Jesus told two parables about prayer. A widow kept asking an unjust judge until he answered. Then two men went up to the temple to pray: a proud Pharisee who listed his good works, and a humble publican who asked only for mercy. The publican went home justified.
Jesus told a parable “that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” A widow kept coming to a judge who “feared not God, neither regarded man,” asking for justice. At last he gave in so she would stop troubling him. Jesus asked, “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?”
Then, to people who “trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others,” He told of two men who went up to the temple to pray. The Pharisee thanked God that he was “not as other men are” and listed his fasting and tithes. The publican stood far off, would not lift his eyes, beat his breast and said, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Jesus said the publican “went down to his house justified rather than the other.”
Who’s who
Jesus Christ: who teaches about prayer and humility
A widow: who keeps asking a judge for justice
A Pharisee: who trusts in his own goodness
A publican: a tax collector who asks for mercy
Where and when
The second parable takes place at the temple in Jerusalem.
Eight stops from the judge’s door to the temple courtyard. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.
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The story, plainly
Four scenes: the widow, the temple steps, the proud prayer and the humble one. Look for the Savior’s teaching in each.
Read it plainly
The words that trip people up
Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1
Luke 18:1“always to pray, and not to Meaning: lose heart; give up.”
Luke 18:3“Meaning: give me justice. of mine Meaning: opponent.”
Luke 18:11“Meaning: people who take money by force or threats., unjust”
Luke 18:13“Meaning: struck. upon his breast”
Luke 18:14“shall be Meaning: brought low.”
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Look closer
Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from Church leaders, Church resources or outside sources. Each card says which.
0 of 9 turned
All nine. The judge, the knocking, day and night, the temple steps, the tithes, the proud prayer, the breast, the lifting and the plea for mercy. Luke 18:1–14
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Where are you?
Tired of asking, comparing, needing mercy, or praying always. Which feels most like you right now?
A next step for you
Your choice is saved only on this device.
Try it
Grow a praying heart
Jesus told two parables about prayer. Tap the things you will do this week and watch each part grow.
“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Luke 18:1
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Their world, their words
A little background on widows, Pharisees, publicans and two Greek words helps the story come alive. Outside sources are labeled.
Church resource · Student manual
Two unlikely heroes
“A widow, one of the most vulnerable members of society, and a publican, one of the despised, serve as positive examples” in these parables.2
He lifts the overlooked.
Church resource · Student manual
Who heard it
Jesus told this parable to people who “trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.” Pharisees “were generally admired and regarded as very obedient to the law.”2
A surprise ending.
Church resource · Bible Dictionary
Publicans
Tax collectors under Rome were “detested by the Jews, and any Jew who undertook the work was excommunicated.”4
The outsider was heard.
Church leader · Elder Hunter
Few words
“In this parable the Savior spoke few words, yet the lesson taught is clear.”3
Read it slowly.
Word study · Greek
hilaskomai ἱλάσκομαι · “be merciful” (Luke 18:13)
Bible Hub: “to be propitious, make propitiation for.”5Outside · lexicon
The publican asked God to cover his sins and be reconciled to him. Jesus Christ makes that mercy possible.1
Word study · Greek
dikaioó δικαιόω · “justified” (Luke 18:14)
Bible Hub: “to show to be righteous, declare righteous.”6Outside · lexicon
The man who confessed he was a sinner went home declared right with God.1
What the text does not say
Jesus doesn’t say fasting and tithing are wrong. They are good. The Pharisee’s problem was trusting in himself and despising others.1,2 And the parable of the widow doesn’t say God is like the unjust judge; it shows how much more our loving Father will answer.1
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Look to Him
He teaches us to keep praying, and He lifts up everyone who comes to Him humbly asking for mercy.
“In this parable the Savior spoke few words, yet the lesson taught is clear.”
The Pharisee and the Publican, ready to print $3.99
Everything on this page as a 11-page letter-size PDF: the map, scenes, cards, activity, word studies, tracker, Go deeper and sources. For home, class or a quiet Sunday.
The Pharisee and the Publican is part of the Scripture Story Sketch Notes for the New Testament, set alongside Come, Follow Me for May 3–9, 2027 (Matthew 19–20; Mark 10; Luke 18).
Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. The words are in Luke 18:1–14; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.
