About this episode

This episode explores the concept of gratitude and how it can be misrepresented through self-righteousness, illustrated by the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.

by Marilynn Chadwick Is it possible to offend God with the way we thank him? Apparently so—if our "thank you" comes from a self-righteous heart. Jesus told this story to a group of religious leaders who were confident in their own "goodness" and scorned everyone else: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 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.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted" (Luke 18:10-13). The two men couldn't have been more different. The Pharisee was well-bred, well-educated, and well-off. He had an impressive religious pedigree. He had arrived . The tax collector, on the other hand, was a loser. To the Jews, he was an object of scorn—a pagan Gentile. A sinner, and easy to…

More episodes of A Moment of Hope

• Gratitude: Practice the Habit · July 21, 2026 · 6 min
• Gratitude: Grumbling or Grateful? · July 17, 2026 · 5 min
• Gratitude: Remember Past Victories · July 16, 2026 · 5 min
• Gratitude: Weapon Against Worry · July 15, 2026 · 5 min
• Gratitude: The Power of One · July 14, 2026 · 5 min
• Gratitude: The Habit of Gratitude · July 13, 2026 · 5 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the A Moment of Hope podcast page.