Leader Guide

Bible Activity

Bibles or the Superbook Bible App

Who Was Right in God’s Sight? Look up and discuss a Parable about a tax collector.

Give children a Bible if they do not have one.

Note that the suggested answers are from the New Living Translation. If children are using different translations, their responses will vary.

Jesus told a Parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector. Which man knew that he needed Jesus? The answer may surprise you! Let’s look up this Parable and discuss it together.

Luke 18:9–14

⁹Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: ¹⁰“Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. ¹¹The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank You, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! ¹²I fast twice a week, and I give You a tenth of my income.’ ¹³But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ ¹⁴I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Jesus told this Parable to those who believed they didn’t need Him—or anyone. They thought they were good enough on their own to enter God’s kingdom.

• In verse 10, what did the two men do? They went to the Temple to pray.

• In verse 11, what did the Pharisee thank God for? That he wasn’t like other people, or sinners, and the tax collector.

• What was his attitude toward the tax collector? He looked down on him; he felt he was better or superior to him.

• In verse 12, what did the Pharisee boast of to God? He fasted twice a week and gave God a tenth of his income (tithed).

• Is it okay to boast to God about the good things we do; why or why not? No, we should not boast or brag about ourselves; God sees everything anyway. We must stay humble; good deeds don’t win us favor with God. We can only do things by His ability, which He gives us.

• At school, you may see classmates who do wrong things, like breaking the rules and showing disrespect to others. They may be dishonest, cheat on tests, or bully others. As a follower of Christ, do you think it is okay to look down on people and judge yourself to be superior to them? Please explain. Children answer.

• Based on these first few verses, do you think that the Pharisee believed he needed Jesus? Please explain. No, he trusted in his own righteousness, his good deeds, and goodness. He was proud and stood and boasted of all he had done.

• In verse 13, why do you think the tax collector couldn’t look toward heaven? He felt shame and guilt for his sins. He was embarrassed. He felt unworthy because he was a sinner.

The tax collector also stood as far away as he could, while the Pharisee it seems stood by himself, probably at the front, filled with pride.

• Why do you think the tax collector beat his chest? He felt sorry for his sins.

In Bible times, this was a way to express grief and sorrow.

• Did he boast about anything he had done? No.

• What did he ask God? To have mercy on him.

• Which man confessed and admitted his sins to God? The tax collector.

• What must we also do before we are forgiven? We must confess our sins to God.

• In verse 14, who was justified, which means to be forgiven and accepted by God? The tax collector.

The tax collector confessed that he was a sinner and asked for mercy. Because he did this, he was justified, or forgiven, and his relationship with God was restored!

• What does this confirm about what we said regarding good works or deeds? They don’t make us right with God; they don’t earn forgiveness or salvation.

• In verse 14, which man was humbled, and which was exalted? The Pharisee was humbled, and the tax collector was exalted.

Conclusion: How shocking and offensive this Parable Jesus told must have been to the religious leaders who boasted about themselves! Jesus came to save those who knew they were sinners, not to those who boasted of their own righteousness or goodness. We can never meet God’s standard on our own; however, when we humble ourselves before God and admit our need for Him, He is waiting to help us!