January 4, 2026
Luke 18:9-14 ESV
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed[a] thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Discussion Questions:
Our object today is to try to see beyond the surface level so that we can extract the deeper lesson of this parable.
1) Compare the lives of the Pharisee and the tax collector with their prayers.
2) What constitutes true abasement for the Pharisee, the tax collector and for ourselves?
Discussion Summary:
In this episode the lifestyle of one of the religious sects is highlighted. The Pharisees were known for their outward holy lives, wholly devoted to the law. What is revealed through his prayer is the particular temptation of pride that resulted from their conception of self-righteousness as compared to others. Instead of recognizing in himself the need for mercy by entering in to the penitential prayer of the tax collector, he pointed out his personal sin “or even like this tax collector.”
The tax collector on the other hand, had a job that was predatory in nature and brought harm to others. The dislike of this class by the people did not allow him to indulge in the thought of self-righteousness as compared to others. The tax collector in his prayer recognized and called for outside help and action. “Be merciful!” This is the same root word as the act of propitiation, the place where appeasement to God was made by sacrifice.
Perhaps in this account there is a reference to Ezekiel 33:1-16.
True abasement does not praise one’s self. (Proverbs 27:2; Matthew 6:2)
True abasement is done by one’s self. (1 Peter 5:5)
True abasement does not compare one’s self with others. (1 Corinthians 4:7; Luke 17:10)
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