Cautionary Tales: The Pharisee

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector expose the subtle but deadly nature of spiritual pride. This study examines how self-reliance, comparison, and moral posturing can masquerade as righteousness while distancing the heart from God. In contrast, the tax collector’s broken plea reveals the posture that receives grace: humility, repentance, and total dependence on God’s mercy. Jesus’ parable confronts every believer with a searching question, are we trusting in ourselves, or are we coming to God with contrite hearts that He alone can justify?