Luke 18 13

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.

Luke 18:13 nkjv

And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'

Luke 18:13 niv

"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

Luke 18:13 esv

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'

Luke 18:13 nlt

"But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.'

Luke 18 verses

Luke 18 13 Meaning

Luke 18:13 encapsulates the essence of true repentance and humility before God. It portrays a tax collector, recognized as a profound sinner, who acknowledges his unworthiness by his posture and plea. His prayer, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner," demonstrates a complete reliance on divine grace, expressing a deep conviction of sin and an earnest cry for expiation and forgiveness. This stands in stark contrast to self-righteousness, highlighting that genuine justification before God comes through a broken spirit and a contrite heart, not through perceived merit.

Luke 18 13 Context

Luke 18:13 is the climax of Jesus's Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Lk 18:9-14). Jesus directs this parable to those who "trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt." The preceding passages involve Jesus teaching about prayer (the parable of the persistent widow) and discipleship, setting a scene where spiritual realities and true righteousness are distinguished from outward appearances. The tax collector's humble prayer directly contrasts the self-laudatory prayer of the Pharisee in Lk 18:11-12, presenting a radical reversal of social and religious expectations of the day.

Luke 18 13 Word analysis

• But (Δὲ - De): This strong Greek conjunction marks a sharp contrast, shifting focus immediately from the self-justifying Pharisee to a different character, highlighting the disparity in their spiritual states and approaches to God.

• the tax collector (τελώνης - telōnēs): In Jewish society, tax collectors were collaborators with the Roman occupiers, notoriously dishonest, and considered pariahs, moral outcasts, and public sinners. Their presence in the temple indicated an extraordinary, almost audacious, step.

• standing far off (μακρόθεν ἑστώς - makróthen hestōs): This is a posture of profound humility and recognized unworthiness. He dared not approach the altar or holy place. His physical distance symbolizes his spiritual understanding of separation from God due to sin, contrasting the Pharisee who presumably stood prominently.

• would not even lift up his eyes to heaven (οὐδὲ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἐπᾶραι - oude tous ophthalmoús eis ton ouranón epârai): Traditional prayer often involved lifting eyes to heaven as a sign of direct address and earnest plea to God. The tax collector’s refusal expresses an extreme sense of unworthiness, too ashamed to look upon the holiness he felt he defiled.

• but beat his breast (ἀλλ᾽ ἔτυπτεν τὸ στῆθος - all᾽ étypten to stēthos): A universally recognized ancient gesture of deep sorrow, intense grief, profound anguish, and remorse. In a spiritual context, it signifies severe conviction of sin and self-reproach, acknowledging a broken heart before God.

• saying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" (λέγων· Ὁ Θεός, ἱλάσθητί μοι τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ - legōn: Ho Theos, hilasthētí moi tō hamartōlō): This is the heart of his plea, precise and focused.

  • God, (Ὁ Θεός - Ho Theos): Direct and unadorned address to the Divine.
  • be merciful (ἱλάσθητί - hilasthētí): Derived from hilaskomai, a crucial theological term meaning "to be propitiated," "to make atonement," or "to atone for." It's not merely pity (eleeō), but speaks to the need for appeasing divine justice and dealing with sin. It invokes the idea of atonement or expiation found in Old Testament rituals, like the Day of Atonement. The tax collector recognized that only God, through propitiation, could address his sin problem.
  • to me, (μοι - moi): The request is intensely personal and specific. He doesn't generalize; he owns his guilt.
  • a sinner! (τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ - tō hamartōlō): The use of the definite article ("the" or "this" sinner) makes it a profoundly personal and identifying confession. It suggests a unique acknowledgment of being the quintessential sinner in this moment, perhaps implying an awareness of his significant public reputation as one, or simply identifying fully with his sinful state without equivocation or excuses.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast": This entire phrase paints a vivid picture of physical posture as a manifestation of profound inner humility, contrition, and an overwhelming sense of unworthiness before a holy God. It expresses complete reliance on grace, a raw and honest admission of spiritual brokenness without any pretense or self-justification.
  • "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!": This is a direct, urgent, and focused prayer. It bypasses any human intercessors or rituals, appealing directly to God's character of mercy and grace. The inclusion of "a sinner" (with the definite article) underscores a personal identification with sin that precludes any claim to righteousness or merit, grounding the plea entirely on God's character.

Luke 18 13 Bonus section

The profound difference in prayer between the Pharisee and the tax collector lies not just in outward posture or length, but in the internal disposition. The tax collector’s humility (ταπείνωσις) and confession anticipate the core message of the Gospel: that justification comes by faith, through grace, apart from works (Rom 3:28; Eph 2:8-9). His plea hilasthētí (be merciful/propitiated) hints at the need for an atoning sacrifice. The Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) uses the hilaskomai word group for atonement and the mercy seat (Heb 9:5, hilasterion). Thus, the tax collector's prayer is a prophetic yearning for the redemptive work that Jesus would accomplish, providing the ultimate propitiation for sin. This parable therefore subtly points to the coming work of Christ and redefines who truly stands justified before God.

Luke 18 13 Commentary

Luke 18:13 provides a paradigm for a prayer acceptable to God. The tax collector, aware of his societal rejection and moral failings, bypasses any attempt at self-justification. His physical actions – standing distant, head bowed, breast-beating – are powerful, unspoken confessions of deep shame and contrition. His brief prayer, "God, be merciful (propitiate) to me, a sinner," demonstrates an understanding that his sin demanded not just compassion but propitiation, a covering for his transgressions. He cast himself entirely on God’s grace and the divine means of dealing with sin. This posture of abject humility and utter dependence on God's atoning mercy is presented as the path to divine justification, showing that God exalts those who humble themselves and confess their need for His saving grace, in stark contrast to the self-assured prayers of the proud.