Luke18

Jesus teaches on persistent prayer through the parable of the unjust judge and on humility through the parable of the Pharisee and publican. He welcomes children, stating that the Kingdom of God belongs to such. Jesus challenges a rich ruler to forsake his possessions for eternal life, foretells his own suffering, and heals a blind man whose faith saves him.

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

1
Then Yeshua told his talmidim a parable, in order to impress on them that they must always keep praying and not lose heart. ​
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“In a certain town, there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected other people. ​
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There was also in that town a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me a judgment against the man who is trying to ruin me.’ ​
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For a long time he refused; but after awhile, he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God, and I don’t respect other people;
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but because this widow is such a nudnik, I will see to it that she gets justice — otherwise, she’ll keep coming and pestering me till she wears me out!’”
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Then the Lord commented, “Notice what this corrupt judge says.
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Now won’t God grant justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Is he delaying long over them? ​
8
I tell you that he will judge in their favor, and quickly! But when the Son of Man comes, will he find this trust on the earth at all?” ​

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9
Also, to some who were relying on their own righteousness and looking down on everyone else, he told this parable: ​
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“Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Parush and the other a tax-collector.
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The Parush stood and prayed to himself, ‘O God! I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, immoral, or like this tax-collector! ​
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I fast twice a week, I pay tithes on my entire income, . . . ’
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But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes toward heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God! Have mercy on me, sinner that I am!’ ​
14
I tell you, this man went down to his home right with God rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.” ​

Jesus Welcomes the Children

15
People brought him babies to touch; but when the talmidim saw the people doing this, they rebuked them. ​
16
However, Yeshua called the children to him and said, “Let the children come to me, and stop hindering them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
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Yes! I tell you that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will not enter it at all!” ​

The Rich Ruler and Eternal Life

18
One of the leaders asked him, “Good rabbi, what should I do to obtain eternal life?” ​
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Yeshua said to him, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good but God! ​
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You know the mitzvot — ‘Don’t commit adultery, don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t give false testimony, honor your father and mother, . . .’”
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He replied, “I have kept all these since I was a boy.”
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On hearing this Yeshua said to him, “There is one thing you still lack. Sell whatever you have, distribute the proceeds to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me!” ​
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But when the man heard this, he became very sad, because he was very rich.
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Yeshua looked at him and said, “How hard it is for people with wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!
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It’s easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God!” ​
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Those who heard this asked, “Then who can be saved?”
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He said, “What is impossible humanly is possible with God.” ​
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Kefa said, “Look, we have left our homes and followed you.”
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Yeshua answered them, “Yes! I tell you that everyone who has left house, wife, brothers, parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
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will receive many times as much in the ‘olam hazeh, and in the ‘olam haba eternal life.”

Jesus Predicts His Suffering and Resurrection

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Then, taking the Twelve, Yeshua said to them, “We are now going up to Yerushalayim, where everything written through the prophets about the Son of Man will come true. ​
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For he will be handed over to the Goyim and be ridiculed, insulted and spat upon.
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Then, after they have beaten him, they will kill him. But on the third day he will rise.”
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However, they understood none of this; its meaning had been hidden from them, and they had no idea what he was talking about. ​

Healing the Blind Man near Jericho

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As Yeshua approached Yericho, a blind man was sitting by the road, begging. ​
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When he heard the crowd going past, he asked what it was all about;
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and they told him, “Yeshua from Natzeret is passing by.”
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He called out, “Yeshua! Son of David! Have pity on me!” ​
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Those in front scolded him in order to get him to shut up, but he shouted all the louder, “Son of David! Have pity on me!”
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Yeshua stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he had come, Yeshua asked him,
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“What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Lord, let me be able to see.”
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Yeshua said to him, “See again! your trust has healed you!” ​
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Instantly he received his sight and began following him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they too praised God.

Study Notes for Luke 18

Verse 1

This verse states the central purpose of the parable: to teach the necessity of enduring prayer and perseverance, specifically in the face of delay or perceived injustice.

Verse 2

The judge is characterized by moral depravity, representing the antithesis of God. This contrast highlights that if even an unjust judge responds to persistence, how much more will the righteous God respond.

Verse 3

Widows were among the most vulnerable members of first-century society, emphasizing her total lack of power and her desperate need for justice.

Verse 7

A strong assurance of divine intervention. God will certainly vindicate His 'elect' (those chosen by Him), though He may 'bear long' (act patiently) before the final judgment.

Verse 8

The question challenges the disciples regarding the nature of faith required for the end times. Speedily refers to the certainty of vindication, though the timing may seem delayed to believers.

Verse 9

This parable is addressed specifically to those who rely on their own religious performance while looking down on others, addressing the sin of spiritual pride.

Verse 11

The Pharisee’s prayer is self-congratulatory rather than a plea for God’s grace. The phrase 'prayed thus with himself' suggests his words were for his own benefit, not truly directed toward God.

Verse 13

The publican (tax collector) displays true humility and repentance. Smoting the breast was a physical expression of deep grief and contrition over sin.

Verse 14

Justified means to be declared righteous by God. This man was accepted because he humbly sought mercy, demonstrating that justification comes through dependence on God, not religious merit.

Verse 15

Bringing infants to Jesus was likely for a blessing or prayer. The disciples’ rebuke reflects a common view that Jesus should not be bothered with matters considered trivial.

Verse 17

Entering the kingdom requires the attitude of a child: complete trust, dependence, and lack of pretense or self-sufficiency.

Verse 18

This man was a 'ruler,' indicating high status, wealth, and authority. His question shows genuine concern for achieving eternal life through personal effort.

Verse 19

Jesus challenges the ruler’s premise, forcing him to consider whether he recognizes Jesus' true divine nature, or simply views him as a human teacher.

Verse 22

Jesus confronts the ruler’s true obstacle: his wealth. The command to 'sell all' was a specific test revealing his idolatry, not a universal requirement for salvation.

Verse 25

This hyperbole emphasizes the extreme difficulty for those who rely on their earthly riches, treating them as a form of security, to enter the kingdom.

Verse 27

This key theological statement affirms that salvation is not a human achievement but a gift made possible only by the sovereign power of God.

Verse 31

This is the third and most detailed of Jesus’ predictions of the Passion in Luke, emphasizing that His suffering fulfills the divine plan laid out by the prophets.

Verse 34

The disciples were blinded by their expectation of a conquering, political Messiah. Their failure to understand demonstrates the profound spiritual nature of Jesus' mission.

Verse 35

This miracle occurs as Jesus approaches Jericho on His final journey to Jerusalem, serving as a powerful demonstration of His messianic authority just before His entrance into the city.

Verse 38

Calling Jesus 'Son of David' is a clear declaration of faith in His messianic identity, recognizing Him as the promised King of Israel.

Verse 42

Jesus attributes the healing to the man’s faith. The term 'saved' (Greek: *sesōken*) implies both physical healing and spiritual restoration.

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