The Humble Exalted — August 2 [Description]Overview of Luke 18:9-14Jesus tells a parable aimed at people who were confident in their own righteousness and looked down on others. He contrasts two men who go to the temple to pray:- The Pharisee boasts about his good deeds—fasting and tithing—and thanks God that he’s not like other sinners.- The tax collector, viewed as corrupt and unclean by society, humbly stands at a distance, beats his chest, and begs for mercy, calling himself a sinner.Jesus ends the parable by flipping expectations:The humble tax collector, not the proud Pharisee, is the one who goes home justified before God.Key message:God values humility and honest repentance over spiritual arrogance. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

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Luke 18:9-14365D 214.1

9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:365D 214.2

10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.365D 214.3

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.365D 214.4

12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’365D 214.5

13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’365D 214.6

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be ^{[d]put down} humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”365D 214.7