Luke 18:9-17

English Standard Version

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹ He also told this parable to some ^(A)who trusted ^(B)in themselves that they were righteous, ^(C)and treated others with contempt: ¹⁰ “Two men ^(D)went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee, ^(E)standing by himself, prayed^{[a] (F)}thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ^12 (G)I fast twice a week; ^(H)I give tithes of all that I get.’ ¹³ But the tax collector, ^(I)standing far off, ^(J)would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but ^(K)beat his breast, saying, ‘God, ^(L)be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For ^(M)everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Let the Children Come to Me

^15 (N)Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they ^(O)rebuked them. ¹⁶ But Jesus called them to him, saying, ^(P)“Let the children come to me, and ^(Q)do not hinder them, ^(R)for to such belongs the kingdom of God. ^17 (S)Truly, I say to you, whoever does not ^(T)receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”