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Tuesday, August 5th, 2025
the Week of Proper 13 / Ordinary 18
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Read the Bible

New Life Version

Luke 18:10

Jesus said, "Two men went up to the house of God to pray. One of them was a proud religious law-keeper. The other was a man who gathered taxes.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Bigotry;   Church;   Confidence;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Penitent;   Publicans;   Repentance;   Self-Righteousness;   Temple;   Works;   Worship;   Scofield Reference Index - Justification;   Thompson Chain Reference - Attendance;   House of God;   Pharisees;   Publicans;   Sabbath;   Sanctuary;   Sects, Jewish;   Worship, True and False;   The Topic Concordance - Abasement;   Exaltation;   Humbleness;   Hypocrisy;   Self-Righteousness;   Tithe;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Parables;   Self-Righteousness;   Temple, the Second;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Parable;   Publican;   Temple;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Adultery;   Boasting;   Humility;   Luke, gospel of;   Prayer;   Pride;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Christ, Christology;   Ethics;   Humility;   Pharisees;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hearing the Word of God;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Pharisees;   Prayer;   Simeon;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Luke, Gospel of;   Parables;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Confession;   Ethics;   Parable;   Prayer;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Annunciation, the ;   Character;   Common Life;   Confession (of Sin);   Discourse;   Error;   Forgiveness (2);   Grace ;   Humility;   Invitation;   Justice (2);   Law of God;   Mission;   Occupation (2);   Parable;   Prayer (2);   Profession (2);   Property (2);   Publican ;   Repentance (2);   Temple (2);   Trinity (2);   Winter ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Publicans;   1910 New Catholic Dictionary - parable of the pharisee and the publican;   pharisee and publican;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Pharisee;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Phar'isees,;   Prayer;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Publican;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Court of the Sanctuary;   Forgiveness;   Gospels, the Synoptic;   Guilt;   Hours of Prayer;   Jesus Christ (Part 1 of 2);   Prayer;   Prayers of Jesus;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for June 30;   Every Day Light - Devotion for April 26;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“Two men went up to the temple to pray,
King James Version (1611)
Two men went vp into the Temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a Publicane.
King James Version
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
English Standard Version
"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
New American Standard Bible
"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
New Century Version
"A Pharisee and a tax collector both went to the Temple to pray.
Amplified Bible
"Two men went up into the temple [enclosure] to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Legacy Standard Bible
"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Berean Standard Bible
"Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Contemporary English Version
Two men went into the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Complete Jewish Bible
"Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Parush and the other a tax-collector.
Darby Translation
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer.
Easy-to-Read Version
"One time there was a Pharisee and a tax collector. One day they both went to the Temple to pray.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Two men went vp into the Temple to pray: the one a Pharise, and the other a Publican.
George Lamsa Translation
Two men went up to the temple to pray; one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Good News Translation
"Once there were two men who went up to the Temple to pray: one was a Pharisee, the other a tax collector.
Lexham English Bible
"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Literal Translation
Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector.
American Standard Version
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Bible in Basic English
Two men went up to the Temple for prayer; one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-farmer.
Hebrew Names Version
"Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Parush, and the other was a tax collector.
International Standard Version
"Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
Etheridge Translation
Two men went up to the temple to pray, the one a Pharisha, the other a publican;
Murdock Translation
Two men went up to the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Two men went vp into the temple to pray: the one a pharisee, and the other a publicane.
English Revised Version
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
World English Bible
"Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Weymouth's New Testament
"Two men went up to the Temple to pray," He said; "one being a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
seiynge, Twei men wenten vp in to the temple to preye; the toon a Farisee, and the tother a pupplican.
Update Bible Version
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Webster's Bible Translation
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
New English Translation
"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
New King James Version
"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
New Living Translation
"Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.
New Revised Standard
"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Two men, went up into the temple to pray, one, a Pharisee, and, the other, a tax-collector.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee and the other a publican.
Revised Standard Version
"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Two men went vp into ye teple to praye: ye one a pharise and the other a publican.
Young's Literal Translation
`Two men went up to the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
There wente vp two men in to the teple, to praye: the one a Pharise, the other a publican.
Mace New Testament (1729)
two men went to the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, the other a Publican.
Simplified Cowboy Version
"Two guys went into the church to pray. One was a religious fellow, and the other was a brand inspector.

Contextual Overview

9 Jesus told another picture-story to some people who trusted in themselves and thought they were right with God. These people did not think well of other men. 10 Jesus said, "Two men went up to the house of God to pray. One of them was a proud religious law-keeper. The other was a man who gathered taxes. 11 The proud religious law-keeper stood and prayed to himself like this, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men. I am not like those who steal. I am not like those who do things that are wrong. I am not like those who do sex sins. I am not even like this tax-gatherer. 12 I go without food two times a week so I can pray better. I give one-tenth part of the money I earn.' 13 But the man who gathered taxes stood a long way off. He would not even lift his eyes to heaven. But he hit himself on his chest and said, ‘God, have pity on me! I am a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went back to his house forgiven, and not the other man. For whoever makes himself look more important than he is will find out how little he is worth. Whoever does not try to honor himself will be made important."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

into: Luke 1:9, Luke 1:10, Luke 19:46, 1 Kings 8:30, Acts 3:1

a Pharisee: Luke 7:29, Luke 7:30, Matthew 21:31, Matthew 21:32, Acts 23:6-8, Acts 26:5, Philippians 3:5

Reciprocal: Proverbs 25:14 - boasteth Matthew 5:20 - exceed Matthew 6:5 - thou shalt not Luke 5:32 - General John 9:34 - and dost 2 Corinthians 10:18 - not

Cross-References

Genesis 16:10
The angel of the Lord said to her, "I will give you so many people in your family through the years that they will be too many to number."
Genesis 17:16
And I will bring good to her. I will give you a son by her. I will bring good to her. And she will be the mother of nations. Kings of many people will come from her."
Genesis 17:19
But God said, "No, but your wife Sarah will give birth to your son. And you will give him the name Isaac. I will make My agreement with him and for his children after him, an agreement that will last forever.
Genesis 17:21
But I will make My agreement with Isaac, who will be born to Sarah at this time next year."
Genesis 18:3
and said, "My lord, if I have found favor in your eyes, please do not pass by your servant.
Genesis 18:5
And I will get a piece of bread so you may eat and get strength. After that you may go on your way, since you have come to your servant." The men said, "Do as you have said."
Genesis 18:8
He took milk and cheese and the meat which he had made ready, and set it in front of them. He stood by them under the tree while they ate.
Genesis 18:9
Then they said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "There in the tent."
Genesis 18:13
Then the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘How can I give birth to a child when I am so old?'
Genesis 18:14
Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Two men went up into the temple to pray, Which is called an house of prayer, Isaiah 56:7 the Jews had a mighty notion of praying in a place of religious worship, as in the temple, or in a synagogue; imagining that their prayers were more acceptable to God, and sooner heard by him in such a place than in private:

"the prayers of the congregation, they say u, are heard always; and though there are sinners among them, the holy; blessed God, does not despise the prayer of many; wherefore, a man ought to join himself with the congregation, and not pray alone, whenever he can pray with that: and let a man go always, morning and evening, to the synagogue; for there is no prayer heard at all times but in the synagogue; and whoever has a synagogue in his city, and does not pray in it with the congregation, is called an ill neighbour. ---A divinity school is greater than a synagogue; and the great wise men, though they had many synagogues in their cities, did not pray but where they studied in the law.''

And they say w, that

"he that prays (in the synagogue) is as if he offered a pure offering. ---Says R. Abhu, in the name of R. Abhu, "seek the Lard where he may be found"; where is he to be found? in the synagogues, and in the schools.''

These two men had, doubtless, both of them a notion of the sanctity of the place, and acted according to the prevailing sense of the people. They went up hither, not by consultation, agreement, and appointment; for they were of a different cast from each other; but so it happened. Had they went by consent, there was a rule for them x:

"two men that go to a synagogue to pray, and one has finished his prayer before his neighbour, if he stays for him, his reward is double; and if he does not stay for him, his prayer is not heard.''

And they had rules also for the manner of their going to, and from the place of prayer: when they went thither, they were to go nimbly, in haste, and even run; but when they came back, they were to go very slowly and gently y.

"The commandment (they say z) is to run to a synagogue; for it is said, Hosea 6:3 "we shall know, we shall follow on to know the Lord": but when a man comes out of the synagogue, let him not take large steps; but let him walk, little by little, or take short steps.''

How far these rules were complied with by these men, is of no great moment to know; who they were follows:

the one a Pharisee; one of those that trusted in themselves, as righteous, and despised all others, especially publicans and sinners; of these Hosea 6:3- :. This was the strictest sect among the Jews; they were men that prayed, and fasted much, and were great sticklers for the ceremonies of the law, and the traditions of the elders, and did all they did to be seen of men:

and the other a publican; a gatherer of the Roman tax, though by nation a Jew; and therefore such were had in great contempt by the Jews in general; nor would they eat and drink and converse with them; Hosea 6:3- : and

Hosea 6:3- :

u Maimon. Hilch. Tephilla, c. 8. sect. 1, 3. Piske Harosh Beracot, c. 1. art. 7. w T. Hieros. Beracot, fol. 8. 4. x Piske Harosh, ib. y Piske Harosh, & T. Hieros. Beracot, fol. 9. 1. z Maimon. ib. sect. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The temple - Into one of the courts of the temple - the court where prayer was commonly offered. See the notes at Matthew 21:12.

A Pharisee - See the notes at Matthew 3:7.

Publican - See the notes at Matthew 5:46.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Luke 18:10. A Pharisee — For a description of the Pharisees and their tenets, Matthew 16:1; Matthew 16:1.

Publican. — See an account of these on Matthew 5:46. Both these persons went to the temple to pray, i.e. to worship God: they were probably both Jews, and felt themselves led by different motives to attend at the temple, at the hour of prayer: the one to return thanks for the mercies he had received; the other to implore that grace which alone could redeem him from his sins.


 
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