The Prayer of the Pharisees is a concept derived from the teachings of Jesus Christ, particularly in the context of His criticism of the religious practices of the Pharisees during His earthly ministry. The Pharisees were a prominent religious group in Judaism during the Second Temple period, known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and the traditions of the elders. Jesus' teachings often highlighted the contrast between genuine piety and the outward religiosity exemplified by the Pharisees.

Biblical Context

The most direct reference to the Prayer of the Pharisees is found in the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus presents the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. In Luke 18:10-14 , Jesus tells the account of two men who went up to the temple to pray. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed: "God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire." In contrast, the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling to lift his eyes to heaven, and prayed, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner!" Jesus concludes the parable by stating that the tax collector, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified before God.

Characteristics of the Pharisaic Prayer

1. Self-Righteousness: The Pharisee's prayer is marked by a sense of self-righteousness and pride. He compares himself favorably to others, particularly the tax collector, and lists his religious accomplishments as evidence of his righteousness. This attitude reflects a reliance on personal merit rather than on God's grace.

2. Lack of Humility: The Pharisee's prayer lacks humility, a key component of genuine prayer. In contrast to the tax collector's humble plea for mercy, the Pharisee's prayer is self-congratulatory and devoid of any acknowledgment of personal sin or need for divine forgiveness.

3. Public Display: Jesus often criticized the Pharisees for their public displays of piety, which were intended to garner the admiration of others. In Matthew 6:5 , Jesus warns, "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their reward."

Theological Implications

The Prayer of the Pharisees serves as a cautionary example of how religious practices can become corrupted by pride and self-righteousness. It underscores the importance of approaching God with a humble and contrite heart, recognizing one's own sinfulness and need for God's mercy. Jesus' teachings emphasize that true righteousness is not about external observance of religious rituals but about an inward transformation of the heart.

Lessons for Believers

For contemporary believers, the Prayer of the Pharisees is a reminder to examine the motives behind their religious practices. It challenges Christians to seek authenticity in their relationship with God, prioritizing humility, repentance, and a sincere desire for God's grace over the approval of others. The parable encourages believers to approach God with the same humility and dependence demonstrated by the tax collector, trusting in God's mercy rather than their own righteousness.Matthew 23:14
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore you shall receive the greater damnation.
Nave's Topical Index

Christ's Conversation with the Pharisees in Regard to the Mode of ...
... But certainly it was natural enough for the Pharisees thus to characterize the ... by
repeated prayers; and, moreover, John had prescribed a form of prayer for his ...
/.../section 137 christs conversation with.htm

Why the Pharisees were not a Plant of God. Teaching of Origen on ...
... in respect of the law in which they appeared to believe, that the Pharisees were
not ... so that which is sanctified through the word of God and prayer [5473] does ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/14 why the pharisees were.htm

True Religion Contrasted with the Mock Piety of the Pharisees.
... This principle Christ applies to three separate acts, in which the Pharisees were
specially wont to make a pious display, viz.: Alms, prayer, and fasting [409 ...
/.../iv true religion contrasted with.htm

Relation of the Pharisees to the Sadducees and Essenes, and to the ...
... confirm the result of our historical inquiries, that the Pharisees were first an ...
Shachrith," or "morning baptists," who immersed before morning prayer, so as ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 15 relation of the.htm

Forms of Prayer. --The Lord's Prayer; Its Occasion and Import. ...
... to the original organism of the Sermon on the Mount, in which prayer, fasting, &c.,
were treated especially in contrast with the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. ...
/.../section 139 forms of prayer the.htm

Jesus' Last Public Discourse. Denunciation of Scribes and ...
... [It is doubtful in what way the Pharisees devoured widows ... a rabbi should pray one
hour, and that he should meditate for an hour before and an hour after prayer. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cx jesus last public discourse.htm

Among the People, and with the Pharisees
... This brings us straight to the charge of our Lord against the Pharisees (Mark 7 ... But
if he should say, There are five divisions in the prayer-fillets' (instead ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 13 among the people.htm

The First Per??an Discourses - to the Pharisees Concerning the Two ...
... was the certain place,' which, now consecreated by our Lord's prayer, became the ...
charge against Christ of superior demoniac agency which the Pharisees had now ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xi the first peraean.htm

The Gospel of Luke
... love is not to be restricted to the Jews (good Samaritan), and gives his disciples
instruction regarding prayer, 9: 51-11:13. The Pharisees now claim that ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the gospel of luke.htm

The Sermon on the Mount.
... The Pharisees were excessively devoted to prayer, and they led the people
to believe that every prayerful man would be saved. The ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xlii the sermon on the 10.htm

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