The publican had gone to the temple with other worshipers, but he soon drew apart from them as unworthy to unite in their devotions. Standing afar off, he "would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast," in bitter anguish and self-abhorrence. He felt that he had transgressed against God, that he was sinful and polluted. He could not expect even pity from those around him, for they looked upon him with contempt. He knew that he had no merit to commend him to God, and in utter self-despair he cried, "God be merciful to me, a sinner." He did not compare himself with others. 152 Overwhelmed with a sense of guilt, he stood as if alone in God's presence. His only desire was for pardon and peace, his only plea was the mercy of God. And he was blessed. "I tell you," Christ said, "this man went down to his house justified rather than the other."

Tolderen var gået til templet sammen med andre, der ville bede, men han fjernede sig snart fra dem, da han følte sig uværdig til at forene sig med dem, i deres andagt. Han stod langt borte og "ville ikke engang løfte sine øjne mod Himmelen, men slog sig for sit bryst" i bitter smerte og afsky for sig selv Han følte, at han havde syndet mod Gud, at han var syndig og besmittet. Han kunne ikke engang forvente medlidenhed af dem, der stod omkring ham, for de betragtede ham med foragt. Han vidste, at han ikke havde nogen fortjenester der kunne tale til gunst for ham hos Gud, og i den største fortvivlelse råbte han: "Gud! Vær mig synder nådig!" Han sammenlignede ikke sig selv med andre. Overvældet af sin skyldfølelse stod han der som om han var alene med Gud. Det eneste, han ønskede, var at finde tilgivelse og fred, hans eneste håb var Guds nåde. Og han blev velsignet. "Jeg siger jer" sagde Kristus, "han gik retfærdiggjort hjem til sit hus, men den anden ikke."