The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: "God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get." But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.'
Reference: Luke 18:9-14
The Humble Prayer
Two men entered a church to pray, and each carried a very different posture toward God. The first wore a tailored suit and stood at the front, speaking words that highlighted his moral achievements and his belief that he performed better than the people around him. His prayer sounded polished, yet it served more as a reminder to himself of how highly he viewed his own righteousness. The second man slipped into the back, weighed down by regret, and simply asked God for mercy because he understood the depth of his need.
The second man left with a sense of peace because humility opened his heart to receive grace, while the first left unchanged because pride built walls he did not recognize. Jesus teaches that God listens with compassion to those who approach Him with honesty rather than self congratulation. True righteousness is not found in appearances or comparisons but in a sincere desire for forgiveness and transformation. Those who choose humility discover the path that leads to healing.