The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican
Two men pray; the one who says God be merciful to me a sinner goes home justified.
Two men go up to the temple to pray. The Pharisee thanks God that he is not like other men, listing his virtues. The tax collector, unable even to lift his eyes, beats his breast and prays, God be merciful to me a sinner. Jesus says the second man, not the first, went home justified.
The parable
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. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 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.
Two prayers: the Pharisee's list of merits, and the publican's plea for mercy.
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.
This man went down to his house justified rather than the other.
What it means
Jesus aimed this parable at those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. The two men could not be more different in reputation — a respected Pharisee and a despised tax collector — yet the verdict reverses every expectation.
The Pharisee's prayer is really about himself; he informs God of his own excellence and measures himself against others he looks down on. The publican makes no comparison and offers no list of merits — only a plea for mercy from a man who knows he has no case. His prayer, God be merciful to me a sinner, is the sinner's prayer in its purest form.
The lesson is the great reversal of the gospel: every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Justification comes not to the one who parades his goodness but to the one who abandons all pretence and casts himself on mercy. The way up, in God's kingdom, is always down.