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

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He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up, ​
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saying, “There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God, and didn’t respect man. ​
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A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my adversary!’ ​
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He wouldn’t for a while, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God, nor respect man,
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yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.’”
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The Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.
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Won’t God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them? ​
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I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” ​

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

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He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others. ​
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“Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
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The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ​
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I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’
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But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ​
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I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” ​

Jesus Welcomes the Children

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They were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. ​
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Yeshua summoned them, saying, “Allow the little children to come to me, and don’t hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
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Most certainly, I tell you, whoever doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.” ​

The Rich Ruler and Eternal Life

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A certain ruler asked him, saying, “Good Rabbi, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” ​
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Yeshua asked him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one—God. ​
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You know the commandments: ‘Don’t commit adultery,’ ‘Don’t murder,’ ‘Don’t steal,’ ‘Don’t give false testimony,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”
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He said, “I have observed all these things from my youth up.”
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When Yeshua heard these things, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Come, follow me.” ​
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But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.
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Yeshua, seeing that he became very sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God!
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For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.” ​
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Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”
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But he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” ​
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Peter said, “Look, we have left everything, and followed you.”
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He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the Kingdom of God’s sake,
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who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life.”

Jesus Predicts His Suffering and Resurrection

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He took the twelve aside, and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed. ​
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For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on.
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They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again.”
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They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn’t understand the things that were said. ​

Healing the Blind Man near Jericho

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As he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging. ​
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Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.
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They told him that Yeshua of Nazareth was passing by.
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He cried out, “Yeshua, you son of David, have mercy on me!” ​
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Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!”
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Standing still, Yeshua commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him,
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“What do you want me to do?” He said, “Lord, that I may see again.”
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Yeshua said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.” ​
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Immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, 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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