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"Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
Verse Takeaways
1
A Tale of Two Extremes
Jesus intentionally chose two figures from opposite ends of the social and religious spectrum. Commentators explain that the Pharisee represented the height of religious observance, while the publican (a Jewish tax collector for Rome) was viewed as a corrupt traitor. This stark contrast was designed to shock the audience and challenge their assumptions about who is right with God.
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Book Overview
Luke
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13
18th Century
Presbyterian
The temple. Into one of the courts of the temple—the court where prayer was commonly offered. See Barnes on Matthew 21:12.
A Ph…
Stood (σταθεις). First aorist passive participle of ιστημ. Struck an attitude ostentatiously where he could be seen. Standing was …
19th Century
Anglican
Went up into the temple.—The peculiar form of the verb, “went up,” was strictly justified by the position of the Temple. It stood…
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Baptist
The one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men ar…
Elements of this parable need little interpretation, only careful observation. The characters in this story represent extremes, but the sketches ar…
16th Century
Protestant
Two men went up. Christ makes a comparison between the two men, both of whom, by going up to pray, seem to manifest the same ardo…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
Two men went up into the temple to pray, which is called an house of prayer, (Isaiah 56:7) the Jews had a mig…
This parable was to convince some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others. God sees with what disposition and design…
