LUKE CHAPTER 18 NIV
This chapter primarily concerns three topics: prayer, humility, and discipleship
1. Often times we pray, but lose confidence because our petitions are not answered on time scales desirable to us. When praying, one must remember to pray with good intentions. If the prayer is a “going through the motions” process, it is unlikely that God will respond with an answer that we desire. Prayer should be an act of mercy, humility, confidence, and trust in God’s will. It’s easy to doubt prayer because God typically works inconspicuously and on time scales which test our patience. However, we cannot lose heart. Perseverance is underscored on numerous occasions in the Bible. If one prays in harmony with God’s will – God will answer you.
2. On the subject of humility, note the difference between the Pharisees’ prayer and the tax collector’s prayer. The Pharisee prays to God, but worships himself, by directing the focus INWARD via usage of the word, “I,” and emphasizing things he has done in order to please God – but in reality, only pleasing himself. Reflect on the tone, structure, and intentions of your prayers. If the prayer has an “inward focus” (toward oneself) – that won’t please God. That’s not a prayer. It’s prideful self-worship masquerading as a prayer. The tax collector prayed with humility and mercy. He recognized the TRUTH of who he was – this is humility, recognizing ourselves as we are, not an image of ourselves greater than we are. Further, the tax collector focuses his prayer OUTWARD toward God.
Remember: if you compare yourself to others, you’ll always “find” someone worse. Jesus should be the “barometer” of our own behavior. In this way, humility will be forever instilled in us, as we strive to attain that which we can never achieve – Jesus’ perfection!
3. Finally, God calls us to have child-like disposition in our receipt of God’s kingdom. Let’s not pretend we don’t need God, or do things to try to make ourselves “worthy” of it. Simply accept Jesus as a child would.
Luke 18
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
18 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor [a]regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, [b]‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will [c]avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be [d]humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus Blesses Little Children
15 Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler
18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
With God All Things Are Possible
24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”26 And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”27 But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
28 Then Peter said, “See, we have left [e]all and followed You.”29 So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection
31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be [f]accomplished. 32 For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.33 They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”34 But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.
A Blind Man Receives His Sight
35 Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. 36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. 37 So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”39 Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”40 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, 41 saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?”He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.