Luke 18:11 - The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Luke 18:11" mean?
This verse from Luke 18:11 is part of the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. It highlights the danger of self-righteousness and pride. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself...": This is a key detail. He's not really praying to God in humility. He's praying in a way that is performative and focused on his own perceived righteousness. He's more concerned with showing off his virtues than truly seeking God's grace.
"...like this: ‘God, I thank you...'": While gratitude is generally a good thing, in this context, it's a form of condescension. He's not thankful for God's gifts and blessings in a humble way. He's thanking God (or rather, congratulating himself through God) for not being like others.
"...that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers...": He lists specific sins he believes he's avoided. This is a common trap of legalistic piety – focusing on outward conformity to rules rather than inward transformation and genuine love for God and neighbor. He defines righteousness by comparison with what he considers to be the worst sinners.
"...or even like this tax collector.'": This is the climax of his self-righteousness. He singles out the tax collector, a profession generally despised in Jewish society because they were often seen as collaborators with the Roman Empire and were perceived as greedy and dishonest. The Pharisee uses the tax collector as a foil to elevate himself, essentially putting him down to make himself feel superior.
In essence, the verse portrays a man who is:
Self-centered: His prayer is all about him and his perceived virtues.
Judgmental: He defines himself by comparing himself favorably to others.
Proud: He believes he is inherently better than others because of his adherence to certain rules and his avoidance of certain sins.
Lacking in Humility: He doesn't recognize his own flaws and shortcomings.
Missing the Point: He's focused on outward appearances rather than inward transformation and relationship with God.
The parable is a critique of this kind of attitude. Jesus contrasts the Pharisee with the tax collector, who humbly acknowledges his sin and seeks God's mercy. The parable ultimately teaches that humility and a recognition of one's own sinfulness are essential for a right relationship with God, while pride and self-righteousness are a barrier to it. The tax collector, in his humility, is justified, while the Pharisee, in his pride, is not.
Luke 18:11 - The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
What does "Luke 18:11" mean?
This verse from Luke 18:11 is part of the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. It highlights the danger of self-righteousness and pride. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself...": This is a key detail. He's not really praying to God in humility. He's praying in a way that is performative and focused on his own perceived righteousness. He's more concerned with showing off his virtues than truly seeking God's grace.
"...like this: ‘God, I thank you...'": While gratitude is generally a good thing, in this context, it's a form of condescension. He's not thankful for God's gifts and blessings in a humble way. He's thanking God (or rather, congratulating himself through God) for not being like others.
"...that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers...": He lists specific sins he believes he's avoided. This is a common trap of legalistic piety – focusing on outward conformity to rules rather than inward transformation and genuine love for God and neighbor. He defines righteousness by comparison with what he considers to be the worst sinners.
"...or even like this tax collector.'": This is the climax of his self-righteousness. He singles out the tax collector, a profession generally despised in Jewish society because they were often seen as collaborators with the Roman Empire and were perceived as greedy and dishonest. The Pharisee uses the tax collector as a foil to elevate himself, essentially putting him down to make himself feel superior.
In essence, the verse portrays a man who is:
Self-centered: His prayer is all about him and his perceived virtues.
Judgmental: He defines himself by comparing himself favorably to others.
Proud: He believes he is inherently better than others because of his adherence to certain rules and his avoidance of certain sins.
Lacking in Humility: He doesn't recognize his own flaws and shortcomings.
Missing the Point: He's focused on outward appearances rather than inward transformation and relationship with God.
The parable is a critique of this kind of attitude. Jesus contrasts the Pharisee with the tax collector, who humbly acknowledges his sin and seeks God's mercy. The parable ultimately teaches that humility and a recognition of one's own sinfulness are essential for a right relationship with God, while pride and self-righteousness are a barrier to it. The tax collector, in his humility, is justified, while the Pharisee, in his pride, is not.