The Meaning of Luke 18:10 Explained

Luke 18:10

KJV: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

YLT: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer;

Darby: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer.

ASV: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Two  men  went up  into  the temple  to pray;  the one  a Pharisee,  and  the other  a publican. 

What does Luke 18:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Pharisees generally rejected Jesus and His gospel whereas the tax collectors responded positively (cf. Luke 5:12; Luke 5:27; Luke 7:34; Luke 7:37; Luke 15:1-2; Luke 16:20). They were at opposite ends of the social and spiritual scales in Judaism. The former were the epitome of righteousness and the latter of unrighteousness. The temple was the customary place of prayer. Since it stood on a hill in Jerusalem, people literally went up to it to pray.

Context Summary

Luke 18:9-17 - Those Whom God Accepts
We are taught here the spirit in which we should pray. Too many pray "with themselves." The only time that we may thank God for not being as others is when we attribute the contrast to His grace, 1 Timothy 1:12-14. Let it never be forgotten that those who will be justified and stand accepted before God are they who are nothing in their own estimate.
To be self-emptied and poor in spirit is the fundamental and indispensable preparation for receiving the grace of God. "Be propitiated to me" (r.v., margin), cried the publican. "There is a propitiation for our sins," is the answer of Hebrews 2:17, r.v. Each penitent counts himself the sinner, 1 Timothy 1:15. Bow yourself at the feet of Christ and He will lift you to His throne.
We think that children must grow up to become like us before they are eligible to the Kingdom. Nay, we must grow down to become like them, in simplicity, in humility and in faith. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 18

1  Of the importunate widow
9  Of the Pharisee and the tax collector
15  Of Children brought to Jesus
18  A ruler would follow Jesus, but is hindered by his riches
28  The reward of those who leave all for his sake
31  He foretells his death;
35  and restores a blind man to sight

Greek Commentary for Luke 18:10

Stood [στατεις]
First aorist passive participle of ιστημι — histēmi Struck an attitude ostentatiously where he could be seen. Standing was the common Jewish posture in prayer (Matthew 6:5; Mark 11:25). [source]
Prayed thus [ταυτα προσηυχετο]
Imperfect middle, was praying these things (given following).With himself (προς εαυτον — pros heauton). A soliloquy with his own soul, a complacent recital of his own virtues for his own self-satisfaction, not fellowship with God, though he addresses God.I thank thee But his gratitude to God is for his own virtues, not for God‘s mercies to him. One of the rabbis offers a prayer like this of gratitude that he was in a class by himself because he was a Jew and not a Gentile, because he was a Pharisee and not of the αρπαγες — am-αρπαχ — haaretz or common people, because he was a man and not a woman.Extortioners (αρπαζω — harpages). An old word, η και — harpax from same root as ο τεος — harpazō to plunder. An adjective of only one gender, used of robbers and plunderers, grafters, like the publicans (Luke 3:13), whether wolves (Matthew 7:15) or men (1 Corinthians 5:10.). The Pharisee cites the crimes of which he is not guilty.Or even As the climax of iniquity (Bruce), he points to “this publican.” Zaccheus will admit robbery (Luke 19:8).God (ho theos). Nominative form with the article as common with the vocative use of theos (so Luke 18:13; John 20:28). [source]
With himself [προς εαυτον]
A soliloquy with his own soul, a complacent recital of his own virtues for his own self-satisfaction, not fellowship with God, though he addresses God. [source]
I thank thee [ευχαριστω σοι]
But his gratitude to God is for his own virtues, not for God‘s mercies to him. One of the rabbis offers a prayer like this of gratitude that he was in a class by himself because he was a Jew and not a Gentile, because he was a Pharisee and not of the αρπαγες — am-αρπαχ — haaretz or common people, because he was a man and not a woman.Extortioners (αρπαζω — harpages). An old word, η και — harpax from same root as ο τεος — harpazō to plunder. An adjective of only one gender, used of robbers and plunderers, grafters, like the publicans (Luke 3:13), whether wolves (Matthew 7:15) or men (1 Corinthians 5:10.). The Pharisee cites the crimes of which he is not guilty.Or even As the climax of iniquity (Bruce), he points to “this publican.” Zaccheus will admit robbery (Luke 19:8).God (ho theos). Nominative form with the article as common with the vocative use of theos (so Luke 18:13; John 20:28). [source]
Extortioners [αρπαζω]
An old word, η και — harpax from same root as ο τεος — harpazō to plunder. An adjective of only one gender, used of robbers and plunderers, grafters, like the publicans (Luke 3:13), whether wolves (Matthew 7:15) or men (1 Corinthians 5:10.). The Pharisee cites the crimes of which he is not guilty. [source]
Or even [τεος]
As the climax of iniquity (Bruce), he points to “this publican.” Zaccheus will admit robbery (Luke 19:8).God (ho theos). Nominative form with the article as common with the vocative use of theos (so Luke 18:13; John 20:28). [source]
God [ho theos)]
Nominative form with the article as common with the vocative use of theos (so Luke 18:13; John 20:28). [source]
The other [ἕτερος]
With an implication of his being a different man. See on Matthew 6:24. [source]
Publican []
See on Luke 3:12. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 18:10

Galatians 1:6 Another gospel [ἕτερον]
Rather a different, another sort of gospel. See Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:7; Luke 18:10. In illustration of the differences between ἄλλος anotherand ἕτερος differentsee 1 Corinthians 12:8-10; 1 Corinthians 15:40; 2 Corinthians 11:4; Romans 8:23. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 18:10 mean?

Men two went up into the temple to pray the one a Pharisee and other a tax collector
Ἄνθρωποι δύο ἀνέβησαν εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν προσεύξασθαι εἷς Φαρισαῖος καὶ ἕτερος τελώνης

Ἄνθρωποι  Men 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
δύο  two 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: δύο 
Sense: the two, the twain.
ἀνέβησαν  went  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀναβαίνω  
Sense: ascend.
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
ἱερὸν  temple 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἱερόν  
Sense: a sacred place, temple.
προσεύξασθαι  to  pray 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Middle
Root: προσεύχομαι  
Sense: to offer prayers, to pray.
εἷς  one 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.
Φαρισαῖος  a  Pharisee 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Φαρισαῖος  
Sense: A sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile.
ἕτερος  other 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀλλοιόω 
Sense: the other, another, other.
τελώνης  a  tax  collector 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: τελώνης  
Sense: a renter or farmer of taxes.