“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a
Pharisee and the other a tax collector” (Lk. 18:10).
According to the gospel accounts the Pharisees, who
were the strictest sect of the Hebrew religion (Acts 26:
5), were notorious for being hypocrites (Matt. 23).
Evidence of this is seen in their self-righteous
posture. “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with
himself,’God, I thank You that I am not like other
men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as
this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of
all that I possess’” (Lk. 18:11-12).
On the other hand the tax collector, whose
profession was often branded because of
dishonesty, “standing afar off, would not so much as
raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying,
‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ (verse 13).
Jesus gave approval of the tax collector because he
humbled Himself before God – something the
Pharisee would not do. Which man best describes
you?