Lovers of God

The parable of the self-righteous Pharisee

Lk 18:9-14 9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood 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 fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was 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; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

You want to be justified? Learn to pray like the tax collector.

The difference between a saint and a sinner is this: a saint understands that he is a great sinner, whereas a sinner thinks that he is a great saint.

So then, do you see yourself a saint or a sinner?

It is easy to think of yourself as a sinner after reading this, but the real test of how you see yourself is when someone crosses you and messes up things for you, or for those you love. The one who sees himself as a sinner is merciful to other sinners.

Paul considered himself as the chief of sinners (1 Tm 1:15).

Daniel prayed as if he were among the great sinners whose sin resulted in the judgment of Israel (Dan 9:4-11).

These men are good examples to follow.