Luke 18: 9 – 14 The Humble and the Exalted

Luke 18: 9 – 14 The Humble and the Exalted

He then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. "Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity--greedy, dishonest, adulterous--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.' But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.' I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

Jesus compares the worship of two characters – a Pharisee and a Tax Collector. The first – the Pharisee – praises God in a self-congratulatory manner. He is so busy patting himself on the back he sees no need for God’s mercy. He is already saved or so he thinks. The Tax Collector, on the other hand, is a person held in contempt by most of the population and fearful of his standing with God. The only thing he is sure of is his unworthiness and his need for the mercy of God. Humility is much valued quality in Jesus’ mind, and pride a key failing. “for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted." Our attitude is key.