The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

He(A) also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves(B) that they were righteous(C) and looked down(D) on everyone else: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray,(E) one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee was standing(F) and praying like this about himself: [a] ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people—greedy,(G) unrighteous,(H) adulterers,(I) or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast(J) twice a week; I give a tenth[b](K) of everything I get.’

13 “But the tax collector, standing far off,(L) would not even raise his eyes to heaven(M) but kept striking his chest(N) and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me,[c](O) a sinner!’ (P) 14 I tell you, this one went down to his house justified(Q) rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”(R)

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Footnotes

  1. 18:11 Or by himself
  2. 18:12 Or give tithes
  3. 18:13 Or God, turn your wrath from me

The Pharisee and the tax collector

Jesus told this parable to certain people who had convinced themselves that they were righteous and who looked on everyone else with disgust: 10 “Two people went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself with these words, ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like everyone else—crooks, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week. I give a tenth of everything I receive.’ 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He wouldn’t even lift his eyes to look toward heaven. Rather, he struck his chest and said, ‘God, show mercy to me, a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this person went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. All who lift themselves up will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up.”

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