion of themselves and their own goodness; they believed they were as holy as needed and holier than their neighbors. They also relied on their own righteousness before God, believing they had earned His favor and could make demands. In addition, they despised others, thinking them unworthy by comparison. Christ used this parable to show the folly of such people and how this attitude excludes them from God’s acceptance.
This is called a parable, though there is no metaphor or story, but rather a contrast between the attitudes and prayers of two people: one who proudly justifies himself, and one who humbly condemns himself. It’s something we see often.
Two men went up into the temple to pray (Luke 18:10). This was not during the hour of public prayer, but they went to offer personal devotions, which was common at a time when the temple was not just a place but the means of worship. God had promised that prayers made in or toward that house would be accepted. Christ is now our temple, and we must look to Him in all our approaches to God. The Pharisee and the tax collector both went to the temple. Among worshippers in the visible church, there is a mixture of good and bad—some accepted by God, some not—just as Cain and Abel both brought offerings to the same altar. The Pharisee, proud as he was, still thought it necessary to pray; the publican, humble as he was, still believed he could receive God’s help. But they came with different motives.
The Pharisee likely went because the temple was a public place and would attract attention, which he craved. Christ said of the Pharisees that they did their works to be seen by others. Hypocrites often keep up religious appearances for the sake of reputation. Many people may be seen at the temple whom we will not see at Christ’s right hand on Judgment Day.
The publican went because the temple was appointed as a house of prayer for all people (Isaiah 56:7). The Pharisee came to make an impression; the publican came to make a request. God knows our hearts and the reason we come to Him in worship and will judge us accordingly.
The Pharisee stood and prayed with himself (Luke 18:11-12). He was focused only on himself—his own praise, not God’s glory. He likely placed himself where he would be most visible. His prayer reveals that he trusted in his own righteousness. He said many good things about himself: he wasn’t an extortioner, wasn’t unjust, wasn’t an adulterer. He fasted twice a week and gave tithes of all he had. All of this was commendable. Many today fall short even of this level of morality. Yet he was not accepted by God. Why?
First, his thanksgiving was merely a formality. He didn’t say, like Paul, “By the grace of God I am what I am,” but used “God, I thank you” as a prelude to boasting. He took pleasure in rehearsing his goodness as if his only reason for coming to the temple was to tell God how righteous he was. Like the hypocrites in Isaiah 58:3, he may as well have said, “Why have we fasted, and You have not seen?”
He not only mentioned his good works but used them as a basis to claim favor with God, as if God owed him. And in all this, he didn’t actually ask God for anything. He came to pray but didn’t make a single request. He was so satisfied with himself that he felt no need for God’s grace or mercy. He also despised others. He compared himself favorably to everyone else: “I thank You that I am not like other men.” It’s one thing to thank God for being spared from certain sins, but to assume that all others are wicked and oneself alone is righteous is arrogant.
He especially looked down on the publican, assuming he was guilty of extortion and injustice just because he was a tax collector. Even if that were true, why bring it up in prayer? He couldn’t worship without criticizing someone else. His supposed gratitude for his own righteousness was paired with condemnation of another. This showed not only a lack of humility and love, but also the presence of pride and malice.
The publican’s address to God was the opposite. His prayer was marked by humility and repentance. His posture reflected a contrite heart. He stood far off, under a sense of unworthiness to draw near. Perhaps he also wanted to avoid offending the Pharisee, who looked at him with scorn. By keeping a distance, he acknowledged that God had every right to reject him.
He wouldn’t lift his eyes to heaven, though he lifted his heart in desire. Overwhelmed by guilt and shame, he couldn’t look up (Psalm 40:12). His downcast eyes revealed a heart humbled by sin. He beat his chest, expressing grief over his sin and frustration with his sinful heart—the source of all his wrongdoing. First his heart smote him with conviction (2 Samuel 24:10), then he smote his heart in remorse. Great mourners are described this way (Nahum 2:7; Jeremiah 31:19).
His prayer was brief: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Fear and sorrow restrained his words, but they were sincere. This prayer is recorded as one that was heard and answered. He went home justified, and so may we if we pray as he did—through Jesus Christ.
He called himself a sinner—by nature and by actions—guilty before God. He made no attempt to excuse or minimize his sin. He placed his hope entirely on God’s mercy. Unlike the Pharisee, who relied on the merit of his good deeds, the publican sought nothing but mercy. “Justice condemns me; only mercy can save me.”
He prayed earnestly for mercy: “Be merciful to me; forgive me; be reconciled to me; receive me graciously.” He came as a starving beggar pleading for a lifeline. Perhaps he repeated the prayer or added details about his sins and needs, but the heart of it remained: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”
Jesus now tells us how their prayers were received. Though people would admire the Pharisee and mock the publican, Christ—who sees the heart—declares that the publican went home justified, not the Pharisee (Luke 18:14). The Pharisee believed he should be justified rather than the publican. Christ says the opposite: “I tell you, the publican rather than the Pharisee.”
The Pharisee was rejected. His self-congratulations were not accepted. His sins were not forgiven. He was not declared righteous in God’s sight, precisely because he thought he already was. But the publican, by humbling himself and appealing to God’s mercy, received the pardon he sought. The one whom the Pharisee disdained, God accepted as His child. The reason is this: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Those who exalt themselves become rivals to God’s glory and will be brought low (Job 40:12). Those who humble themselves are yielded to God’s rule and will be lifted up. God gives grace to those who receive it as a gift—not those who claim it as a right. They will be exalted in God’s love, find peace in His presence, and one day be lifted up to glory.
See how the punishment fits the sin: “He who exalts himself will be humbled.” And how the reward fits the virtue: “He who humbles himself will be exalted.” See also God’s grace in turning evil into good: the publican’s deep sin led to deep repentance. And Satan’s craft in turning good into evil: the Pharisee’s morality led to pride and ruin.