Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 18:11-12
Luke 18:11-12. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself The original clause, σταθεις προς εαυτον ταυτα προσηυχετο , it seems, should rather be rendered, standing by himself prayed these things. Read thus, it is characteristical of the sect, who always affected to dread pollution from the touch of those whom they considered as their inferiors in piety. Thus this Pharisee kept himself at as great a distance as he could from the miserable sinner who had entered the temple with him, as... read more
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 18:11
Stood and prayed thus with himself - Some have proposed to render this, “stood by himself” and prayed. In this way it would be characteristic of the sect of the Pharisees, who dreaded the contact of others as polluting, and who were disposed to say to all, Stand by yourselves. The Syraic so renders it, but it is doubtful whether the Greek will allow this construction. If not, it means, he said over to himself what he had done, and what was the ground on which he expected the favour of God.God,... read more