Summary: Jesus contrasts the prayers of a self-righteous religious leader and a repentant tax collector at the temple. The leader boasts of his deeds, while the tax collector begs for mercy. Jesus affirms that humility, not arrogance, brings justification before God, teaching that the humble will be exalted.
Gospel Acclamation: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. (Psalm 95:8)
Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.
“Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity – greedy, dishonest, adulterous – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”