Study it in the app“But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’”
The tax collector prays humbly; the Pharisee prays boasting of himselfPrayerThe tax collector beats his chest; the Pharisee thinks he is righteousTurning back to GodThe Pharisee trusts himself; the tax collector asks God to be merciful and goes home declared righteousHumility and Service
Butδὲthe tax collector,ὁ τελώνηςstandingἑστὼςfar off,μακρόθενwould notοὐκ ἤθελενevenοὐδὲlift upἐπᾶραιhis eyesτοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺςtoεἰςheaven,τὸν οὐρανόνbutἀλλ’was beatingἔτυπτεhisαὐτοῦbreast,τὸ στῆθοςsaying,λέγων‘God,Ὁ θεόςbe mercifulἱλάσθητίto me,μοιthe sinner!’τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ
tax collector
Tax collector, who collected taxes for Rome; despised by the people.
Where else “telōnēs” appearsstand
To stay upright on one's feet, or hold out without falling.
Where else “hestōs” appearsfrom afar
From a distance, far off.
Where else “makrothen” appearswant
To have the desire or the resolve for something.
Where else “ēthelen” appearslift up
To hold something high: eyes, hands, voice.
Where else “eparai” appearseye
The organ of sight, in the face.
Where else “ophthalmous” appearsheaven
God's dwelling, above all that is created.
Where else “ouranon” appearsstrike
Strike, beat.
Where else “etypte” appearschest
Chest, breast.
Where else “stēthos” appearssay
To express something in words to others.
Where else “legōn” appearsGod
The Creator and Lord of all, the one God of Israel.
Where else “theos” appearsbe merciful
To be kindly disposed toward the guilty and forgive them.
Where else “hilasthēti” appearssinner
Sinner; in the Pharisees' mouth, someone who did not keep the law.
Where else “hamartōlōi” appearsThe Greek verb belongs to the same family as “cover of expiation,” the lid of the ark where the blood of expiation was sprinkled (Leviticus 16:14-15; Hebrews 9:5).
12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all that I get.’
13 · This verse (above)
14I tell you, this man went down to his house declared righteous, rather than that one; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
1. What it says
In the parable of the two men praying in the temple, what does each one say, and who goes home declared righteous? (vv. 10-14)
2. What it means
What does Jesus ask of the rich ruler, and how does he react? What does Jesus say about what is impossible and possible with God? (vv. 18-27)
3. How I live it
The blind man kept shouting though people told him to be quiet, and Jesus asked what he wanted (vv. 38-41). What would you ask Jesus today?
