The Publican and the Pharisee in Prayer

Luke 18:11-14 KJV

(11)  The 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.

{This is a story people often use to teach that "no one is righteous" and that when you are asked to 'humble and accept yourself as a sinner" and you refuse, you are a called Pharisee. But is that really the point here?}

(12)  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
{That will mean it's teaching us not to fast or give. So will that be correct?}
(13)  And 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.
(14)  I 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.

The point isn't that God wants us to come "as a sinner" and make a lifestyle out of that, everyday smiting our breast saying "God,I'm a sinner, I'm a sinner", just like he's not saying, "stop giving in church". We need to really see what is wrong in the right conducts.

"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus {pros} with himself"

The word translated "with" there is "pros" which could be better translated as "by".

The Pharisee stood BY himself

He prayed BY himself

He stood BY his merit

He stood and prayed by his own works and credentials




Jesus told this parable

Luk 18:9  And he spake this parable unto certain which TRUSTED IN THEMSELVES that they were righteous, and despised others:

Hence the word "I" is predominant in his words
"I fast...", "I give..."I am not...extortioner"
Never mind that it was all a prayer of "thanksgiving" (..thinking that when praises go up, His glory will come down)
But even his thanking is BY HIMSELF: "I, I thank".
While the christian is supposed to be in these good conducts, where we differ is in BY WHOM we stand

Rom 5:2 By whom {Jesus} also we have access by faith into this GRACE wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
1Co 15:1  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the GOSPEL which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

God stands us, we are not by ourselves.

Rom 14:4  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 

1Sam 2:9  He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

To choose to stand/pray BY yourself is to reject the gospel of peace

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith

Romans 10:3 AMP
(3)  For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes [which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought, and deed] and seeking to establish a righteousness (a means of salvation) of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's righteousness.


But the publican

And the publican, standing afar off...

Some people have thought he stood afar from the temple. No. Jesus already said in v10, "Two men went up INTO the temple to pray".

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast...

or rather, kept on smiting his breast..

kept on saying God be merciful to me a sinner

No, he didn't actually say "a sinner", in the Greek, it is "the sinner"

Also, the word translated "be merciful unto me" is "hilastheti"  is from the root "hilaskomai" means "to atone for sin". Adam Clarke puts it this way

"Be propitious toward me through sacrifice - or, let an atonement be made for me"

Hmm... He actually kept saying and saying "I trust in your redemption only"
"I trust in yours only"

He didn't even offer sacrifice by himself

he set his eyes on God's promised substitutionary sacrifice through Jesus

He that trust in him shall never be ashamed

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other.


Do not lose the essence of the Parable:

Luk 18:9  And he spake this parable unto certain which TRUSTED IN THEMSELVES that they were righteous, and despised others

So it is not to condemn the DOING of good works, but to condemn the TRUSTING IN THE GOOD WORKS. We are to have no confidence in the flesh, looking only unto the propitiation God has provided - Jesus. Amen