Luke 18: More teaching & a healing

• v.1-8 The Parable of the Persistent Widow
• v.9-14 The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
• v.15-17 The Little Children and Jesus
• v.18-30 The Rich and the Kingdom of God
• v.31-34 Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time
• v.35-43 A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight

v.1-8 The Parable of the Persistent Widow

v.1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

v.2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.

v.3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

v.4,5 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

v.6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.

v.7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

v.8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

[Note: Next a prayer parable: there was an unrighteous judge, but a woman kept coming pleading her cause. He wasn’t going to concede her cause but gave in because of her persistence.  Take note of that judge; similarly, won’t God answer when you ask again and again. He will satisfy them, but the most important this is that you be found faithful when I return.]

v.9-14 The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

v.9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:

v.10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

v.11,12 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

v.13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

v.14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

[Note: A parable for the self-righteous: a Pharisee & a tax collector went to pray. The religious one was smug in his praying but the sinner sought mercy, and so he was the one accepted by God – learn the lesson.]

v.15-17 The Little Children and Jesus

v.15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.

v.16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

v.17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

[Note: The disciples objected to parent bringing their children for a blessing but Jesus approved their coming with childlike faith for without this you can’t enter the kingdom.]

v.18-30 The Rich and the Kingdom of God

v.18-20 A righteous young rules comes questioning

v.18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

v.19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.

v.20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”

[Note: A rich young ruler asked about eternal life but Jesus questions his approach and reminds him of the ten commandments – Exo 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20]

v.21-23 Jesus puts his finger on the heart of the issue

v.21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

v.22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

v.23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy.

[Note: I’ve kept those the man replied. Very well, sell what you have and give to the poor. The man struggled with that.]

v.24-27 Jesus focuses the problem of being rich

v.24,25 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

v.26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

v.27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

[Note: Jesus pointed out how hard it is for those who rely on their wealth to enter the kingdom and his listeners question this. It is only possible with God’s help, Jesus answers.]

v.28-30 The disciples and commitment

v.28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”

v.29,30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

[Note: Peter asks, what about us? Jesus responds, you’ll get your reward in heaven.]

v.31-34 Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time

v.31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

v.32,33 He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”

v.34 The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

[Note: Jesus again warns them about what will happen in Jerusalem where he will be taken and killed, but they still don’t understand.]

v.35-43 A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight

v.35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.

v.36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

v.37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

v.38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

v.39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

v.40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him,

v.41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

v.42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”

v.43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

[Note: Outside Jericho they encounter a blind street beggar who asks what is happening, and when they tell him it is Jesus, he calls for Jesus to help him. The crowd fail to quieten him and Jesus calls for him to come. When asked, he asks for his sight; Jesus agrees and he is healed.]

For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: