Those who exult over others, because they have been reproved, have the spirit of the self-righteous Pharisee. He thanked God that he was not like other men. He stood in the temple praising himself, while he belittled the character of others; and yet God knew his proud heart. The publican stood afar off. He was humbled with a deep sense of his own unworthiness. He had such a realization of his weakness, and infirmity, and sin, that he dared not lift up his eyes to heaven; but smote upon his breast and cried, "God be merciful to me a sinner." Yet he went down to his house justified, rather than the other. O that we might have the same spirit of self-distrust, the same realization of our utter unworthiness. Shall we not let the grace of Christ come into our souls, that we may go down to our house justified?

Dem som jubler over andre, fordi de er blevet irettesat, har farisæernes selvretfærdige ånd. Han takkede Gud for at han ikke var som andre mennesker. Han stod i templet og priste sig selv, medens han forklejnede andres karakter, og alligevel kendte Gud ikke hans stolte hjerte. Tolderen stod lidt længere borte. Han var ydmyg med en fornemmelse for sin egen uværdighed. Han erkendte sin svaghed, og syndighed så meget, at han ikke turde opløfte sine øjne til himlen; men slog sig på sit bryst og råbte: "Gud vær mig synder nådig." Alligevel gik han retfærdiggjort hjem til sit hus, frem for den anden. O om vi måtte have den samme mistro til os selv, den samme erkendelse af vor yderste uværdighed. Skal vi ikke lade Kristi nåde komme ind i vore sjæle, så vi må gå retfærdiggjorte til vore huse?