Jesus told a parable that tells of repentance and of the refusal to repent. The parable describes a Pharisee and publican—a tax collector—praying at the temple. The Pharisee was focused only on himself, while the tax collector humbled himself and begged for God’s mercy. Jesus encountered a repentant tax collector named Zacchaeus, who showed what repentance looks like. He changed his ways and promised to pay back everyone he had defrauded. Only the sinner who repents is forgiven.
