Two at the temple
long post ahead
At stake conference this past weekend, the main theme was becoming converted to Jesus Christ. My stake president spoke about the parable of the Pharisee and the publican found in Gospel of Luke chapter 18.
In this parable, Jesus describes two men who go to the temple to pray.
The first is a Pharisee. In his prayer he thanks God that he is not like other people; extortioners, adulterers, and especially not like “this publican.” He recounts his religious accomplishments: he fasts regularly and pays his tithes.
The second man is a publican, a tax collector, someone widely despised in that culture. He stands afar off, will not lift his eyes to heaven, and simply pleads:
“God be merciful to me, a sinner.”
Jesus concludes that it was the publican, not the Pharisee who went home justified before God. The Pharisee was outwardly righteous. He fasted and paid tithing. He was observant in his religious duties. But, his prayer was centered on himself. It was comparative, almost congratulatory.
The publican brought nothing but humility and repentance. He offered no résumé of righteousness only a plea for mercy.
The Pharisee’s prayer was built on comparison. His devotion was measured against other people.
The publican compared himself only to God’s mercy.
This is one of the quiet dangers of spiritual life. Pride rarely appears as open rebellion. More often it appears as subtle comparison measuring ourselves against others and concluding that we stand a little higher.
The publican’s simple plea, “be merciful,” reflects contrition.
The Greek word used there carries the idea of atonement or propitiation, a plea for mercy made possible through sacrifice.
In other words, the publican was not trusting in his own goodness. He was trusting in God’s redeeming mercy.
Jesus ends the parable with a statement that appears repeatedly in scripture:
“Every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
This parable reflects several foundational gospel truths:
1. justification comes through Jesus Christ, not personal merit.
The Pharisee trusted in his obedience.
The publican trusted in God’s mercy.
Obedience matters deeply in the restored gospel: covenants, ordinances, fasting, and tithing are sacred expressions of discipleship. But they are never bargaining chips with God. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the only source of justification.
2. pride is a serious spiritual threat.
President Benson taught that the central feature of pride is comparison. The Pharisee’s sin was not obedience it was comparison and contempt. It was pride.
3. the publican embodies what the Savior later described as a broken heart and a contrite spirit in the Book of Mormon.
That humility before God is what allows the Spirit to work repentance and transformation in us.
We often describe this process as:
Justification: being made clean through Christ.
Sanctification: becoming holy through ongoing covenant faithfulness and grace.
The publican’s prayer is the beginning of that process.
Both men go to the temple. The temple represents drawing near to God. This detail matters. The parable teaches that entering sacred space with pride defeats the very purpose of being there. Approaching God requires humility.
This parable quietly warns against a few common spiritual pitfalls:
*Measuring discipleship primarily by visible obedience
*Looking down on less-active members
*Confusing callings, longevity in the Church, or outward participation with true conversion
The gospel invites something deeper than religious performance.
It invites humility before God, honest self-examination, reliance on the Atonement and mercy of Jesus Christ.
In the end, the publican’s prayer may be one of the most powerful in scripture not because of its eloquence, but because of its honesty.
“God be merciful to me, a sinner.”
And according to the Savior, that man went home justified.
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