They knew that God's Holy Presence was in that Temple to which they were going, and one of them thought with awe that he would soon be in the place where he would meet with God.
The other man was thinking entirely about himself, and nothing at all about God.
So they ascended the many steps leading up into the Temple, and at last stood within the Sacred House.
* * * * *
And then the Pharisee thought of how he understood all about God's law, and how he did not need anyone to teach him what was written in the Scriptures.
But he did not know two things which would have made him a different man—he did not know his own heart, and he did not know God's heart.
He did not know that his own heart was full of pride and love of self; he did not know that God's heart was full of pity and tender love towards sinful men who came to Him to be forgiven.
So the Pharisee began to pray. And when the Lord Jesus told us this story about him, He said "he stood and prayed thus with himself."
But he began his prayer like this:—
"God! I thank thee that I am not like other men! I am not one who exacts more than I should from others; I am not unjust or impure; or even like this Publican. I fast twice in every week, and I give tithes of everything I have."