Luke 18:9-17

The Pharisee and the Publican

9 And He also told this parable to some people who ¹trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and ²viewed others with contempt:

10 "Two men ³went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11 "The Pharisee ⁴stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

12 'I ⁵fast twice a week; I ⁶pay tithes of all that I get.'

13 "But the tax collector, ⁷standing some distance away, ⁸was even unwilling * to lift up his eyes to heaven, but ⁹was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'

14 "I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; ¹⁰for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

15 ¹¹And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them.

16 But Jesus called for them, saying, "Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

17 "Truly I say to you, ¹²whoever * does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."

Cross References

• 1. Luke 16:15
• 2. Romans 14:3, 10
• 3. 1 Kings 10:5; 2 Kings 20:5, 8; Acts 3:1
• 4. Matthew 6:5; Mark 11:25; Luke 22:41
• 5. Matthew 9:14
• 6. Luke 11:42
• 7. Matthew 6:5; Mark 11:25; Luke 22:41
• 8. Ezra 9:6
• 9. Luke 23:48
• 10. Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11
• 11. Luke 18:15-17: {Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16}
• 12. Matthew 18:3; Matthew 19:14; Mark 10:15; 1 Corinthians 14:20; 1 Peter 2:2

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "propitious"