Luke 18:13

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.

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}.

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!’

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!’

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.

Luke 18:13 (KJV) is a pivotal verse within the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, delivered by Jesus. It highlights the profound humility and genuine repentance of a despised tax collector, contrasting sharply with the self-righteousness of a respected religious leader.

Context

This parable (Luke 18:9-14) was told to "certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others." The setting is the Temple in Jerusalem, a sacred place for prayer and worship. Publicans, or tax collectors (telones), were Jewish individuals employed by the Roman Empire to collect taxes. They were widely scorned by their own people for several reasons: they collaborated with the occupying power, often extorted more money than legally required for personal gain, and were considered ritually impure due to their frequent contact with Gentiles and their dishonest practices. In contrast, the Pharisee represented the pinnacle of religious devotion and adherence to the Mosaic Law in Jewish society.

Key Themes

  • Profound Humility: The publican's posture—"standing afar off," "would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven"—speaks volumes. It signifies a deep sense of unworthiness and awe before God, a complete absence of pride. This humility is foundational for receiving God's grace, as seen in James 4:6.
  • Genuine Repentance: His action of "smote upon his breast" was a culturally recognized sign of deep sorrow, anguish, and remorse for sin. It was a physical manifestation of a broken and contrite heart. His cry, "God be merciful to me a sinner," is not a casual request but a desperate plea from someone who truly recognizes his spiritual bankruptcy.
  • Reliance on God's Mercy: Unlike the Pharisee who boasted of his own righteousness, the publican offers no credentials or good deeds. His only hope is God's mercy (Greek: hilaskomai), a term often associated with propitiation or atonement—the turning away of divine wrath through sacrifice. He appeals solely to God's character and forgiveness, demonstrating a humble faith that God is willing to forgive.
  • Justification by Grace: The parable concludes with Jesus declaring that the publican, not the Pharisee, "went down to his house justified" (Luke 18:14). This illustrates that justification before God is not earned by works or self-righteousness, but received by grace through humble faith and repentance.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "smote upon his breast" (Greek: tupto to stethos) vividly conveys intense grief, self-condemnation, and remorse. It’s a powerful non-verbal expression mirroring his desperate verbal plea. The word "merciful" (Greek: hilaskomai) is significant; it carries the sense of atonement or propitiation, suggesting a need for a covering or cleansing from sin, emphasizing the publican's understanding of his deep spiritual need and God's provision for it.

Practical Application

Luke 18:13 serves as a timeless reminder that God values a humble and contrite heart above outward religious observance or self-proclaimed righteousness. It teaches us to approach God with honest self-awareness, acknowledging our sinfulness, and relying entirely on His boundless mercy and grace for salvation and forgiveness. True spiritual growth begins with the humility to confess, "God be merciful to me a sinner." This verse encourages believers to examine their own hearts, ensuring their prayers are born of genuine humility and dependence on God, rather than pride or comparison with others.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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:

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