Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Luke: Chapter 18].
crimes of which he is not guilty. {Or even} (\• kai\). As the
climax of iniquity (Bruce), he points to "this publican."
Zaccheus will admit robbery (Lu 19:8). {God} (\ho theos\).
Nominative form with the article as common with the vocative use
of \theos\ (so verse 13; Joh 20:28).
18:12 {Twice in the week} (\dis tou sabbatou\). One fast a year
was required by the law (Le 16:29; Nu 29:7). The Pharisees
added others, twice a week between passover and pentecost, and
between tabernacles and dedication of the temple. {I get}
(\kt•mai\). Present middle indicative, not perfect middle
\kekt•mai\ (I possess). He gave a tithe of his income, not of his
property.
18:13 {Standing afar off} (\makrothen hest•s\). Second perfect
active participle of \hist•mi\, intransitive like \statheis\
above. But no ostentation as with the Pharisee in verse 11. At
a distance from the Pharisee, not from the sanctuary. {Would not
lift} (\ouk •thelen oude ep•rai\). Negatives (double) imperfect
of {thel•}, was not willing even to lift up, refused to lift
(\ep•rai\, first aorist active infinitive of the liquid compound
verb, \ep-air•\). Smote (\etupte\). Imperfect active of \tupt•\,
old verb, kept on smiting or beating. Worshippers usually lifted
up their closed eyes to God. {Be merciful} (\hilasth•ti\). First
aorist passive imperative of \hilaskomai\, an old verb, found
also in LXX and inscriptions (\exhilaskomai\, Deissmann, _Bible
Studies_, p. 224). {A sinner} (\t•i hamart•l•i\). The sinner, not
a sinner. It is curious how modern scholars ignore this Greek
article. The main point in the contrast lies in this article. The
Pharisee thought of others as sinners. The publican thinks of
himself alone as the sinner, not of others at all.
18:14 {This man} (\houtos\). This despised publican referred to
contemptuously in verse 11 as "this" (\houtos\) publican.
{Rather than the other} (\par' ekeinon\). In comparison with
(placed beside) that one. A neat Greek idiom after the perfect
passive participle \dedikaiomenos\. {For} (\hoti\). This moral
maxim Christ had already used in 14:11. Plummer pertinently
asks: "Why is it assumed that Jesus did not repeat his sayings?"
18:15 {They brought} (\prosepheron\). Imperfect active, they were
bringing. So Mr 10:13. {Their babes} (\ta breph•\). Old word
for {infants}. Here Mr 10:13; Mt 19:13 have \paidia\ (little
children). Note "also" (\kai\) in Luke, not in Mark and Matthew.
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