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But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn`t even lift up as his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, `God, be merciful to me, a sinner!`
Verse Takeaways
1
The Posture of Repentance
Commentators explain that the tax collector's posture reveals his inner state. Standing "afar off," with downcast eyes and beating his chest, were not prescribed rituals but outward signs of profound humility, shame, and grief over his sin. He felt unworthy to even approach God or look toward heaven, demonstrating a genuine awareness of his spiritual poverty.
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Book Overview
Luke
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16
18th Century
Presbyterian
Standing afar off. Far off from the temple. The place where prayer was offered in the temple was the court of women. The Pharisee…
Standing afar off (μακροθεν εστως). Second perfect active participle of ιστημ, intransitive like σταθεις above. But no ostentation…
19th Century
Anglican
The publican, standing afar off.—The words point to a sense of shame that kept the publican away from the crowd of worshi…
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Baptist
Would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
That was all p…
The description speaks for itself. The tax collector (see comment on Mk 2:14) was one of the social outcasts so prominent in Luke as recipients of …
16th Century
Protestant
The publican standing at a distance.
Here Christ did not intend to lay down a general rule, as if it were necessary, whenever we pr…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
And the publican standing afar off Not at the outermost porch, or at the door; for "a man might not fix his place at…
This parable was to convince some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others. God sees with what disposition and design…
