Luke 18:10

Two men. Jesus does not mean that no others were present, but mentions only the two men with whom the parable is concerned. One of them considered himself a saint, and “went up” for the purpose of commending himself to God and man. The other looked upon himself as a sinner, and “went up” to confess his sin before God, to plead for His mercy, and to obtain pardon.

Went up. Perhaps used here in reference to the normal ascent from the lower lying regions of the city up to Mt. Moriah. To the Pharisees, attendance at the morning and evening hours of prayer, as well as at other Temple services, was an act of merit intended to win the favor of God and the approbation of men. Of religious acts performed with these motives Jesus said, “They have their reward” (see on Matt. 6:2). A spirit of genuine humility before God and our fellow men is one of the best evidences of conversion (see on Micah 6:8).

Pray. Probably at either the morning or the evening hour of prayer (see on ch. 1:9, 10). Even after Pentecost some of the apostles seem to have followed the practice of attending the Temple service at the hours of prayer (Acts 3:1; cf. ch. 10:3).

A Pharisee. See pp. 51, 52. A Pharisee was the highest Jewish ideal of piety at that time.

A publican. See on p. 66. On the other hand, the publican represented the lowest level in the Jewish social scale.