“Chapter 38: The Pharisee and the Publican,” New Testament Stories (2005), 97–99
“Chapter 38,” New Testament Stories, 97–99
Chapter 38
The Pharisee and the Publican
One day the Savior talked to some people who thought that they were more righteous than other people. Jesus told them a story.
Two men went to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee. The other was a publican, which is a tax collector. People did not like tax collectors. They thought tax collectors were not honest.
The Pharisee stood in front of others to pray. He thanked God that he was better than other people. He said that he fasted two times each week and paid his tithing. The publican stood by himself, bowed his head, and prayed, “God be merciful to me a sinner.”
The Pharisee thought he was perfect and did not need God’s help. But the publican knew that he was not perfect and needed God’s help. He was humble and asked God to forgive him.
Jesus said that people should be like the publican. They should not think they are better than other people. They should repent of their sins and ask God to forgive them.