Prayer Focus-Prayer of a Tax Collector

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at the prayer of a tax collector in Luke 18:13.

His prayer was short, simple, and powerful. “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

There was another man who prayed at the temple that day. He was a religious leader known as a Pharisee. He prayed about himself, and thanked God that he was not like robbers, evildoers, adulterers, and even like this tax collector.”

But Jesus said it was the tax collector, not the Pharisee, who went home justified before God. Jesus said in Luke 18:14, “For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

This humble prayer of a tax collector is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com