Luke 18

1 He also taught them by a parable that they must always pray and never lose heart.

2 "In a certain town," He said, "there was a judge who had no fear of God and no respect for man.

3 And in the same town was a widow who repeatedly came and entreated him, saying, "`Give me justice and stop my oppressor.'

4 "For a time he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, "`Though I have neither reverence for God nor respect for man,

5 yet because she annoys me I will give her justice, to prevent her from constantly coming to pester me.'"

6 And the Lord said, "Hear those words of the unjust judge.

7 And will not God avenge the wrongs of His own People who cry aloud to Him day and night, although He seems slow in taking action on their behalf?

8 Yes, He will soon avenge their wrongs. Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"

9 And to some who relied on themselves as being righteous men, and looked down upon all others, He addressed this parable.

10 "Two men went up to the Temple to pray," He said; "one being a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer.

11 The Pharisee, standing erect, prayed as follows by himself: "`O God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people--I am not a thief nor a cheat nor an adulterer, nor do I even resemble this tax-gatherer.

12 I fast twice a week. I pay the tithe on all my gains.'

13 "But the tax-gatherer, standing far back, would not so much as lift his eyes to Heaven, but kept beating his breast and saying, "`O God, be reconciled to me, sinner that I am.'

14 "I tell you that this man went home more thoroughly absolved from guilt than the other; for every one who uplifts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be uplifted."

15 On one occasion people also brought with them their infants, for Him to touch them; but the disciples, noticing this, proceeded to find fault with them.

16 Jesus however called the infants to Him. "Let the little children come to me," He said; "do not hinder them; for it is to those who are childlike that the Kingdom of God belongs.

17 I tell you in solemn truth that, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will certainly not enter it."

18 The question was put to Him by a Ruler: "Good Rabbi, what shall I do to inherit the Life of the Ages?"

19 "Why do you call me good?" replied Jesus; "there is no one good but One, namely God.

20 You know the Commandments: `Do not commit adultery;' `Do not murder;' `Do not steal;' `Do not lie in giving evidence;' `Honour thy father and thy mother.'"

21 "All of those," he replied, "I have kept from my youth."

22 On receiving this answer Jesus said to him, "There is still one thing wanting in you. Sell everything you possess and give the money to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven; and then come, follow me."

23 But on hearing these words he was deeply sorrowful, for he was exceedingly rich.

24 Jesus saw his sorrow, and said, "With how hard a struggle do the possessors of riches ever enter the Kingdom of God!

25 Why, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."

26 "Who then can be saved?" exclaimed the hearers.

27 "Things impossible with man," He replied, "are possible with God."

28 Then Peter said, "See, we have given up our homes and have followed you."

29 "I solemnly tell you," replied Jesus, "that there is no one who has left house or wife, or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of God's Kingdom,

30 who shall not certainly receive many times as much in this life, and in the age that is coming the Life of the Ages."

31 Then He drew the Twelve to Him and said, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything written in the Prophets which refers to the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

32 For He will be given up to the Gentiles, and be mocked, outraged and spit upon.

33 They will scourge Him and put Him to death, and on the third day He will rise to life again."

34 Nothing of this did they understand. The words were a mystery to them, nor could they see what He meant.

35 As Jesus came near to Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the way-side begging.

36 He heard a crowd of people going past, and inquired what it all meant.

37 "Jesus the Nazarene is passing by," they told him.

38 Then, at the top of his voice, he cried out, "Jesus, son of David, take pity on me."

39 Those in front reproved him and tried to silence him; but he continued shouting, louder than ever, "Son of David, take pity on me."

40 At length Jesus stopped and desired them to bring the man to Him; and when he had come close to Him He asked him,

41 "What shall I do for you?" "Sir," he replied, "let me recover my sight."

42 "Recover your sight," said Jesus: "your faith has cured you."

43 No sooner were the words spoken than the man regained his sight and followed Jesus, giving glory to God; and all the people, seeing it, gave praise to God.

Luke 18 Commentary

Chapter 18

The parable of the importunate widow. (1-8) The Pharisee and the publican. (9-14) Children brought to Christ. (15-17) The ruler hindered by his riches. (18-30) Christ foreshows his death. (31-34) A blind man restored to sight. (35-43)

Verses 1-8 All God's people are praying people. Here earnest steadiness in prayer for spiritual mercies is taught. The widow's earnestness prevailed even with the unjust judge: she might fear lest it should set him more against her; but our earnest prayer is pleasing to our God. Even to the end there will still be ground for the same complaint of weakness of faith.

Verses 9-14 This parable was to convince some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. God sees with what disposition and design we come to him in holy ordinances. What the Pharisee said, shows that he trusted to himself that he was righteous. We may suppose he was free from gross and scandalous sins. All this was very well and commendable. Miserable is the condition of those who come short of the righteousness of this Pharisee, yet he was not accepted; and why not? He went up to the temple to pray, but was full of himself and his own goodness; the favour and grace of God he did not think worth asking. Let us beware of presenting proud devotions to the Lord, and of despising others. The publican's address to God was full of humility, and of repentance for sin, and desire toward God. His prayer was short, but to the purpose; God be merciful to me a sinner. Blessed be God, that we have this short prayer upon record, as an answered prayer; and that we are sure that he who prayed it, went to his house justified; for so shall we be, if we pray it, as he did, through Jesus Christ. He owned himself a sinner by nature, by practice, guilty before God. He had no dependence but upon the mercy of God; upon that alone he relied. And God's glory is to resist the proud, and give grace to the humble. Justification is of God in Christ; therefore the self-condemned, and not the self-righteous, are justified before God.

Verses 15-17 None are too little, too young, to be brought to Christ, who knows how to show kindness to those not capable of doing service to him. It is the mind of Christ, that little children should be brought to him. The promise is to us, and to our seed; therefore He will bid them welcome to him with us. And we must receive his kingdom as children, not by purchase, and must call it our Father's gift.

Verses 18-30 Many have a great deal in them very commendable, yet perish for lack of some one thing; so this ruler could not bear Christ's terms, which would part between him and his estate. Many who are loth to leave Christ, yet do leave him. After a long struggle between their convictions and their corruptions, their corruptions carry the day. They are very sorry that they cannot serve both; but if one must be quitted, it shall be their God, not their wordly gain. Their boasted obedience will be found mere outside show; the love of the world in some form or other lies at the root. Men are apt to speak too much of what they have left and lost, of what they have done and suffered for Christ, as Peter did. But we should rather be ashamed that there has been any regret or difficulty in doing it.

Verses 31-34 The Spirit of Christ, in the Old Testament prophets, testified beforehand his sufferings, and the glory that should ( 1 Peter. 1:11 ) that they would not understand these things literally. They were so intent upon the prophecies which spake of Christ's glory, that they overlooked those which spake of his sufferings. People run into mistakes, because they read their Bibles by halves, and are only for the smooth things. We are as backward to learn the proper lessons from the sufferings, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ, as the disciples were to what he told them as to those events; and for the same reason; self-love, and a desire of worldly objects, close our understandings.

Verses 35-43 This poor blind man sat by the wayside, begging. He was not only blind, but poor, the fitter emblem of the world of mankind which Christ came to heal and save. The prayer of faith, guided by Christ's encouraging promises, and grounded on them, shall not be in vain. The grace of Christ ought to be thankfully acknowledged, to the glory of God. It is for the glory of God if we follow Jesus, as those will do whose eyes are opened. We must praise God for his mercies to others, as well as for mercies to ourselves. Would we rightly understand these things, we must come to Christ, like the blind man, earnestly beseeching him to open our eyes, and to show us clearly the excellence of his precepts, and the value of his salvation.