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LUKE 18:9-14—THREE CHARACTERS TO WHOM EVERYONE MAY RELATE ACT OF WORSHIP PERSONAL BLOG 10/26/2025
Jesus’ usage of parables is prominent in the gospel accounts as his primary manner to deliver lessons to his followers. Moreover, Jesus employs parables in such a sufficient manner that even modern times may not negate their efficiency. One of the more familiar parables taught by Jesus is that of the Pharisee and the tax collector. Rare are times when Jesus utilized such a specific person or group of people in his teachings, but if he does so, it seems to be done with Pharisees.[1] The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector grasps nearly every believer’s heart with a reality that everyone fits into at least one category of the characters within the narrative. A read through the short parable and an analysis of the characters within its text beckons the reader to examine his or her own heart in response to condition and what is required to worship the Lord in spirit and truth.
Luke
18:9-14
The
Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 He also told this parable to
some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and
treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went
up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The
Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I
am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax
collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give
tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax
collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to
heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a
sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his
house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself
will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”[2]
“Like some other parables (15:11–32; 16:19–31; Matt 21:28–32), this one contrasts the behavior of two characters, a Pharisee who is conscious of his own righteousness which went beyond the requirements of the Old Testament law, and knew that he was better than other men; and a tax-collector who was conscious of his sin and could only plead for divine mercy.”[3] In the text, there are three characters (and characteristics) to whom every person may relate and should scrutinize for which one is evident in their own lives. From contextual evidences, Jesus speaks to his disciples in the Parable of the Persistent Widow (18:1-8) and doubtlessly to Pharisees in the Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector (18:9-14).[4] A proper analysis of the text in verses 9-14, however, should yield the realization that all believers fit the qualities of at least one of the characters in the parable and perhaps all. Therefore, it is vital to approach all characters in the narrative with humility, readiness, and a desire to be molded by the Holy Spirit.
The Pharisee (vv. 11-12)
The
Pharisee is often approached in negativity because he is full of pride and
seemingly devoid of humility. In fact, his prayer focuses on himself and his
own good deeds.
“If
the preceding parable [of the persistent widow] taught the necessity of
persistence in prayer, this parable teaches that prayer is not automatically
acceptable to God.”[5]
A few commonalities subsist between the two primary characters—the protagonist
(tax collector) and antagonist (Pharisee) if you will. Both characters employ
prayers in a public space of worship. “In the
temple public prayers were offered, but people might also pray there
privately, and this was evidently the case in the parable.”[6] It
is, in fact, good and right to pray in the church and certainly a practice of
which the church could use more.
The
heart of the two characters here, nonetheless, are vastly different. Though the
Pharisee is often considered in negative highlights (throughout the New
Testament), what he does truly is rooted in zeal for the Lord. He seeks to
honor God and live by his good law. Why then is the Pharisee criticized so
often even by Jesus Christ himself? His heart is far from God, for he trusts in
himself (v. 9). No matter how good someone is, it is not possible to be good
enough to achieve God’s standards, for it is not sin that separates humankind
from the Almighty but the condition of people’s hearts (i.e., sinful).
Christians should not think of sin in terms of an action but rather a condition
that dishonors God. What might appear zealous externally is truly prideful and,
therefore, despicable to God internally, for God examines the heart rather than
the appearance (1 Sam 16:7).
The
Pharisee provides two elements of his prayer that reveal the hidden evil in his
heart and an evil that is assuredly in all human hearts by nature: 1) a feeble
attempt to compare self to other people rather than to the Lord and 2) trust in
self-merit.
First,
the Pharisee prays with a nearly shocking focus on the deeds of others.[7] Luke says that the
Pharisee was standing during his prayer. Although a normal posture for prayer[8]
and should not be considered a sign of a pompous attitude alone, standing
certainly indicates such in this parable, for beginning with the Pharisee’s
stance, he proceeds to thank God that he is not like other people (e.g.,
extortioners, the unjust, adulterers, and even tax collectors—v. 11). The
Pharisee’s comparison is not to God (against whom no one may stand in
righteousness) but to other people. In a cyclic manner, when Christians compare
themselves to other Christians, they merely compare themselves to other people
who compare themselves to other people.
I
contend that one of the most misinterpreted, misunderstood, and misused
scriptures is Matthew 7. Ironically, however, only one verse of the chapter is
used most often. Jesus’ command is surely not to judge, but his instructions
extend beyond a single phrase. Jesus says, “For with the judgment you pronounce
you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to
you” (Matt 7:2). Said another way, Christians are expected to judge; people
make judgments every day in small matters. In the same chapter, Jesus speaks of
bearing fruit and ironically the dismissal of those who would profess Jesus as
Lord but whose lives are indicative of not knowing Christ (Matt 7:21). Thus,
the command transcends a lack of judgment, for Christians are to judge by the
Lord’s standard. The Pharisee is making comparisons in the text to other people
who likely compare themselves to other people. When we make such a feeble and
shallow mistake, our lives never measure to the holy standard set by the Lord.
Second, the Pharisee exposes a Godless trust in self-sufficiency and self-merit (i.e., his trust was not in the righteousness of Christ but in his own supposed good works). The Pharisee seemingly boasts about his fasting twice a week and giving tithes. Neither of such actions are negative. Rather, God is honored by such actions, but the heart of the one presenting them should be pure—the Pharisee’s is not pure. One’s merit will never be enough to earn salvation. A common question asked by many who would challenge the holiness and justice of God is, “When happens to the morally good man in an indigenous area who has never heard the Gospel and dies without receiving its message?” The appropriate response is that such a person does not exist, for if anyone was truly good, there would be no need for the Gospel, but everyone needs the Gospel; everyone needs grace; everyone needs mercy. May we never grow so full of pride that we forget our desperate and dire need of God’s mercy.
The Tax Collector (v. 13)
The second character in the parable is the tax collector. Often viewed with disdain and anonymity (and rightfully so), the tax collector takes a disparate approach. Unlike the Pharisee, the tax collector approaches God in humility and a realization that he needs forgiveness. The tax collector even beats his breast in pity and cries, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (v. 13). A person cannot comprehend and certainly experience God’s forgiveness without first understanding the gravity of sin in humanity and taking personal ownership of such a condition. The issue is not only that people have sinned but that humanity has never done anything but sin, for humankind’s weakness is a sickness and the stain of Adam. The tax collector begs God for forgiveness in humility and a stark realization that he needs grace. A vastly different approach from the Pharisee, such an attitude is obligatory to approaching God in prayer. The tax collector, as vile as he is, holds the proper attitude. God’s mercy is amazing, for there will be martyrs welcoming the people who took their earthly lives into heaven when they are called home. That is the grace of God. It is matchless and intended even for the vilest offender who truly believes.
Those to Whom Pride Compares (v. 11)
There is additionally but one more character (or group of characters) left in the parable. That is those to whom pride compares. The Pharisee continues an evil cycle of comparison to other people, although the one to whom he should compare himself (God) would uncover his sinful heart. How often do Christians believe the lie that says, “I am okay because I am not as bad as person A or person B?” Such a comparison is not only futile but rooted in evil and trusts not in God but in self. Every believer fits into one of three categories: the Pharisee, the tax collector, or those to whom the self-righteous compare themselves. Perhaps, some people fit into two categories. God’s people must stop the cycle of evil thinking by ceasing to compare themselves to other Christians who compare themselves to other Christians.
God’s People Must Rid Themselves of
Pharisee Pride
To
hold the proper attitude in God’s kingdom, all pride must be demolished. Jesus
Christ must increase and his people must decrease (John 3:30). The Pharisee,
seemingly holy and righteous, approaches God with pride; yet, God opposes the
proud and embraces the humble (Jas 4:6). The tax collector, however,
understands his desperate need for God’s mercy and cries out with such an
attitude and realization. He does not compare himself to others as does the
Pharisee but rather exudes a humble mindset. For God to work in and among his
people, the church must rid themselves of selfishness and pride and approach
the Lord in humility (i.e., the stance of the tax collector rather than the
Pharisee). The proper approach is not the one of the trained and studied religious
leader but of the sinful and humble sinner. Such a posture must be that of the
church, for only in humility will God respond with mercy.
“Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”[9]
[1] I
am certain Jesus did not hold judgment, impartiality, or disdain for Pharisees
(or any other group) in and of themselves and surely not based on their racial,
ethnic, or external qualities but rather for the condition of their hearts.
[2] Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the English
Standard Bible.
[3] I. Howard Marshall, The Gospel of Luke: A Commentary on
the Greek Text, New International
Greek Testament Commentary (Exeter: Paternoster Press, 1978), 677.
[4] Michael Wilcock, The Savior of the World: The Message
of Luke’s Gospel, The Bible
Speaks Today (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979), 165.
[5]
R.C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible (Sanford, FL: 2019),
10066, Kindle.
[6] Leon Morris, Luke: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 3, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers
Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 281.
[7]
Such is shocking because when reasoned, it is clear that his own heart is at
least equally as evil if not more.
[8] I. Howard Marshall, The Gospel of Luke: A Commentary on
the Greek Text, New International
Greek Testament Commentary (Exeter: Paternoster Press, 1978), 679.
[9]
“Sunday Closest to October 26,” The Lectionary Page, October 13, 2025,
https://www.lectionarypage.net/YearC_RCL/Pentecost/CProp25_RCL.html.
