Discovery BoxLuke 18:13-14 
Context18:13 The tax collector, however, stood 1 far off and would not even look up 2 to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful 3 to me, sinner that I am!’ 4 18:14 I tell you that this man went down to his home justified 5 rather than the Pharisee. 6 For everyone who exalts 7 himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
1 tn Grk “standing”; the Greek participle has been translated as a finite verb.
2 tn Grk “even lift up his eyes” (an idiom).
3 tn The prayer is a humble call for forgiveness. The term for mercy (ἱλάσκομαι, Jilaskomai) 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).
4 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.
5 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.
6 tn Grk “the other”; the referent (the Pharisee, v. 10) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 sn Everyone who exalts himself. See Luke 14:11. Jesus often called for humility and condemned those who sought honor.
