The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican

“God, be merciful to a sinner like me”

Luke 18

Jesus saw that there were Pharisees and others gathered who believed they were righteous, while they looked down on others. The Master gave this parable to them.

“Two men went to pray in the temple. One was a Pharisee and one was a tax collector.

“The Pharisee prayed with these words, ‘God, I give thanks to you that I am not as others are, who are unjust and adulterers, or who are like this publican that came to pray. I fast twice a week and pay tithing.’

“The publican, some distance away from the Pharisee, would not even lift his eyes towards heaven. Humbly he prayed, ‘God, be merciful to a sinner like me.’

“I tell you that this publican went to his house justified,” taught Jesus. “The Pharisee made himself great, but he will be taken down and made humble. God will make whoever is humble already great.”

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