John Kilgallen, «The Importance of the Redactor in Luke 18,9-14», Vol. 79 (1998) 69-75

Regarding the story of Luke 18, 9-14 there is disagreement among exegetes as to the reason why, in Jesus' view, the Pharisee did not return home justified. In what did the Pharisee fail? This essay suggests that the answer to this question is to be found in the introductory verse Luke gives to his reader; v. 9 makes clear how Luke read his inherited material (more likely than not including v. 14b) and wanted his reader to understand it. Whereas vv. 10-14 had to do with both Pharisee and Publican, v. 9 turns the reader's attention to the Pharisee and to the reason all his good deeds did not bring him justification.

       According to many commentators, Lk 18,9 is clearly a Lucan addition ¹; thus, Luke inherited vv. 10-14 ². What could the meaning of those verses 10-14 be, that Luke would be attracted to them?

       Verses 10-14 are divisible into two parts. First, there is a parable concerning two men, a Pharisee and a toll collector. Second, there is Jesus' interpretive comment about these two men, with a further interpretive statement from him in proverbial form ³.

       Since the core of the inherited matter is the parable, let us first consider it. "How does the parable make its judgment?" ⁴ The lesson it is supposed to yield is found in Jesus' interpretive comment: the latter (toll-collector) went home justified and the other (Pharisee) not. Can we find in the parable why Jesus' assessment is true? – for it is the most likely reason to explain why Luke took this story into his Gospel.

       The central issue of the parable is the prayers of the two men. Certainly, the posture of each of them is also very important, but as is