Luke 18:4-14

4 For a long time the judge refused to act, but at last he said to himself, "Even though I don't fear God or respect people,

5 yet because of all the trouble this widow is giving me, I will see to it that she gets her rights. If I don't, she will keep on coming and finally wear me out!' "

6 And the Lord continued, "Listen to what that corrupt judge said.

7 Now, will God not judge in favor of his own people who cry to him day and night for help? Will he be slow to help them? ¹

8 I tell you, he will judge in their favor and do it quickly. But will the Son of Man find faith on earth when he comes?"

9 Jesus also told this parable to people who were sure of their own goodness and despised everybody else.

10 "Once there were two men who went up to the Temple to pray: one was a Pharisee, the other a tax collector.

11 The Pharisee stood apart by himself and prayed, "I thank you, God, that I am not greedy, dishonest, or an adulterer, like everybody else. I thank you that I am not like that tax collector over there.

12 I fast two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all my income.'

13 But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even raise his face to heaven, but beat on his breast and said, "God, have pity on me, a sinner!' ²

14 I tell you," said Jesus, "the tax collector, and not the Pharisee, was in the right with God when he went home. For those who make themselves great will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be made great." ³

Cross References

• 1. +218.7Ben Sira 35.19.
• 2. +218.13Prayer of Azariah 8.
• 3. 18.14Matthew 23.12;Luke 14.11.

Footnotes

• [a]. stood apart by himself and prayed; [some manuscripts have] stood up and prayed to himself.