Albert Barnes Commentary Luke 18:14

"I say unto you, This man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." — Luke 18:14 (ASV)

I tell you. The Pharisees would have said that the first man here was approved. Jesus assures them that they judged erroneously. God judges this differently from men.

Justified. Accepted or approved by God. The word justify means to declare or treat as righteous. In this case, it means that in their prayers, the one was approved and the other was not; the one went down with the favour of God in answer to his petitions, the other did not.

For every one, etc. See Barnes on Luke 14:11.