Luke 18:11
Arabic SAB (الكتاب الشريف)
فَوَقَفَ الْفَرِّيسِيُّ يُصَلِّي إِلَى نَفْسِهِ، وَقَالَ: ’اللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَشْكُرُكَ لِأَنِّي لَسْتُ مِثْلَ بَاقِي النَّاسِ، اللُّصُوصِ وَالْمُجْرِمِينَ وَالزُّنَاةِ، وَلَا مِثْلَ هَذَا الْجَابِي.
What Does This Mean?
This verse is from the Bible and describes a Pharisee who prays to God, thanking Him that he's not like other people who do bad things. He thinks of himself as better than others.
Explained for Children
Imagine you have two friends - one likes to help clean up your room without being asked, while another always makes more mess. The Pharisee is like the first friend but thinks too much about how great he is compared to the messy friend.
Historical Background
This verse was written by Luke, a doctor and historian, around 60-80 AD for early Christians who were Greek-speaking. It reflects the cultural tension between strict religious leaders (Pharisees) and everyday people in Jewish society.
Living It Out Today
In modern times, this could apply to someone at work who thinks they're better than their coworkers because of their hard work but forgets that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses.
Topics
pridehumilityself-righteousnesscomparisonforgivenessmorality
Related Verses
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Pharisee compare himself to others?
The Pharisee is showing his own sense of superiority, which stems from a lack of humility and an overemphasis on outward righteousness compared to perceived sinners.
How can we avoid being like the Pharisee in Luke 18:11?
To avoid self-righteousness, focus on God's grace and work towards genuine humility by recognizing our own faults and treating others with kindness and compassion.
What does this verse teach us about prayer?
This verse warns against using prayer as a tool for self-praise rather than sincere communication with God, emphasizing the importance of a humble heart in prayer.
Can you explain the difference between humility and pride based on Luke 18:11?
Humility involves recognizing one's own faults and dependence on God, while pride is about seeing oneself as better than others and relying on personal achievements. The Pharisee in this verse displays pride.