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Pentecost Season · Proper 25 · Year C

Luke 18:9-14

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

October 29, 2028

Church Interior with the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, Dirck van Delen
Church Interior with the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, Dirck van Delen, 17th centuryClark Art Institute
A Dutch architectural painter who built imaginary churches with mathematical precision and then dropped small figures into them.Two men went up to the temple to pray: the parable needs a building, and van Delen gives it an enormous one with the two men very small inside it.Dirck van DelenA Dutch painter of imaginary architecture, who built churches and palaces on panel with exact perspective and borrowed his figures.Clark Art InstituteA museum in rural Massachusetts, sited there deliberately in the nuclear age to keep the collection away from a city.Clark Art Institute
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelLuke 18:9-14Lk 18:9-14
Epistle2 Tim. 4:6-8, 16-182 Tm 4:6-8, 16-18
Old TestamentJoel 2:23-32Jl 2:23-32Alt. OTSir. 35:12-17Sir 35:12-17 orJer. 14:7-10, 19-22Jer 14:7-10, 19-22
PsalterPs. 65Ps 65Alt. PsalmPs. 84:1-7Ps 84:1-7

Overview & Insights

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:14)

Jesus tells of two men praying in the temple, a Pharisee who thanks God for his own righteousness and a tax collector who begs for mercy as a sinner. Jesus says it is the tax collector, not the Pharisee, who goes home justified before God.

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Take it further: Luke 18:9-14

Commentary

Commentary on Luke 18:9-14Commentary on Lk 18:9-14 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary's lectionary commentary explains why the tax collector, not the Pharisee, leaves justified.

Luke 18:9-14 CommentaryLk 18:9-14 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed preaching resource on how the parable exposes self-righteous prayer.

Luke 18 CommentaryLk 18 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse-by-verse notes trace the contrast Jesus draws between the two men's postures.

Luke 18:9 CommentariesLk 18:9 Commentaries BibleHub

A composite of classic commentaries on the parable's details, verse by verse.

Sinners, Proper 25 (C) - 2022 Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church

An Episcopal preaching sermon built directly on this parable's reversal.

Background & Word Study

Luke 18:9 InterlinearLk 18:9 Interlinear BibleHub

The Greek interlinear text lets readers check the word Luke uses for 'justified.'

Luke 10-24 OverviewLk 10-24 Overview BibleProject

A video walkthrough of Luke's travel narrative that frames this parable's place in the Gospel.

The Church Fathers

Catena on Luke 18Catena on Lk 18 Catena

Collects patristic comments from writers like Cyril of Alexandria and Ambrose verse by verse.

Sermons & Reflections

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector Journey with Jesus

An essay contrasting the two men's postures as two opposite ways of being religious.

October 27, Ordinary 30C (Luke 18:9-14)October 27, Ordinary 30C (Lk 18:9-14) The Christian Century

A magazine reflection on the parable's surprising verdict of justification.

Worship & Prayers

Proper 25, Year C The Lectionary Page

Full Anglican propers, including the collect appointed for this Sunday.

Podcast

Sermon Brainwave Working Preacher

Luther Seminary professors discuss the week's readings in conversation.

Art & Music

Season After Pentecost Art Index Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt's lectionary art index links classic paintings to this season's texts.

Study Hub

Luke 18:9-14Lk 18:9-14 Textweek

A long-running clearinghouse of sermon and study links for this specific pericope.

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