Latest Devotion
Lessons From a Tax Collector
By: Lisa Boisvert
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ Luke 18:11-13
During the Roman occupation of Israel, tax collectors were despised by everyone. During this era, someone from the local population would be allowed to collect taxes for the Roman empire. Being a tax collector was a lucrative job, and each one would buy their "franchise" from Rome. There would be a set amount of taxes paid to Rome, but the Jewish tax collectors made their living by adding fees to the required taxes. Most of them added on exorbitant amounts, which is why the people viewed them as traitors and outcasts.
Most Jews viewed tax collectors as enemy collaborators, and they compared them to leeches feeding off their own people. Then what could we possibly learn from tax collectors? Well, in the very next verse, Jesus says we can learn how to approach God:
“I tell you that this man [the tax collector], rather than the other [the Pharisee], went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:14
The tax collector knew he was a lowly sinner, so he approached God humbly and begged Him for mercy. But the Pharisee was prideful and self-righteous, believing he was worthy to approach God. Then he made matters worse by exalting himself over people he viewed as inferior. Jesus called the tax-collector "justified" and said the self-righteous Pharisee would be humbled by God.
If we're honest, many of us have been like that Pharisee! We've looked at other sinners and believed that somehow, someway, we were more spiritual than they were. If we aren't careful, spiritual pride will make us think we're better than other people. I must shamefully admit that I've been guilty of thinking this way myself.
We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind. Isaiah 64:6 (NLT)
This verse from Isaiah reminds us that we are all sin-soaked sinners. Therefore, we must humble ourselves before God and man and remember we aren't better than others. Lord, help us avoid the trap of self-righteousness, and remind us to always stay humble!