Have you ever thoughtfully considered the tax collector praying in Luke 18:13? The man who “would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven,” but stood afar off, beating his breast, and saying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!”
This man had a standing before God. Why? Because he humbled himself and knelt before the Lord in true prayer. As we have been studying the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, do we not see these very characteristics in this man? We often read this passage quickly and fail to realize how directly it speaks to us today. Christ told this parable specifically to those, and to us, “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others” (Luke 18:9).
Let us briefly compare the tax collector with the Pharisee praying in the temple. The Lord contrasts two very different men: one who justifies himself, and one whom God justifies.
First, the tax collector recognized that he was a sinner. Because of this, he cried out for mercy. He saw his complete spiritual bankruptcy and could mention no merit, no good deeds, no knowledge, and no qualifications before the Lord. In stark contrast, the self-centered, egotistical, and knowledgeable Pharisee stood bragging and praying with himself.
This tax collector is a powerful example of what it means to be poor in spirit. Prayer is the language of the poor in spirit. The self-righteous man, however, did not truly pray. Being so full of himself, his so-called prayer bounced back to himself. He puffed himself up and looked down on others.
How do we come before God in prayer? How do we think about our neighbors in relation to the Lord?
Notice also that the tax collector not only asked for mercy, he beats his breast. For the Jews, this was a strong outward expression of deep sorrow and inward contrition. He was genuinely grieved over his sin. Therefore, it is written, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).
The third characteristic we see in this tax collector is true meekness and humility. In contrast to the hypocrites who love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men (Matthew 6:5), this man stood afar off. He did not want to be noticed. He would not even lift his eyes to heaven. What humility! This is a man who understood that he must decrease so that Christ might increase. He knew he was nothing unless the Lord showed him mercy. He had nothing to offer but his sins, and he came hoping only in God’s grace. He did not compare himself with others, he simply came as he was — crawling before the throne of grace.
Jesus concludes the parable with these sobering words: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14; see also James 4:6).
This tax collector did not just leave the temple exalted, he went home justified. That is exactly what it means to be blessed:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:3-5)
I have often said that the church today lacks two vital things. We may have great sermons, good singing, programs, and solid attendance, yet we are missing evangelism and prayer.
If we examine ourselves honestly as followers of Christ, do we pray at all? And when we do pray, do we come before God with the same attitude as this tax collector? This is the kind of prayer the Lord blesses: a broken and contrite heart He will not despise (Psalm 51:17).
Leonard Ravenhill powerfully said: “No Christian is greater than his prayer life… The people who are not praying are straying.”
As we meditate on these things, let us remember that how we see ourselves and how we see others will deeply shape our attitude in prayer before the Lord.
