Luke 18:10
“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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While both men went to the temple to pray, Jesus highlights the contrast between their social standing and how they approached God, not just their outward actions. The choice of a Pharisee, respected for his piety, and a tax collector, reviled as a sinner, immediately sets up the surprising lesson about true humility versus self-righteousness.
Jesus tells this parable to condemn those who are arrogant and look down on others, especially in their approach to God. The story immediately contrasts two men, a respected religious leader and a social outcast, both going to the same place for the same purpose: to pray. This setup highlights that outward religious practice doesn't guarantee favor with God, setting the stage for Jesus to reveal what truly matters in prayer and spiritual standing.
Why does Jesus set this scene in the temple? It's more than just a building; it's where heaven and earth meet.
Jesus chooses the temple, the very center of Israel's worship and God's dwelling place, for this parable. It’s where people expected to meet God. The act of 'going up' to the temple signifies a deliberate journey, a conscious act of seeking God. This wasn't a casual pop-in; it was a dedicated ascent to a sacred space. The temple represented God's presence among His people, a place for prayer and sacrifice. By placing these two men, so different in their spiritual outlook, within this holy space, Jesus highlights the contrast between genuine and counterfeit worship.
We hear 'Pharisee' and 'publican' – but what did these labels truly represent in Jesus' day?
These weren't just job titles; they were loaded societal and spiritual identities. The Pharisee represented outward religious observance at its peak. They prided themselves on meticulously following the Law and its traditions, believing their adherence set them apart. Their confidence was in their own righteousness, their actions, and their separation from the 'sinful' masses. The publican, on the other hand, was a tax collector. These men were often Jews who worked for the Roman oppressors, notorious for their greed and dishonesty. They were social outcasts, seen as sinners and traitors by their own people. Jesus deliberately chose these two extremes to expose the stark difference between self-righteousness and humble repentance.
What's the fundamental difference between the prayers of these two men? It all comes down to where they placed their confidence.
The core of Jesus' parable lies in the attitude of prayer. The Pharisee’s prayer is a monologue of self-congratulation. He thanks God, but primarily for his own perceived righteousness and separation from others. His confidence is in his works, his fasting, his tithing – things he . He sees himself as deserving of God’s favor. The publican, however, stands far off, unable to even look up. His prayer is short, powerful, and utterly dependent on God's mercy. He doesn't list his accomplishments; he confesses his sinfulness. His confidence isn't in what he can do, but solely in God’s willingness to be merciful. Jesus shows us that God looks at the heart: He exalts the humble who acknowledge their need and reject self-reliance, while He brings low those who trust in their own perceived goodness.
Understand the original words
hieron · Greek Noun
The dwelling place of God's presence on earth, originally the tabernacle, later the building in Jerusalem. It was the central site for Israel’s worship, sacrifices, and communion with God.
Pharisaios · Greek Noun
A member of a Jewish sect known for their strict, meticulous adherence to the Mosaic Law and oral traditions. While zealous for righteousness, they often fell into the trap of legalism and self-righteousness.
telōnēs · Greek Noun
An official employed by the Roman Empire to collect taxes from the Jewish population. Because they were often perceived as collaborators and frequently guilty of extortion, they were socially and religiously ostracized by the Jewish community.
The setting of the Temple in Jerusalem, a place of intense religious devotion and social stratification, provides a vivid backdrop for Jesus' parable. The stark contrast between the esteemed Pharisee and the despised tax collector highlights how societal status and outward religious performance could mask inner hearts, and how true acceptance with God stemmed from humility and genuine repentance rather than self-justification.
c. 44 BC
Herod the Great begins Temple renovation
The Second Temple, which had been enlarged by Herod the Great, was a major center of Jewish religious life and pilgrimage during Jesus' time. Its imposing structure and the rituals performed within symbolized God's presence and the people's covenant relationship with Him.
Early 1st century AD
Rise of Pharisee influence
During this period, the Pharisees gained significant influence among the common people due to their perceived piety and strict adherence to both the written Law and oral traditions. Their emphasis on outward observance and meticulous tithing was prominent.
Early 1st century AD
Tax collectors' role in Roman Judea
Tax collectors (publicans) were Jews employed by the Roman authorities to collect taxes. They were deeply unpopular and often viewed as collaborators and sinners due to their association with the occupying power and the often exploitative nature of their work.
c. AD 28-30
This verse introduces the parable of the Good Samaritan, which Jesus also told to highlight true righteousness and compassion over outward religious observance, directly contrasting a priest and Levite with the Samaritan.
Matthew 23:1-12Here Jesus directly condemns the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and scribes, warning against seeking honor and despising others, mirroring the Pharisee's attitude in the parable.
Isaiah 57:15This prophetic passage speaks of God dwelling with the humble and contrite in spirit, a concept directly embodied by the tax collector and contrasted with the self-exalting Pharisee.
Psalm 51:17The psalmist declares that sacrifices pleasing to God are a broken and contrite heart, echoing the tax collector's humble repentance and the Pharisee's lack of true brokenness.
Romans 3:21-26Paul explains that righteousness comes through faith in Jesus, apart from the works of the law, a core theological truth that underpins why the humble tax collector is justified and the self-righteous Pharisee is not.
calvinLuke 18:9-14: "And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:"
- And he spoke also this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10. Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11. The Pharisee standing [327] prayed these things within himself: God, I thank thee that I am not as other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterous, or even as this…
vincentLuke 18:10: "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican."
The other (ἕτερος)With an implication of his being a different man. See on Matthew 6:24.PublicanSee on Luke 3:12.
While both men went to the temple to pray, Jesus highlights the contrast between their social standing and how they approached God, not just their outward actions. The choice of a Pharisee, respected for his piety, and a tax collector, reviled as a sinner, immediately sets up the surprising lesson about true humility versus self-righteousness.
Jesus tells this parable to condemn those who are arrogant and look down on others, especially in their approach to God. The story immediately contrasts two men, a respected religious leader and a social outcast, both going to the same place for the same purpose: to pray. This setup highlights that outward religious practice doesn't guarantee favor with God, setting the stage for Jesus to reveal what truly matters in prayer and spiritual standing.
Jesus tells this parable to condemn those who are arrogant and look down on others, especially in their approach to God. The story immediately contrasts two men, a respected religious leader and a social outcast, both going to the same place for the same purpose: to pray. This setup highlights that outward religious practice doesn't guarantee favor with God, setting the stage for Jesus to reveal what truly matters in prayer and spiritual standing.
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Jesus teaches the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Jesus tells this parable to illustrate the nature of true righteousness and acceptable prayer, contrasting the self-righteous piety of a Pharisee with the humble repentance of a tax collector. The setting is the Temple in Jerusalem during one of the major pilgrimage festivals.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' ministry and interactions with religious leaders
Throughout his ministry, Jesus frequently challenged the self-righteousness of religious elites like the Pharisees and openly associated with marginalized groups, including tax collectors, sparking controversy and highlighting his different understanding of God's kingdom.
"“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector." — While both men went to the temple to pray, Jesus highlights the contrast between their social standing and how they approached God, not just their outward actions. The choice of a Pharisee, respected…
