Then the Pharisee, having finished his prayer, went down once more to his home.
He had not seen the vision of God! He had not come near to Him, nor waited to receive the answer to his words. He did not even know what he had missed!
* * * * *
And the other man who went up to pray was the Publican.
He was a collector of the Roman taxes; and because of the frequent cheating of these publicans, they were hated by the Jews.
It was a calling which gave great opportunities for dishonesty, and when some of the Jews, for the sake of gain, engaged in it, they were despised and called traitors.
So this Publican, whom our Lord Jesus told about in this story, was evidently a Jew, as he among other Jews "went up into the Temple to pray."
And when he entered God's House, there stood the Pharisee praying; but the Publican, standing afar off, not full of his own good deeds, but feeling ashamed of his own sinfulness, would not even lift up his eyes to Heaven, but smote his breast saying:
"God be merciful to me, a sinner!"
* * * * *