Luke 18:13

KJV

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} the publican {G5057}, standing {G2476} afar off {G3113}, would {G2309} not {G3756} lift up {G1869} so much as {G3761} his eyes {G3788} unto {G1519} heaven {G3772}, but {G235} smote {G5180} upon {G1519} his {G846} breast {G4738}, saying {G3004}, God {G2316} be merciful {G2433} to me {G3427} a sinner {G268}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes toward heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God! Have mercy on me, sinner that I am!’

Berean Standard Bible

But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’

American Standard Version

But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 18:13 presents the profound humility and desperate plea of a tax collector within Jesus's Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. Standing at a distance, unable to lift his eyes to heaven, the publican beats his chest in an act of deep contrition, crying out to God for mercy as a confessed sinner. This verse encapsulates the essence of genuine repentance, highlighting a heart utterly dependent on divine grace, in stark contrast to the self-righteousness exemplified by the Pharisee.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the climax of Jesus's Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, found in [Luke 18:9-14](/luke/18-9-14 "Luke 18:9-14 - The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican"). Jesus tells this parable specifically "to certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others" ([Luke 18:9](/luke/18-9 "Luke 18:9 - Purpose of the Parable")). It immediately follows the Parable of the Persistent Widow and Unjust Judge ([Luke 18:1-8](/luke/18-1-8 "Luke 18:1-8 - The Parable of the Persistent Widow")) which emphasizes the need for persistent prayer and God's justice. Both parables underscore the importance of right relationship with God in prayer, but the latter shifts focus to the posture of the heart in approaching Him, setting up a stark contrast between self-justification and humble dependence on divine mercy.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the Temple in Jerusalem, the spiritual center of Jewish life. Tax collectors (publicans, _telones_) were Jewish individuals who purchased the right to collect taxes for the Roman Empire. They were universally despised by their fellow Jews for several reasons: they collaborated with the occupying pagan power, often extorted more money than legally required for personal gain (e.g., [Luke 19:8](/luke/19-8 "Luke 19:8 - Zacchaeus's Repentance")), and were considered ritually impure due to their constant interaction with Gentiles and their dishonest practices. They were often grouped with "sinners" and prostitutes (e.g., [Matthew 21:31-32](/matthew/21-31-32 "Matthew 21:31-32 - Jesus and Tax Collectors")). In stark contrast, the Pharisee represented the pinnacle of religious devotion, meticulous adherence to the Mosaic Law, and strict observance of traditions, making him a respected figure in Jewish society. The publican's presence in the Temple, and his humble posture, would have been highly unusual and striking to Jesus's audience.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Luke's Gospel and broader biblical theology. It highlights the theme of **Humility vs. Pride**, demonstrating that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, a principle echoed in [James 4:6](/james/4-6 "James 4:6 - God Resists the Proud"). It vividly illustrates **Genuine Repentance**, showing that true sorrow for sin leads to a heartfelt plea for mercy, not a boast of self-righteousness. The publican's cry for mercy also underscores the theme of **Justification by Grace through Faith**, emphasizing that righteousness before God is not earned by works but is a gift received by those who humbly acknowledge their sin and trust in God's propitiatory mercy, a foundational concept found throughout the New Testament, particularly in Paul's letters (e.g., [Romans 3:21-26](/romans/3-21-26 "Romans 3:21-26 - Righteousness Through Faith")). Finally, it speaks to **God's Inclusivity**, showing that God welcomes those whom society despises, provided they approach Him with a broken and contrite spirit, a recurring motif in Jesus's ministry (e.g., His interactions with tax collectors like Levi in [Luke 5:27-32](/luke/5-27-32 "Luke 5:27-32 - The Calling of Levi")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Publican (Greek, _telōnēs'_):** From G5057, meaning "a tax-farmer, i.e., collector of public revenue." This term identifies the man as one of the most despised figures in Jewish society due to their collaboration with Rome and common practice of extortion. His very identity underscores his outcast status and the societal judgment against him, making his humble approach to God even more poignant.
* **Merciful (Greek, _hiláskomai'_):** From G2433, middle voice, meaning "to conciliate, i.e., (transitively) to atone for (sin), or (intransitively) be propitious." This word is critically important. It's not merely a request for pity, but for propitiation or atonement. The publican is asking God to be "propitiated" or "to make atonement" for his sins, acknowledging that his sin has created a barrier requiring divine intervention to remove God's wrath and restore favor. This term carries strong Old Testament sacrificial connotations (e.g., the Day of Atonement).
* **Sinner (Greek, _hamartōlós'_):** From G268, meaning "sinful, i.e., a sinner." This is the publican's self-identification. Unlike the Pharisee who listed his good deeds, the publican offers no credentials but his true spiritual state. It is a raw, honest confession of his utter unworthiness and moral failing before a holy God, forming the basis of his desperate plea for mercy.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the publican, standing afar off":** This phrase establishes the publican's posture of humility and unworthiness. Unlike the Pharisee who may have stood prominently, the publican keeps his distance, perhaps feeling unworthy to draw near to the holy presence of God in the Temple. This physical distance symbolizes his spiritual awareness of the chasm between his sinfulness and God's holiness.
* **"would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven":** This further emphasizes his deep humility and shame. In Jewish prayer, it was common to lift one's eyes to heaven as a sign of reverence and direct address to God. The publican's inability to do so signifies his profound sense of guilt and unworthiness, acknowledging that he is not fit to even look upon the divine presence.
* **"but smote upon his breast":** This action is a powerful, culturally recognized gesture of deep sorrow, anguish, and remorse. It signifies intense self-condemnation and a "broken and contrite heart," a physical manifestation of his inner agony over his sin. It is a visceral expression of grief and repentance.
* **"saying, God be merciful to me a sinner":** This is the heart of his prayer and the essence of his repentance. His plea for God to be "merciful" (G2433, _hiláskomai_) is a cry for propitiation or atonement, acknowledging his need for God to act on his behalf to cover his sin. His self-identification as "a sinner" (G268, _hamartōlós_) is a humble and honest confession, demonstrating a complete lack of self-righteousness and a total reliance on God's grace.

#### Literary Devices
The verse powerfully employs **Contrast** by implicitly setting the publican's actions against those of the Pharisee (described in [Luke 18:11-12](/luke/18-11-12 "Luke 18:11-12 - The Pharisee's Prayer")), highlighting the difference between true humility and self-righteous pride. The publican's physical posture—"standing afar off," "would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven," and "smote upon his breast"—is rich in **Symbolism**. These actions are not merely physical movements but external manifestations of his internal spiritual state: deep humility, profound shame, and genuine contrition. The act of "smoting upon his breast" is a vivid example of **Pathos**, evoking sympathy for his desperate state and emphasizing the emotional depth of his repentance. The **Irony** of the parable's outcome, where the despised publican is justified while the revered Pharisee is not, is foreshadowed by the publican's humble prayer in this verse, subverting societal expectations and revealing God's true criteria for righteousness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 18:13 profoundly illustrates the biblical truth that God's grace is extended not to the self-sufficient, but to those who recognize their utter dependence on Him. The publican's prayer is a model of humble repentance, acknowledging sin without excuse and appealing solely to God's character as the source of mercy. This aligns with the consistent biblical teaching that a broken and contrite heart is what God desires, not outward religious performance or self-proclaimed righteousness. It underscores the necessity of divine propitiation for sin, a concept foundational to the gospel message.

* [Psalm 51:17](/psalms/51-17 "Psalm 51:17 - A Broken and Contrite Heart")
* [1 John 1:9](/1_john/1-9 "1 John 1:9 - Confession of Sins")
* [James 4:6](/james/4-6 "James 4:6 - God Gives Grace to the Humble")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 18:13 challenges us to examine the posture of our own hearts when we approach God. Do we come with a list of our accomplishments, comparing ourselves favorably to others, or do we come with a profound awareness of our own sinfulness and an unreserved dependence on God's mercy? The publican's prayer is a timeless invitation to authentic humility. It reminds us that true spiritual health begins not with self-justification, but with honest self-assessment and a desperate cry for divine grace. In a world that often values self-promotion and outward appearances, this verse calls us back to the foundational truth that God's favor rests upon those who, like the publican, recognize their spiritual bankruptcy and cast themselves entirely upon His boundless compassion. It encourages us to cultivate a heart that is quick to confess, slow to judge, and ever reliant on the atoning work of Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I, like the Pharisee, be tempted to rely on my own righteousness or compare myself favorably to others when approaching God?**
* **What does "smoting upon one's breast" look like in a contemporary context, and how can I cultivate a deeper sense of contrition for my sins?**
* **How does the publican's plea, "God be merciful to me a sinner," shape my understanding of prayer and my dependence on God's grace?**

### FAQ
**Why was the publican's prayer, "God be merciful to me a sinner," so effective, especially when compared to the Pharisee's prayer?**

Answer: The publican's prayer was effective because it demonstrated profound humility, genuine repentance, and a complete reliance on God's mercy, rather than on personal merit. Unlike the Pharisee, who boasted of his good deeds and looked down on others ([Luke 18:11-12](/luke/18-11-12 "Luke 18:11-12 - The Pharisee's Prayer")), the publican recognized his utter sinfulness and spiritual bankruptcy. His posture—standing afar off, not lifting his eyes, and beating his chest—symbolized his deep contrition. His plea for God to be "merciful" (Greek: _hiláskomai_) was a request for propitiation or atonement, acknowledging his need for divine intervention to cover his sins. Jesus declared that the publican, not the Pharisee, "went down to his house justified" ([Luke 18:14](/luke/18-14 "Luke 18:14 - The Publican Justified")), illustrating that justification before God is a gift received by grace through humble faith, not earned by works or self-righteousness. This aligns with the teaching that "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" ([James 4:6](/james/4-6 "James 4:6 - God Resists the Proud")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The publican's desperate cry, "God be merciful to me a sinner," finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Greek word for "merciful" (G2433, _hiláskomai_) carries the profound theological weight of propitiation—the turning away of divine wrath through an atoning sacrifice. The publican instinctively understood his need for a covering, a reconciliation that he could not provide himself. This need is perfectly met in Christ, who is presented in the New Testament as the ultimate propitiation for our sins. As [Romans 3:25](/romans/3-25 "Romans 3:25 - Christ as Propitiation") declares, God "set forth [Christ Jesus] to be a propitiation through faith in his blood." Similarly, [1 John 2:2](/1_john/2-2 "1 John 2:2 - Christ, the Propitiation for Our Sins") states that "he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." The publican's humble confession of sin and his appeal to God's mercy foreshadow the New Covenant reality where sinners, recognizing their lostness, can approach God with confidence, not based on their own merit, but solely on the finished work of Christ on the cross. His blood is the ultimate "mercy seat," where God's justice and mercy meet, allowing the truly penitent to be declared righteous, not by their own efforts, but by God's gracious imputation through faith in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Thus, the publican's justification, achieved through humble faith in God's propitiatory mercy, points directly to the saving work of Christ, through whom alone sinners find true and lasting reconciliation with God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ezra 9:6

And said, 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 unto the heavens.

1 John 1:8

¶ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:10

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 Timothy 1:15

This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Psalms 41:4

I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

Hebrews 8:12

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Luke 7:6

Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: