Luke 18:9-17

New American Standard Bible

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹ Now He also told this parable to some people who ^(A)trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and ^(B)viewed others with contempt: ¹⁰ “Two men ^(C)went up into the ^[a]temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee ^(D)stood and began praying this in regard to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹² I ^(E)fast twice a week; I ^(F)pay tithes of all that I get.’ ¹³ But the tax collector, ^(G)standing some distance away, ^(H)was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but ^(I)was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be ^[b]merciful to me, the sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other one; ^(J)for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

^15 (K)Now they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. ¹⁶ But Jesus called for ^[c]the little ones, saying, “Allow the children to come to Me, and do not ^[d]forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁷ Truly I say to you, ^(L)whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”