Luke 18:9-14 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:11

Stood and prayed thus with himself - Or, stood by himself and prayed, as some would translate the words. He probably supposed it disgraceful to appear to have any connection with this penitent publican: therefore his conduct seemed to say, "Stand by thyself; I am more holy than thou." He seems not only to have stood by himself, but also to have prayed by himself; neither associating in person nor in petitions with his poor guilty neighbor. God, I thank thee, etc. - In Matthew 5:20 ,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:12

I give tithes of all that I possess - Or, of all I acquire, κτωμαι . Raphelius has well observed, that this verb, in the present tense, signifies to acquire - in the preter, to possess: the Pharisee's meaning seems to be, "As fast as I gain any thing, I give the tenth part of it to the house of God and to the poor." Those who dedicate a certain part of their earnings to the Lord should never let it rest with themselves, lest possession should produce covetousness. This was the Pharisee's... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:13

The publican, standing afar off - Not because he was a heathen, and dared not approach the holy place; (for it is likely he was a Jew); but because he was a true penitent, and felt himself utterly unworthy to appear before God. Would not lift up - his eyes - Holding down the head, with the eyes fixed upon the earth, was, A sign of deep distress. Of a consciousness and confession of guilt. And, It was the very posture that the Jewish rabbins required in those who prayed to God. ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:14

Went down to his house justified - His sin blotted out; and himself accepted. Rather than the other - Η εκεινος : that is, the other was not accepted, because he exalted himself - he made use of the mercies which he acknowledged he owed to God, to make claims on the Divine approbation, and to monopolize the salvation of the Most High! He was abased, because he vainly trusted that he was righteous, and depended on what he had been enabled to do, and looked not for a change of heart, nor... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:9

Verse 9 Christ now gives directions about another virtue, which is necessary to acceptable prayer. Believers must not come into the presence of God but with humility and abasement. No disease is more dangerous than arrogance; and yet all have it so deeply fixed in the marrow of their bones, that it can scarcely be removed or extirpated by any remedy. It is no doubt strange that men should be so mad as to venture to raise their crests against God, and to plead their own merits before him. Though... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:10

Verse 10 10.Two men went up. Christ makes a comparison between the two men, both of whom, by going up to pray, seem to manifest the same ardor of piety, while yet they are exceedingly unlike. The Pharisee, possessing outward sanctity, approaches to God with a commendation which he pronounces on his whole life, and as if he had an undoubted right to offer the sacrifice of praise. The publican, on the other hand, as if he had been some outcast, and knew that he was unworthy to approach, presents... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:11

Verse 11 11.God, I thank thee. And yet he is not blamed for boasting of the strength of his free-will, but for trusting that God was reconciled to him by the merits of his works. For this thanksgiving, which is presented exclusively in his own name, does not at all imply that he boasted of his own virtue, as if he had obtained righteousness from himself, or merited any thing by his own industry. On the contrary, he ascribes it to the grace of God that he is righteous. Now though his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:12

Verse 12 12.I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. This is equivalent to saying that he performed more than the law required; just as the Popish monks talk loftily of their works of supererogation, as if they found no great difficulty in fulfilling the law of God. It must be admitted that each of us, according to the measure of the virtues which God has bestowed upon him, is the more strongly bound to thank the Author of them; and that it is an exercise of holy... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:13

Verse 13 13.The publican standing at a distance. Here Christ did not intend to lay down a general rule, as if it were necessary, whenever we pray, to cast down our eyes to the ground. He merely describes the tokens of humility, which alone he recommends to his disciples. Now humility lies in not refusing to acknowledge our sins, but condemning ourselves, and thus anticipating the judgment of God; and, with the view of being reconciled to God, in making an honest confession of guilt. Such, too,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:14

Verse 14 14.This man went down justified. The comparison is not exact; for Christ does not merely assign to the publican a certain degree of superiority, as if righteousness had belonged alike to both, but means thatthe publican was accepted by God, while the Pharisee was totally rejected. And this passage shows plainly what is the strict meaning of the word justified: it means, to stand before God as if we were righteous. For it is not said that the publican was justified, because he suddenly... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:14

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:11

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:14

Group of Brands