Luke · chapter 18 of 24
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Luke 18 teaches how to come to God: with persistent prayer, like the widow before the judge, and with humility, like the tax collector and not the Pharisee. Jesus welcomes the children, asks the rich ruler to give up everything and announces his death for the third time. Near Jericho, a blind man cries out to the Son of David and receives sight.
Jesus is ever closer to Jerusalem, and Luke 18 gathers scenes that show who enters the kingdom of God: those who pray without losing heart, those who humble themselves, those who receive it like children and those who, like the blind man, ask for mercy. It contrasts with the rich man who could not let go of what he had.
Jesus tells a parable to show that they should always pray and not lose heart. In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people, and a widow who kept pleading for justice. Though he refused for a while, the judge gave in so that she would not wear him out with her coming. Jesus concludes that God will bring about justice quickly for his chosen ones who cry out to him, and he wonders whether the Son of Man will find faith on earth when he comes.
To some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on others, Jesus tells of two men who go up to the temple to pray. The Pharisee, standing, thanks God that he is not like other people and lists his good works. The tax collector, far off, will not even lift his eyes, beats his breast and asks God to be merciful to him, a sinner. Jesus says this man went home justified rather than the other, because whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Then the disciples scold those bringing children to Jesus, but he calls them and says the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
A ruler asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus points him to the commandments, and the man says he has kept them since youth. Jesus tells him he lacks one thing: sell everything, give to the poor and follow him. The man, very rich, becomes sad. Jesus remarks how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom, and that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. He announces for the third time that in Jerusalem he will be handed over, mocked, flogged, killed and raised, but the disciples do not understand. Near Jericho, a blind beggar cries out that Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on him. Jesus heals him and says his faith has saved him; the man follows him glorifying God.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
Luke explains from the start that Jesus told the parable to show that they should always pray and not lose heart. Persistent prayer is an act of faith, not an attempt to convince a reluctant God.
The tax collector will not lift his eyes and asks for mercy, and Jesus says he went home justified. God accepts the one who acknowledges his need, not the one who boasts of his merits.
Jesus says that what is impossible with man is possible with God. Salvation, especially for someone with much to let go of, is God's work and not human effort.
Jesus asks the blind man what he wants him to do, and the man asks to see. Jesus tells him to receive his sight because his faith has saved him. God wants us to ask clearly for what we need.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: To teach that they should always pray and not lose heart. — Luke 18:1
Answer: That God be merciful to him, a sinner. — Luke 18:13
Answer: The tax collector, rather than the Pharisee. — Luke 18:14
Answer: The kingdom of God. — Luke 18:16
Answer: To sell all he had, distribute it to the poor and follow him. — Luke 18:22
Answer: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. — Luke 18:38
Luke 18 invites us to pray with perseverance and humility. The widow did not give up and the tax collector did not defend himself: both knew they depended on someone else. In a small group you can ask why we grow tired of praying and which request we have long failed to present honestly.
The rich ruler shows us that what is hardest for us to release may be what most keeps us from following Jesus. Not everyone is called to sell everything, but all must examine what holds first place. And the blind man reminds us that, faced with a real need, the best thing is to cry out to Jesus, even if others tell us to be quiet.
Luke 18 ends with the blind man following Jesus and glorifying God, and all the people praising. In Luke 19 Jesus enters Jericho and meets Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector, and then enters Jerusalem as king.
No, he contrasts them. If even an unjust judge yields to persistence, how much more will God, who is just and loving, hear those who cry out to him. The parable teaches us to trust that God acts, even when he seems slow.
It is an exaggeration meaning that something is impossible by human effort. Jesus does not say the rich cannot be saved, but that no one accomplishes it by himself; salvation is possible only by God's work. The image does not refer to a city gate by that name; that has no support in the text.
Luke says its meaning was hidden from them and they did not grasp what was said. They expected a Messiah who would soon reign, and the idea of a suffering Messiah clashed with their expectations. Only after the resurrection would they understand.