11, 12. stood--as the Jews in prayer
(Mr 11:25).
God, &c.--To have been kept from gross iniquities was undoubtedly a
just cause of thankfulness to God; but instead of the devoutly humble,
admiring frame which this should inspire, the Pharisee arrogantly severs
himself from the rest of mankind, as quite above them, and, with a
contemptuous look at the poor publican, thanks God that he has not to
stand afar off like him, to hang down his head like a bulrush and beat
his breast like him. But these are only his moral excellencies. His
religious merits complete his grounds for congratulation. Not
confining himself to the one divinely prescribed annual fast
(Le 16:29),
he was not behind the most rigid, who fasted on the second and fifth
days of every week [LIGHTFOOT], and gave the tenth
not only of what the law laid under tithing, but of "all his gains."
Thus, besides doing all his duty, he did works of
supererogation; while sins to confess and spiritual wants to be
supplied he seems to have felt none. What a picture of the Pharisaic
character and religion!
JFB.
Picture Study Bible