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9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14 NIV)
You and I may have searched high and low for the perfect church. And the real answer is that it might be easier searching for the perfect person. There is no such person and there is no such church. The church, like the family, is made up of imperfect persons, and as such will keep you from finding anyone or anything perfect. And that is why we have Jesus, the only perfect one, Who came to show us a better way. And we come to this story about two men, one, Jesus says this teaching was directed "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else." Ouch. So, Jesus shared the parable. Two men went to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. Jesus knew both in real life. And maybe most in the crowd receiving this teaching did as well. Jesus says, "The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people - robbers, evildoers, adulterers - or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'" We can smell the prayer from here. Eew!
"I thank you that I am not like other people" means "I thank you for me." He's grateful not for God's mercy but for his own superiority. His prayer is essentially: "God, observe how awesome I am. Notice all the things I don't do that others do. See all the religious activities I perform that others don't."
The Pharisee's problem isn't that he fasts or tithes—these are good practices. His problem is that he's using his obedience as currency, as proof that he deserves God's approval. He's comparing himself to others and finding them lacking, which makes him feel secure in his standing with God. We have to remember that Jesus is not addressing the irreligious or the obvious sinners. He's speaking to people who have their spiritual lives together—or think they do. People who measure themselves against others and always come out ahead in their own estimation.
This makes the parable uncomfortable for those of us who consider ourselves serious about faith. We're not the tax collectors of our society—we're the temple-goers, the Bible-readers, the prayer-makers. We show up, we serve, we follow the rules. And that's exactly why this parable is for us.
The danger Jesus identifies isn't blatant rebellion against God but subtle reliance on our own goodness. It's the quiet confidence that our spiritual résumé makes us acceptable, that our religious performance earns us standing with God.
"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'" Everything about this man's posture screams unworthiness. He stands at a distance, as if not daring to come too close to holy ground. He won't even lift his eyes. He strikes his chest in grief over his sin.
His prayer contains no accomplishments, no comparisons, no justifications. Just nine words that acknowledge reality: "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." He doesn't minimize his sin or explain it away. He doesn't promise to do better tomorrow. He simply throws himself on God's mercy because he has nowhere else to turn.
The Greek phrase here is even more stark: "Be merciful to me, the sinner"—as if he sees himself as the worst of sinners, not just one among many. This isn't false humility; it's accurate self-assessment in the light of God's holiness.
"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God." Jesus' conclusion would have shocked His original audience. The religious leader who did everything right went home unjustified. The despised tax collector who could claim no merit went home justified—declared righteous, made right with God.
This is the scandal of grace: God justifies not those who justify themselves but those who recognize their need for justification. He accepts not those who offer Him their accomplishments but those who ask for His mercy. He welcomes not those who compare favorably to others but those who have no comparison to offer except their desperate need.
The Pharisee went to the temple with his righteousness and left with only his righteousness—impressive to people, worthless to God. The tax collector came with nothing but need and left with everything—God's mercy, acceptance, and righteousness credited to his account.
This parable is fundamentally an invitation to come to God with empty hands. Not empty of sin—we're all full of that—but empty of merit, empty of claims, empty of demands based on our performance. It's an invitation to stop bringing God our résumés and start bringing Him our desperation.
The tax collector shows us what gospel faith looks like: acknowledging you're a sinner, admitting you have no claim on God's favor, asking for mercy you don't deserve, and trusting that God will give it anyway. This isn't "easy believism"—it's actually harder to come empty-handed than to come with a list of your accomplishments.
Our pride wants to contribute something, to earn at least part of our acceptance, to prove we deserve God's love. The gospel says come with nothing, receive everything, and give God all the glory. This parable challenges us to examine our hearts honestly. Which prayer sounds more like yours? Do you approach God with a list of your spiritual accomplishments or with a cry for mercy? Do you compare yourself favorably to others or see yourself accurately in light of God's holiness?
PRAYER: Father, forgive us for the times we've approached You with lists of our accomplishments rather than cries for mercy. Help us see ourselves accurately—not in comparison to others but in light of Your holiness. Give us the humility of the tax collector, who knew he had nothing to offer but desperate need. Thank You that You justify not those who think they deserve it but those who know they don't. May we come to You always with empty hands and leave with the fullness of Your grace. In Jesus' strong name, Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Pay attention to moments when you're tempted to compare yourself favorably to others or to use your spiritual practices as evidence that you deserve God's favor, and in those moments, consciously pray the tax collector's prayer: "God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
I love you and I thank God for you! You matter to me, and you matter to God! Make your life matter by giving some of it away today!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
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