luke 18:13 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 "But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'

13. standing afar off--as unworthy to draw near; but that was the way to get near (Ps 34:18; Isa 57:15).
would not lift up--blushing and ashamed to do so (Ezr 9:6).
smote, &c.--kept smiting; for anguish (Lu 23:48), and self-reproach (Jer 31:19).
be merciful--"be propitiated," a very unusual word in such a sense, only once else used in the New Testament, in the sense of "making reconciliation" by sacrifice (Heb 2:17). There may therefore, be some allusion to this here, though not likely.
a sinner--literally, "the sinner"; that is, "If ever there was one, I am he."

luke 18:13 "But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'

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