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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Luke 18:13 - 18:13
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13. μακρόθεν ἑστώς. The word for standing is not σταθεὶς as in the case of the Pharisee, but merely ἑστώς. It is not certain whether the “afar off” means ‘afar off from the Pharisee,’ or (as is more probable) afar off from the Holy Place to which the Pharisee would thrust himself, as of right, into closest proximity.
οὐδὲ τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς. Not even venturing to lift his eyes, much less his hands (1Ti 2:8, ἐπαίροντας ὁσίους χεῖρας). Meyer appositely quotes Tacitus (Hist. IV. 72), “Stabant conscientia flagitii moestae fixis in terram oculis.” The Jew usually stood with arms outspread, the palms turned upwards, as though to receive the gifts of heaven, and the eyes raised. “Unto Thee lift I up mine eyes,” Psa 123:1-2; but on the other hand, “Mine iniquities have taken such hold upon me that I am not able to look up,” Psa 40:12; “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to Thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up into the heavens,” Ezr 9:6.
ἔτυπτεν τὸ στῆθος. For this custom of expressing grief, see Luk 23:48; Nah 2:7; Jer 31:19. “Pectus, conscientiae sedem.” Bengel.
ὁ θεός, ἱλάσθητί μοι τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ. ‘O God, be merciful to me the sinner.’ Ἱλάσθητι ‘be propitiated’ as in Heb 2:17. He speaks of himself as the chief of sinners, 1Ti 1:15; or perhaps means humbly to contrast his own unworthiness with the righteousness of the Pharisee.