“But the tax collector,
Standing far off,
Would not even
Look up to heaven.
But he was beating
His breast.
Saying.
‘God!
Be merciful to me
A sinner!’”
ὁ δὲ τελώνης μακρόθεν ἑστὼς οὐκ ἤθελεν οὐδὲ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐπᾶραι εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν, ἀλλ’ ἔτυπτεν τὸ στῆθος αὐτοῦ λέγων Ὁ Θεός, ἱλάσθητί μοι τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ
Luke has Jesus continue with this parable about a Pharisee and this tax collector that is only found in this gospel. Luke indicated that Jesus then turned to the tax collector (ὁ δὲ τελώνης), who was standing far off or a distance away (μακρόθεν ἑστὼς). He would not even look up or lift his eyes to heaven (οὐκ ἤθελεν οὐδὲ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐπᾶραι εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν). He was beating his breast (ἀλλ’ ἔτυπτεν τὸ στῆθος αὐτοῦ), a common form of penance. He prayed to God (λέγων Ὁ Θεός) that God would be merciful to him (ἱλάσθητί μοι) a sinner (τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ). Instead of thanking God for being good, this tax collector admitted his guilt, not looking up, but striking his breast, asking God to be merciful to him because he was a sinner. We have two different regular activities, and two different attitudes. The Pharisee was a better actor in doing the right thing, but had a bad attitude. The tax collector was not doing the right thing, but had a better attitude. Are you a good doer or do you have a good attitude?
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 