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May 4, 1994
Stories can mystify, charm, and surprise us—especially ones with an unexpected twist. Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector is one such story. In it, two men—one outwardly righteous, another keenly aware of his sin—offer two different prayers, with unexpected results. As Alistair Begg notes, perceptions and rewards aren’t always what we anticipate. Humbly recognizing our distance from God, it turns out, is the first step in bringing us closer to Him.
9He also told this parable to some cwho trusted din themselves that they were righteous, eand treated others with contempt: 10“Two men fwent up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee, gstanding by himself, prayed1 hthus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12iI fast twice a week; jI give tithes of all that I get.’ 13But the tax collector, gstanding far off, kwould not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but lbeat his breast, saying, ‘God, mbe merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For neveryone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Copyright © 2024, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.
