HUMBLE PRAYER

Passage: Luke 18:9-14

Key verse: 14

NIV

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness(A) and looked down on everyone else,(B) Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray,(C) one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself(D) and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast(E) twice a week and give a tenth(F) of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast(G) and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’(H)

14 “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.”(I)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9 He also told this parable to some (A)who trusted (B)in themselves that they were righteous, (C)and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men (D)went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, (E)standing by himself, prayed[a] (F)thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 (G)I fast twice a week; (H)I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, (I)standing far off, (J)would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but (K)beat his breast, saying, ‘God, (L)be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For (M)everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 18:11 Or standing, prayed to himself
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. A Pharisee's confidence in himself (9-12)

Jesus saw that some people were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on others. So, he told a parable of a Pharisee's prayer in the temple. While thanking God, he listed how great he was compared to others. His confidence in his righteousness was based on his deeds: fasting and tithing. These are good things, but Jesus said they cannot justify oneself before God.

2. A tax collector's plea for God's mercy (13-14)

In great contrast, the tax collector stood apart, knowing he was far from God's righteousness. In remorse over his selfish condition, he beat his breast. His attention was not on himself or others, but on God. He remembered God's mercy, and cried out, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' Jesus declared this man was justified before God, not the Pharisee. Jesus teaches us to be humble before God in our prayer, not exalting ourselves. When we do so, there is room for God to work his mercy in our lives and exalt us.

Prayer: Father, thank you for your mercy. Help me pray and humbly ask for your mercy, as I am a sinner.

One Word: Humble prayer asks for mercy