Mercy Over Merit - Luke 18:9-14

God, be merciful to me, a sinner. — Luke 18:13

Jesus tells this parable to those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt. Two men go to pray: a Pharisee who boasts of his religious record, and a tax collector who pleads for mercy. Only one goes home justified—and it’s not the one with the résumé.

This parable is a mirror. It asks not what we do, but how we approach God. The Pharisee’s prayer is a performance—he’s not really speaking to God, but to himself. The tax collector’s prayer is a cry from the depths. He knows he has nothing to offer but need.

Jesus flips the script: humility, not achievement, opens the door to grace. The one who stands far off is the one God draws near.

Prayer

Merciful God,

We come not with credentials, but with confession.

Not with pride, but with poverty of spirit.

Receive us as we are.

Lift up the humble.

Teach us to pray with honesty,

To lead with compassion,

And to live in the light of your mercy.

Amen.