The Parable Of The Pharisee And The Tax Collector

“I wanted to tell you a story…” Two men went up to the temple to pray- one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: “God, I thank You that I am  not like other people-robbers, evildoers, adulterers- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” But the tax collector stood at a distance. He wouldn’t even lift  his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his chest and said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

” I tell you the truth: This man-the tax collector-went home justified before God, not the Pharisee. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

(This story is found in Luke 18:9-14.) “Let Me explain what this story means…”The Kingdom doesn’t belong to the proud. It belongs to the humble. You may look righteous on the outside- but if  your heart is full of pride, your prayers fall flat. But when you come to Me lowly, broken, and honest… when you admit your need for mercy… that is the prayer the Father hears.

The Pharisee trusted in his own goodness. The tax collector threw himself on God’s mercy. Only one of them was forgiven. Which one are you? “My parables matter because they reveal the  Kingdom.”

I didn’t speak these stories on My own. In John 12:49-50, I said: “For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I  should speak. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak.” This story came from the Father-because He sees  The heart, not just the words.

And in Matthew 24:35, I said: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” So don’t try to prove yourself. Just come humbly. And you will be lifted up.