The Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector

18:9 Jesus24 also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down25 on everyone else. 18:10 “Two men went up26 to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee27 and the other a tax collector.28 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this:29 ‘God, I thank30 you that I am not like other people:31 extortionists,32 unrighteous people,33 adulterers—or even like this tax collector.34 18:12 I fast twice35 a week; I give a tenth36 of everything I get.’ 18:13 The tax collector, however, stood37 far off and would not even look up38 to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful39 to me, sinner that I am!’40 18:14 I tell you that this man went down to his home justified41 rather than the Pharisee.42 For everyone who exalts43 himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”