Once
Jesus met some pharisees. They were of the opinion that they observed all of God’s
commandments and could thus look down on other people. Jesus told them the
following story:
Two
men went up to the temple to pray. One was a pharisee, the other a
tax-collector. The pharisee went to the front and prayed: God, I thank you
that I am better than the others. I am faithful to my wife and I am not like
that tax-collector over there. I do not steal or cheat. I fast twice a week
and give a tenth of all I earn to the temple.
The
tax-collector stood at the back. He lowered his head, beat his breast and
prayed: God, I am a sinner, have mercy on me. Jesus said: Yes, I tell you,
this man went home having been forgiven by God. The other did not.