| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index |

Luke Chapter Eighteen

Luke 18

But in the presence of all the power of their enemies and oppressors (for there would be such as we have seen so that they might even lose their lives) there was a resource for the afflicted remnant. They were (chap. 18) to persevere in prayer the resource moreover at all times of the faithful-of man if he understand it. God would avenge His elect although as to the exercise of their faith He would indeed try it. But when He came would the Son of man find this faith that waited for His intervention? That was the solemn question the answer to which is left to the responsibility of man-a question which implies that it could hardly be expected although it ought to exist. Nevertheless should there be any faith acceptable to Him who seeks it it will not be disappointed or confounded.

It will be observed that the kingdom (and that is the subject) is presented in two ways among the Jews at that time-in the Person of Jesus then present (chap. 17:21) and in the execution of the judgment in which the elect ones should be spared and the vengeance of God be executed in their behalf. On this account they were only to think of pleasing Him however oppressive and at ease the world might be. It is the day of the judgment of the wicked and not that in which the righteous will be caught up to heaven. Enoch and Abraham are more the types of the latter; Noe and Lot of those who will be spared to live on the earth; only there are oppressors of whom the remnant are to be avenged. Verse 31 shews that they must think only of the judgment and connect themselves with nothing as men. Detached from everything their only hope would be in God at such a moment.

The Lord then resumes in verse 9 of chapter 18 the description of those characters which were suitable to the kingdom to enter it now by following Him. From verse 35 [1] the great transition draws near historically. Verse 8 then of chapter 18 ends the prophetic warning with respect to the last days. The Lord afterwards resumes the consideration of the characters which befit the state of things introduced by grace. Self-righteousness is far from being a recommendation for entrance into the kingdom. The most miserable sinner confessing his sin is justified before God rather than the self-righteous. He that exalts himself shall be abased and he that humbles himself shall be exalted. What apattern and witness of this truth was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself!

The spirit of a little child-simple believing all that he is told confiding of little importance in his own eyes who must give way to all-this was meet for the kingdom of God. What else would He admit?

Again the principles of the kingdom as established by the rejection of Christ were in full contrast with the temporal blessings attached to obedience to the law excellent as that law was in its place. Goodness in man there was none: God only is good. The young man who had fulfilled the law in his outward walk is called to leave everything that he may follow the Lord. Jesus knew his circumstances and his heart and put His finger on the covetousness that ruled him and was fed by the riches he possessed. He was to sell all that he had and follow Jesus; he should have treasure in heaven. The young man went away sorrowful. The riches that in the eyes of men appeared to be a sign of God's favour were but a hindrance when the heart and heaven came in question. The Lord announces at the same time that whosoever should forsake anything that he prized for the sake of the kingdom of heaven should receive much more in this world and in the next life everlasting. We may remark that it is only the principle which is here laid down in reference to the kingdom.

At last the Lord on His way to Jerusalem plainly tells His disciples in private that He was going to be delivered up to be ill-treated and put to death and then to rise again. It was the fulfilment of all that the prophets had written. But the disciples understood none of those things.

If the Lord was to make those who followed Him take up the cross He could not but bear it Himself. He went before His sheep in this path of self-denial and devotedness to prepare the way. He went alone. It was a path which His people had not yet trodden nor indeed could they till after He had done so.

Footnotes

[1] The case of the blind man at Jericho is as already noted the beginning (in all the synoptical Gospels) of the last events of Christ's life.

── John Darby《Synopsis of Luke》

Luke 18

Chapter Contents

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)

Commentary on Luke 18:1-8

(Read Luke 18:1-8)

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.

Commentary on Luke 18:9-14

(Read Luke 18:9-14)

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.

Commentary on Luke 18:15-17

(Read Luke 18:15-17)

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.

Commentary on Luke 18:18-30

(Read Luke 18:18-30)

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.

Commentary on Luke 18:31-34

(Read Luke 18:31-34)

The Spirit of Christ in the Old Testament prophets testified beforehand his sufferings and the glory that should follow 1 Peter 1:11. The disciples' prejudices were so strong 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.

Commentary on Luke 18:35-43

(Read Luke 18:35-43)

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.

── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Luke》

Luke 18

Verse 7

[7] And shall not God avenge his own elect which cry day and night unto him though he bear long with them?

And shall not God — The most just Judge vindicate his own elect - Preserve the Christians from all their adversaries and in particular save them out of the general destruction and avenge them of the Jews? Though he bear long with them - Though he does not immediately put an end either to the wrongs of the wicked or the sufferings of good men.

Verse 8

[8] I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh shall he find faith on the earth?

Yet when the Son of man cometh will he find faith upon earth — Yet notwithstanding all the instances both of his long suffering and of his justice whenever he shall remarkably appear against their enemies in this age or in after ages how few true believers will be found upon earth!

Verse 9

[9] And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others:

He spake this parable — Not to hypocrites; the Pharisee here mentioned was no hypocrite no more than an outward adulterer: but he sincerely trusted in himself that he was righteous and accordingly told God so in the prayer which none but God heard.

Verse 12

[12] I fast twice in the week I give tithes of all that I possess.

I fast twice in the week — So did all the strict Pharisees: every Monday and Thursday.

I give tithes of all that I possess — Many of them gave one full tenth of their income in tithes and another tenth in alms. the sum of this plea is I do no harm: I use all the means of grace: I do all the good I can.

Verse 13

[13] And the publican standing afar off would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner.

The publican standing afar off — From the holy of holies would not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven - Touched with shame which is more ingenuous than fear.

Verse 14

[14] I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

This man went down — From the hill on which the temple stood justified rather than the other - That is and not the other.

Verse 15

[15] And they brought unto him also infants that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it they rebuked them.

Matthew 19:13; Mark 10:13.

Verse 16

[16] But Jesus called them unto him and said Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Calling them — Those that brought the children: of such is the kingdom of God - Such are subjects of the Messiah's kingdom. And such as these it properly belongs to.

Verse 18

[18] And a certain ruler asked him saying Good Master what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Matthew 19:16; Mark 10:17.

Verse 20

[20] Thou knowest the commandments Do not commit adultery Do not kill Do not steal Do not bear false witness Honour thy father and thy mother.

Exodus 20:12 etc.

Verse 22

[22] Now when Jesus heard these things he said unto him Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast and distribute unto the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me.

Yet lackest thou one thing — Namely to love God more than mammon. Our Saviour knew his heart and presently put him upon a trial which laid it open to the ruler himself. And to cure his love of the world which could not in him be cured otherwise Christ commanded him to sell all that he had. But he does not command us to do this; but to use all to the glory of God.

Verse 31

[31] Then he took unto him the twelve and said unto them Behold we go up to Jerusalem and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

Matthew 20:17; Mark 10:32.

Verse 34

[34] And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them neither knew they the things which were spoken.

They understood none of these things — The literal meaning they could not but understand. But as they could not reconcile this to their preconceived opinion of the Messiah they were utterly at a loss in what parabolical or figurative sense to take what he said concerning his sufferings; having their thoughts still taken up with the temporal kingdom.

Verse 35

[35] And it came to pass that as he was come nigh unto Jericho a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

Matthew 20:29; Mark 10:46.

── John ‘Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Luke》

Chapter 18. Secret of Prayer

Keep from Youth
Lack One Thing

I. Discern Between True and False Prayers

1. The Persistent Widow
2. Pray about Himself
3. Regret for Sins

II. Requirements for Entering the Kingdom of God

1. As a Little child
2. Sell Everything
3. Follow Jesus

III. A Blind Receives Sight

1. Seize the Opportunity
2. Cry out All the More
3. I Want to See

── Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》
 
The Persistent Widow (Lk 18:1-8)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. In Luke 18
we find two parables that deal with the subject of
 prayer...
 a. "The Persistent Widow" - Lk 18:1-8
 b. "The Pharisee And The Tax Collector" - Lk 18:9-14
 
2. This is not the first time Jesus used a parable to teaching
 concerning prayer...
 a. Remember "The Friend At Midnight"? - Lk 11:5-13
 b. In which Jesus taught the value of persistence in prayer?
 
3. Evidently the element of persistence in prayer was very important to
 Jesus...
 a. For that is also the theme of the first parable in Luke 18
 b. As the first verse reads: "Then He spoke a parable to them
that
 men always ought to pray and not lose heart..."
 
[Are we persistent in our prayers? Do we appreciate the value of such
persistence? Or have we lost heart and don't pray as we ought? Let's
see what we can glean from the parable of "The Persistent Widow"...]
 
I. THE PARABLE ITSELF
 
 A. THE CHARACTER OF THE JUDGE - Lk 18:2
 1. One who did not fear God nor regard man
 2. An unjust judge
for which this parable is sometimes known as
 "The Unjust Judge"
 
 B. THE DISTRESS OF THE WIDOW - Lk 18:3
 1. She has some adversary who has wronged her
 2. She seeks the aid of the judge to avenge her
 
 C. THE DIFFICULTY SHE FACED - Lk 18:4a
 1. The judge would not help her at first
 2. Repeated attempts seem to fall on deaf ears
 
 D. AT LAST THE JUDGE HEEDS HER COMPLAINT - Lk 18:4b-5
 1. Not out of any sense for what was right in the sight of God or
 man
 2. But only to avoid being wearied by her constant appeals
 
[Unlike many of the parables
we are not left on our own to determine
the point of this parable. Jesus Himself makes it clear as we 
consider...]
 
II. THE PARABLE APPLIED
 
 A. HEAR WHAT THE UNJUST JUDGE SAID...
 1. He was moved by the persistence of the widow
 2. Even when he was not moved by reverence for God or regard for
 man
 
 B. SHALL NOT GOD AVENGE HIS OWN ELECT?
 1. This is an argument from the lesser to the greater
 a. If an unjust judge will heed a persistence widow...
 b. ...how much more will a Just God heed His chosen people!
 2. Our assurance is even stronger when we note the following
 contrasts:
 
 The Widow  God's People
 a. A stranger a. His elect
1 Pe 2:9-10
 b. Only one b. We are many
 c. At a distance c. We can come boldly
He 4:15-16
 d. An unjust judge d. A righteous Father
 e. On her own e. God is for us
Ro 8:31-32
 f. Pleads her own case f. We have an Advocate
Ro 8:34
 g. No promise of an answer g. Promise given
Lk 18:8a
 h. Access limited h. Access unlimited (can pray to
 God anytime)
 i. Asking provoked judge i. Asking delights God
 
 3. If persistence paid off for the widow
how much more for God's
 elect who pray?
 
 C. GOD WILL AVENGE HIS ELECT!
 1. He may bear long with the prayers of His persecuted people...
 - Lk 18:7b
 a. For example
cf. Re 6:9-10
 b. His longsuffering may be to give the persecutors time to
 repent - 2 Pe 3:9
 2. But when His vengeance comes
it will come swiftly!
 a. There is a Day coming in which God will take vengeance 
 - cf. 2 Th 1:7-9
 b. And when it comes
there will be "sudden destruction" with
 no way of escape - cf. 1 Th 5:1-3
 
 D. BUT WILL THERE BE FAITH ON THE EARTH WHEN HE COMES?
 1. The Lord will come
avenging His elect
 2. But His delay may prompt some to lose faith (implying lack of
 prayer is indicative of a lack of faith!)
 3. The Lord's concern over this matter is what prompts this
 parable!
 a. That men always ought to pray
 b. That men not lose heart
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. Have you begun to lose heart? Has your faith weakened?
 a. The state of your "prayer life" reveals the true condition of 
 your faith!
 b. If you do not pray "always" (cf. "without ceasing" 1 Th 5:17)

 your faith is waning!
 
2. But the Lord has given us reason to believe in the power of prayer
 in this parable...
 a. Especially when we are persecuted for the cause of Christ
 b. For we do not serve an unjust judge
but a God who has made us
 His elect people!
 
May this parable of "The Persistent Widow"
along with "The Friend At
Midnight"
encourage us never to lose heart and stop praying!

The Pharisee And The Tax Collector (Lk 18:9-14)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. We've noted that in Luke 18
there are two parables that deal with
 the subject of prayer...
 a. "The Persistent Widow" - Lk 18:1-8
 b. "The Pharisee And The Tax Collector" - Lk 18:9-14
 
2. In "The Persistent Widow"...
 a. Jesus encouraged us to "pray and not lose heart" - Lk 18:1
 b. He taught the value of persevering in prayer
 
3. In the parable before us now
known as "The Pharisee And The 
 Tax-Collector"...
 a. Jesus illustrated the spirit that ought to pervade our prayers
 b. He teaches us how and in what manner we ought to pray to be heard
 by God - Lk 18:14
 
[Without the proper spirit
our perseverance in prayer will be for 
nothing. This second parable on prayer is therefore very important

and worthy of our consideration as we begin with...]
 
I. THE PARABLE ANALYZED
 
 A. IT IS ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT MEN...
 1. They both go to the temple to pray - Lk 18:10
 2. One is a Pharisee
the other a tax-collector
 a. Pharisees were a religious sect
noted for their strict
 observance of the Law and the traditions of the elders
 b. Tax-collectors were consider by the Pharisees to be
 extortioners and traitors
  1) Extortioners
because they collected more than was
 required
for personal gain
 2) Traitors
because while Jews they represented an 
 occupying power (Rome)
 
 B. IT IS ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT PRAYERS...
 1. The prayer of the Pharisee - Lk 18:11-12
 a. He thanks God that he is not like others
 1) Especially extortioners
unjust
adulterers
 2) or even the tax collector nearby
 -- Thus he reveals his disdain for others - cf. Lk 18:9
 b. He recounts his good deeds
 1) "I fast twice a week" - the Law required only an annual
 fast - Lev 16:29
 2) "I give tithes of all that I possess." - The Law 
 required only a tithe on certain items; this man gave 
 tithes on ALL he possessed - cf. Deu 14:22-23
 -- Thus he reveals how he trusted in his self-righteousness
 - cf. Lk 18:9
 2. The prayer of the tax collector - Lk 18:13
  a. He expressed his repentance and humility in what he did
 1) He stood "afar off"
 2) He would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven 
 (lifting one's eyes to heaven was a common posture for
 prayer at that time)
 3) He beat his breast in anguish over his sins
 b. He expressed his repentance and humility in what he said
 1) Calling himself a sinner
 2) Pleading God for mercy
 
 C. IT IS ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT RESULTS...
 1. The tax collector goes home "justified" - Lk 18:14a
 a. The term as used in the forensic sense means "not guilty!"
 b. He had received that wonderful blessedness described by
 David - cf. Ps 32:1-2
 2. The Pharisee also goes home...with nothing!
 a. He might as well stayed home
 b. The most he might have gotten was the reward of being seen
 by men - cf. Mt 6:5
 
[The meaning and purpose of this parable are very clear
both from the
introductory statement by Jesus in Lk 18:9
and the concluding remark
in Lk 18:14...
 
 "for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled
and he who 
 humbles himself will be exalted."
 
But to reinforce the point
here are a few thoughts relating to...]
 
II. THE PARABLE APPLIED
 
 A. JESUS WARNS AGAINST SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS...
 1. The Pharisee trusted in his own good works
but it was to no
 avail
 2. He should have recalled the words of Isaiah - cf. Isa 64:6
 3. We should remember the words of Jesus and Paul - cf. Lk 17:10;
 Ep 2:8-10; Ti 3:3-5
 
 B. JESUS WARNS AGAINST ARROGANCE...
 1. The Pharisee despised others
including the tax collector
 2. He should have recalled the words of Solomon - cf. Pr 8:13;
  16:18; 29:23
 3. We should remember the words of Jesus and James - cf. Lk 14:
 11; Ja 2:1-9
 
 C. JESUS TEACHES THE VALUE OF HUMILITY...
 1. He had taught the value of humility before others in the 
 parable of "Taking The Lowest Place" - Lk 14:7-11
 2. Now He teaches the value of humility before God!
 a. An important principle espoused in Isaiah - Isa 57:15;
 66:1-2
 b. And extolled by Mary His mother in "The Magnificat" - cf. 
 Lk 1:46-55
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. In this parable of "The Pharisee And The Tax Collector"
we have
 seen...
 a. The Pharisee pray as one who needed no forgiveness
and got none
 b. The tax collector pray as one needed forgiveness
and he received
 it
 
2. Do we need forgiveness
even as Jesus' disciples?
 a. Of course we do! - cf. 1 Jn 1:8-10
 b. Then let us pray with the humility of the tax collector
who
 prayed like the man after God's own heart (David)...
 
 "Have mercy upon me
O God
According to Your lovingkindness;
 According to the multitude of Your tender mercies

 Blot out my transgressions.
 "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
 For I acknowledge my transgressions

 And my sin is always before me.
 
 - Psa 51:1-3
 
Let us not trust in our own righteousness
but in the mercy and
lovingkindness of God offered so abundantly in His Son Jesus Christ!
As the beloved disciple wrote in his first epistle:
 
 "And if anyone sins
we have an Advocate with the Father
Jesus
 Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for
 our sins
and not for ours only but also for the whole world."
 
  - 1 Jn 2:1b-2

－－《Executable Outlines》