In my handling of this text, I shall have respect to these things -

1. To the persons in the text.

2. To the condition of the persons in the text.

3. To the conclusion that Christ makes upon them both.

First, For the persons. They were, as you see, far one from another
in their own apprehension of themselves; one good, the other bad; but
yet in the judgment of the law, both alike, both the same, both
sinners; for they both stood in need of mercy. True, the first
mentioned did not see it, as the other poor sinner did; but that
altereth not the case: he that is in the judgment of the law a
sinner, is in the judgment of the law for sin condemned, though in
his own judgment he be ever so righteous.

Men must not be judged, or justified, according to what themselves do
think, but according to the verdict and sentence that cometh out of
the mouth of God about them. Now, the sentence of God is, "All have
sinned:" "There is none righteous, no, not one;" Rom. iii. It is no
matter, then, what the Pharisee did think of himself; God by his word
hath proclaimed him a sinner: a sinner, by reason of original sin; a
sinner, by reason of actual transgression. Personally, therefore,
with reference to the true nature of their state, they both were
sinners, and both by the law under condemnation. True, the
Publican's leprosy was outward; but the Pharisee's leprosy was
inward: his heart, his soul, his spirit, was as foul, and had as
much the plague of sin, as had the other in his life or conversation.