Luke 18:13–14

18:13 The tax collector, however, stood37 far off and would not even look up38 to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful39 to me, sinner that I am!’40 18:14 I tell you that this man went down to his home justified41 rather than the Pharisee.42 For everyone who exalts43 himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

37	tn Grk “standing”; the Greek participle has been translated as a finite verb.
38	tn Grk “even lift up his eyes” (an idiom).
39	tn The prayer is a humble call for forgiveness. The term for mercy (ἱλάσκομαι, hilaskomai) is associated with the concept of a request for atonement (BDAG 473–74 s.v. 1; Ps 51:1, 3; 25:11; 34:6, 18).
40	tn Grk “the sinner.” The tax collector views himself not just as any sinner but as the worst of all sinners. See ExSyn 222–23.
41	sn The prayer that was heard and honored was the one given with humility; in a surprising reversal it was the tax collector who went down to his home justified.
42	tn Grk “the other”; the referent (the Pharisee, v. 10) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
43	sn Everyone who exalts himself. See Luke 14:11. Jesus often called for humility and condemned those who sought honor.