I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted. – Luke 18:14

God looks into the heart of man and not on their outward appearance and achievements in life. In this parable, Jesus Christ compared the tax collector and the Pharisee. The tax collector is publicly known as a sinner for corruption in collecting taxes. They’re called thieves because they steal money from people. The Pharisees on the other hand, are publicly known as holy, righteous and law-abiding people. They openly display their religious acts such as prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. People looked up to them and were impressed by their deeds, but God wasn’t. When Christ came, he began to expose their private sins, their pride, and self-righteousness. In the parable, the Pharisee began to brag about his righteous acts while the tax collector humbly admitted his wrongdoing and asked for God’s mercy. God honored the prayer of the tax collector, but he despised the boastings of the Pharisee. This reminds us that no matter who we are or what we do, God is willing to accept us if we humble ourselves and submit to his mercy