Luke 18:9-14 Meaning: Two Prayers, One Heart
9He also spoke this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others:
10“Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
11The Pharisee stood and prayed by himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men: extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’
13But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
9And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
9And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought:
10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I get.
13But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner.
14I say unto you, This man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
9And he spake also unto certain who have been trusting in themselves that they were righteous, and have been despising the rest, this simile:
10`Two men went up to the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer;
11the Pharisee having stood by himself, thus prayed: God, I thank Thee that I am not as the rest of men, rapacious, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax-gatherer;
12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all things--as many as I possess.
13`And the tax-gatherer, having stood afar off, would not even the eyes lift up to the heaven, but was smiting on his breast, saying, God be propitious to me--the sinner!
14I say to you, this one went down declared righteous, to his house, rather than that one: for every one who is exalting himself shall be humbled, and he who is humbling himself shall be exalted.'
9And he spoke also to some, who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and made nothing of all the rest [of men], this parable:
10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer.
11The Pharisee, standing, prayed thus to himself: God, I thank thee that I am not as the rest of men, rapacious, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax-gatherer.
12I fast twice in the week, I tithe everything I gain.
13And the tax-gatherer, standing afar off, would not lift up even his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, OGod, have compassion on me, the sinner.
14I say unto you, This [man] went down to his house justified rather than that [other]. For every one who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.
Meaning in one sentence
Luke 18:9-14 meaning, Jesus contrasts prideful and humble prayer. Learn why the tax collector went home justified and the Pharisee did not.
Context
Jesus tells this story for a specific kind of listener: people who were sure of their own goodness and looked down on everyone else. The setting is the temple in Jerusalem, the holiest place in Jewish life. Two men go there to pray, and the way they pray reveals everything about what they believe about God and about themselves. The Pharisee was the kind of person everyone respected, religious, disciplined, generous. The tax collector was the kind everyone despised, a collaborator with Rome, known for cheating his own people. By putting these two side by side, Jesus lets the contrast speak for itself.
Key Words
Three Greek words carry the weight of this parable. The first is pepoithotas in verse 9, trusted in themselves. This is not simple confidence; it is a settled persuasion, a deep-rooted faith in one’s own goodness. The Pharisee had placed his trust not in God’s mercy but in his own record. The second key word is the tax collector’s plea: hilasthēti (be merciful). It is a rare word, used in Hebrews 2:17 for making atonement. He is not asking for a little kindness; he is begging for the mercy that cancels guilt, the kind that comes only through sacrifice. The third word is dedikaiōmenos (justified) in verse 14. It means declared righteous, set right with God. The tax collector left the temple with a verdict of acceptance, not because he was good but because he had nothing to offer but his need.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions read this parable as a sharp warning against self-righteousness. Reformed commentators like Calvin see it as a clear statement that justification comes by grace alone, no human merit can stand before God. Wesley, rooted in the Methodist tradition, notes that the Pharisee was no hypocrite; he genuinely believed he was righteous, yet his trust was mis-placed. Catholic interpreters emphasize the virtue of humility and the danger of pride, pointing to the tax collector as a model of contrition. Orthodox readers often highlight the publican’s posture, eyes down, beating his chest, as the physical expression of metanoia, a turning of the whole self toward God. All agree: the prayer that reaches God is the one that begins with honest need.
A common misunderstanding
Many people assume the Pharisee was a hypocrite, that he secretly knew he was a sinner but put on a show. In fact, the Gospel writer says he trusted in himself. He was sincere. He really believed he deserved God’s favor because of his fasting and tithing. The problem is not hypocrisy but self-righteousness: trusting your own goodness instead of God’s mercy. The parable warns us that we can be both sincere and lost.
Living This Out
This week, watch for the moments you compare yourself to someone else. Maybe at work you quietly thank God you are not as disorganized as a colleague. In church, maybe you feel grateful you are not as visible a sinner as that person. When that happens, stop. Let the thought become a prayer instead: God, be merciful to me, a sinner. That is the prayer Jesus says sends you home justified. You do not need to clean yourself up first. You just need to come as you are, with empty hands.
Main takeaway: God welcomes the prayer of anyone who comes without pretense, asking only for mercy, and He resists those who trust in their own goodness.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Two men went to the temple to pray. One told God how good he was. The other just said, “God, please be kind to me, a sinner.” Jesus said the second man went home right with God. God loves it when we tell Him we need Him.
For ages 9, 12
In this story, the Pharisee thanked God that he was not like other people. But the tax collector wouldn’t even look up to heaven. He just beat his chest and begged for mercy. Jesus said that man went home justified, that means God declared him right. The point is not to compare yourself to others or to list your good deeds to God. The point is to come honestly, knowing you need grace. The prayer God hears best is the one that starts with “Have mercy on me.”
Questions People Ask
What does 'justified' mean in Luke 18:14?
It means declared righteous or forgiven. When Jesus says the tax collector went home justified, He means God accepted him and canceled his guilt. It is a legal term from the courtroom: the judge pronounces the defendant not guilty. Christians differ on exactly how that happens, but all agree it is something only God can give.
Why did the Pharisee's prayer not please God if he was thanking God?
The Pharisee did thank God, but his prayer was really a list of reasons he thought God should accept him. He trusted in his own righteousness, not in God's mercy. He also looked down on the tax collector. Jesus is not saying thanksgiving is wrong; He is showing that confidence in our own deeds can keep us from seeing our need for grace.
Was the tax collector saved because he was humble?
Humility itself does not save anyone. The tax collector was not just humble in general; he specifically cried out for mercy. He recognized that he was a sinner and that God alone could forgive him. Jesus says he went home justified because he trusted in God's compassion, not because he felt bad about himself.
Does this parable mean I should not try to live a good life?
No. The parable does not say good deeds are unimportant. The Pharisee's problem was not his fasting or tithes, those are good. The problem was that he trusted in them as the basis of his relationship with God. The tax collector lived a bad life, but he repented. The point is that both need the same thing: mercy. Good deeds are a response to grace, not a way to earn it.
Why did Jesus choose a Pharisee and a tax collector for this story?
These two figures represented opposite ends of the religious spectrum in first-century Judaism. Pharisees were known for strict obedience to the law and were widely respected. Tax collectors were seen as traitors and sinners. By using these extremes, Jesus makes His point unforgettable: no one is too good to need mercy, and no one is too bad to receive it. The same truth applies to all people.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study