“I say unto you, this man went down to his house justified.” Luke "18":14
At most, the publican could only plead for forgiveness. God heard his prayer but gave him much more than he had asked for, since Jesus said that he returned home “justified.” Do you see how far this exceeded the sinner’s expectations? He asked for mercy; he could never think of justification. But God said that he was justified. This means that it was as if he had never sinned. Not only was he no longer "sinful": now he was actually righteous.<br/><br/>The salvation which God accomplishes is not according to our limited measure but to His infinite grace. Man has his small ideas of how God will act on his behalf, but God likes to hear his cry and answer his prayers. But what He brings to pass accords with His own disposition as the lavish dispenser of unmerited favor. Let us praise Him!