Luke 18:10-14 Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, `God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, `God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

This passage shows us the power of self-deception, as well as the power of humility. We see that both are despised by the Jews. One, we are told, prays to himself (the Pharisee), the other (the tax collector) prays to God and asks for mercy.

This passage also shows what happens when we have a god of our own understanding. We are not able to discern the true nature or depth of pride or sin. It shuts off our communication with God (Job 35:12; Psalm 66:18; Proverbs 11:2; 16:18; 29:23; Ecclesiastes 7:8; 1 Peter 3:7b). The Pharisee prayed only to himself but thought his prayers were reaching God. He thought his works of religiosity, his position in the public eye, and his place of stature were good enough to pay the price of his sins. He thought that just a tithe of his heart was all that was required. God requires all that we are and all that we have. When our heart is opened spiritually, we see clearly that God owned everything before we even existed. What's even more remarkable is the fact that once we give Him everything, He gives it back and more.

The tax collector, on the other hand, came with a broken and contrite heart. He was visibly humbled and poor in Spirit. He would not raise his eyes to heaven because he knew that he was not worthy even to speak to such a Holy God. Notice he beat his breast, which is symbolic of the mourning and the grieving for the sins he had committed. His heart hurt, but he could do nothing to ease his pain so he hit himself in the breast to change his focus.

Jesus closes this parable by telling us that pride kills and descends, while humility heals and exalts. One causes damnation, while the other causes exaltation.

1 Peter 5:6-7 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

This scripture also shows us the value of a humble heart. In order to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, we must be willing to exalt Him above ourselves. Pride causes the disillusioned thought that somehow we are above God in knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. It can even cause us to think we are greater than Him because of the lies spoken to us by the enemy. (Isaiah 14:13-14; 40:13-14, 1 Corinthians 2:16)