Luke 18:10 Meaning and Explanation
“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Two men go up to the temple to pray: a respected Pharisee and a despised tax collector.
What Does Luke 18:10 Mean?
The first hearers knew this cast instantly. The Pharisee was the devout layman, rigorous in obedience, admired in the synagogue. The publican gathered taxes for Rome, presumed to skim and extort, a collaborator against his own people. One belongs on the temple mount; the other, it would seem, does not.
Yet both climb the same steps to do the same thing, and that is the quiet setup: prayer reveals the heart like nothing else does. The temple was the place of sacrifice, where sin was confessed and mercy sought. Which of the two actually does that business there — and which only appears to — is about to be overturned.
Luke 18:10 in the Original Language
telones (τελώνης), 'publican' -- a collector of Roman taxes, widely despised as dishonest.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 18:10
What does Luke 18:10 mean?
Two men go up to the temple to pray: a respected Pharisee and a despised tax collector.