Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector: Verse, Meaning & Lesson

The Parable of the Wedding Feast is in Luke 18:9–14. Jesus told this parable to teach listeners how to pray to God with the right attitude, by having humility and repentance.

This guide gives you a complete summary of the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, including the verses in Scripture, the meaning, and lessons that can be applied to the Christian life.

Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector In Scripture

Luke 18:9–14 – Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹He also spoke this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others: ¹⁰ “Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed by himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men: extortionists, unrighteous, 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 away, wouldn’t 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 he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Read Luke 18

Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector Meaning

This parable means that we should pray with the right attitude by having humility and repentance. Jesus used this metaphor to illustrate the virtue of humility and the vice of self-righteousness, teaching that justification before God is granted to those who humbly acknowledge their need for mercy rather than boasting of their own deeds.

The Pharisee, a religious leader, prays with self-righteousness, thanking God that he is not like other people—sinners, evildoers, or even like the tax collector. He boasts about his fasting and tithing, believing his actions make him superior. In contrast, the tax collector stands at a distance, not even willing to look up to heaven, and humbly asks for God’s mercy, acknowledging his sinfulness.

The parable challenges the listener to examine their own heart and motives in their spiritual life. It emphasizes the importance of humility before God and illustrates that justification before the Lord comes not from one’s own merits or displays of piety but from God’s grace and mercy.

Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector Lessons

Humility in Prayer

The main lesson for Christians is that they should approach God with a humble heart, recognizing their own sinfulness and need for God’s mercy, rather than boasting about their own righteousness.

God’s Grace is for Everyone

The parable teaches that God’s grace is available to all, including those who society might look down upon, like the tax collector in the story. Despite being viewed as a sinner and an outcast by society, the tax collector receives God’s mercy and is justified before Him. It affirms that grace is the equalizer, extending even to those who may feel unworthy or have been marginalized.

Avoid Judging Others

Christians are cautioned against judging others based on their outward appearance or actions, as God looks at the heart and knows the true intentions of every person. The parable challenges the notion that righteousness before God can be achieved through religious observance or moral superiority.

The Danger of Self-Righteousness

The story warns against the danger of self-righteousness and the false security it brings. True righteousness comes from God and is not something that can be achieved by human effort alone.

Repentance Leads to Justification

The tax collector’s simple prayer of repentance led to his justification before God. This highlights the importance of repentance in the Christian faith and the transformative power it has in one’s relationship with God. The key takeaway is that Christians should have a genuine relationship with God that is reflected in their attitudes and actions before Him.

Summary of the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

We hope you enjoyed this summary of the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

As you discovered, the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector appears in Luke 18:9–14. And the primary meaning of the parable is that we should pray with the right attitude by having humility and repentance before God. The life lessons include to have humility in prayer, God’s grace is for everyone, avoid judging others, there is danger in self-righteousness, and repentance leads to justification.