Luke 18:13

Standing afar off. Probably from the Pharisee and from the other worshipers, evidently because he knew that they would all look askance at him. Other people would not relish close association with a publican (see on ch. 3:12).

Lift up. Compare Ezekiel’s description of a righteous man as one who had not “lifted up his eyes to the idols” (Eze. 18:6, 15; cf. v. 12). It was also customary to stand in prayer, with hands uplifted toward heaven (see 1 Kings 8:22; Ps. 28:2; Ps. 63:4; 134:2; 1 Tim. 2:8).

Smote upon his breast. Literally, “kept on beating his breast.” The tax collector’s actions testify to the sincerity of his words and give a vivid expression of his sense of unworthiness. He felt himself unworthy even to pray. But his sense of need impelled him to pray.

Merciful. Or, “gracious.” See on Matt. 5:7. A sense of need is the first condition of acceptance with God, a consciousness that without His mercy we would be utterly lost (see COL 158). In contrast with the Pharisee, the publican no doubt thought of many vices, and knew that he had practiced them; he thought of the virtues, and knew that he had none of them. Like the apostle Paul, he knew himself to be a sinner (see 1 Tim. 1:15), in desperate need of divine grace. Mercy is one aspect of divine love, one that had not been manifested and therefore could not be known fully until sin entered the universe. Mercy is the expression of divine love manifested to those who do not deserve it. The Greek word here translated “merciful” seems to be closely related in meaning to the Heb. chesed (see Additional Note on Psalm 36), commonly translated “mercy” (1 Chron. 16:34; Ps. 136:1-26) or “lovingkindness” (Ps. 51:1; 138:2) or “goodness” (Ps. 52:1).

A sinner. Literally, “the sinner” (cf. 1 Tim. 1:15). The tax collector speaks as if there were no other sinners — he is the only one. Like the Pharisee, he places himself in a class all by himself. He is not virtuous as other men are, he is the sinner. The Pharisee thought himself vastly above “other men” (Luke 18:11); the publican thought of himself as being vastly below other men.