Luke Chapter 18

From The Open Bible Project

18:1 He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up,

• (1) God will have us to continue in prayer, not to weary us, but to exercise us; therefore we must fight against impatience so that a long delay does not cause us to quit our praying.
• (a) Yield to afflictions and adversities as those do who have lost heart.

18:2 saying, "There was a judge in a certain city who didn't fear God, and didn't respect man.

• (b) He does not compare things that are of equal stature, but the less with the greater: If a man receives what is rightfully his at the hands of a most unrighteous judge, much more will the prayers of the godly prevail before God.

18:3 A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, 'Defend me from my adversary!'

18:4 He wouldn't for a while, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God, nor respect man,

18:5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.'"

• (c) Literally, "beat me down with her blows", and it is a metaphor taken of wrestlers who beat their adversaries with their fists or clubs: in the same way those that are persistent beat the judge’s ears with their crying out, even as it were with blows.

18:6 The Lord said, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.

18:7 Won't God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?

• (d) Though he seems slow in avenging the harm done to his own.

18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

18:9 He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.

• (2) Two things especially make our prayers void and of no effect: confidence of our own righteousness, and our contempt of others; but a humble heart is contrary to both of these.

18:10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.

18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

• (3) Although we confess that whatever we have, we have it from God, yet we are despised by God as proud and arrogant if we put even the least trust in our own works before God.

18:12 I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.'

18:13 But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'

• (e) Far from the Pharisee in a lower place.

18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

18:15 They were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

• (f) The children were tender and young in that they were brought, which appears more evidently in that they were infants. (Ed.)
• (4) To judge or think of Christ after the reason of the flesh is the cause of infinite corruptions.

18:16 Jesus summoned them, saying, "Allow the little children to come to me, and don't hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

• (5) The elect children of the faithful are included in the free covenant of God. (Ed.)
• (g) Those that carried the children, whom the disciples drove away.

18:17 Most certainly, I tell you, whoever doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, he will in no way enter into it."

• (6) Childlike innocence is an ornament of Christians.

18:18 A certain ruler asked him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

18:19 Jesus asked him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one--God.

18:20 You know the commandments: 'Don't commit adultery,' 'Don't murder,' 'Don't steal,' 'Don't give false testimony,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'"[43]

18:21 He said, "I have observed all these things from my youth up."

• (7) The enticement of riches carries many away from the right way.

18:22 When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Come, follow me."

18:23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.

18:24 Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God!

• (8) To be both rich and godly is a singular gift of God.

18:25 For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God."

18:26 Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?"

18:27 But he said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

18:28 Peter said, "Look, we have left everything, and followed you."

18:29 He said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the Kingdom of God's sake,

• (9) They become the richest of all who do not refuse to be poor for Christ’s sake.

18:30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life."

18:31 He took the twelve aside, and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.

• (10) As sure and certain as persecution is, so sure is the glory which remains for the conquerors.

18:32 For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on.

18:33 They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again."

18:34 They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn't understand the things that were said.

• (h) By this we see how ignorant the disciples were.

18:35 It happened, as he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.

• (11) Christ shows by a visible miracle that he is the light of the world.

18:36 Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.

18:37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.

18:38 He cried out, "Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!"

18:39 Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "You son of David, have mercy on me!"

• (12) The more snares and hindrances that Satan lays in our way, even by those who profess Christ’s name, so much the more ought we to go forward.

18:40 Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him,

18:41 "What do you want me to do?" He said, "Lord, that I may see again."

18:42 Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you."

18:43 Immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God.