Jesus begins this parable by comparing two men who both went to the temple to pray. What a picture of the Pharisaic character and religion! People are often blind to their sins. 18:15-17. Luke 18 The Parable of the Dishonest Manager 16 He also said to the disciples , “ There was a rich man who had j a manager , and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions . faint--lose heart, or slacken. Unless therefore we are to ascribe captiousness to our Lord, He could have had but one object--to raise the youth's ideas of Himself, as not to be classed merely with other "good masters," and declining to receive this title apart from the "One" who is essentially and only "good." Luke 18:19 It was near the end of our Lord’s ministry, and the clouds were darkening down. This free Bible study guide will help you understand what you're reading. "All these have I kept," left all--"The workmen's little is as much his "all" as the prince's much" [BENGEL]. Our Lord was Himself the first to exemplify this new adjustment of His own relationships. (Luk 18:15-17) Jesus uses children as examples of humility. In the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8), a poor, powerless person (the widow) persists in nagging a corrupt, powerful person (the judge) to do justice for her. . How shall it fare with us? We can easily fall into the helpless category where we do not trust the Lord (Luke 19:1-8) or have a lot of confidence but in the wrong place–in this case it was by comparing the things he did with others. 41-43. But Jesus--"much displeased," says Mark ( Mark 10:14 ); and invaluable addition. We don’t know if his authority was in the world of politics or in the world of religion. What wilt thou, &c.--to try them; to deepen their present consciousness of need; and to draw out their faith in Him. (2) But restless notwithstanding, his heart craves eternal life. Luke, a doctor and a Greek Christian, wrote it circa 59-61 A.D. There is no man, &c.--graciously acknowledging at once the completeness and the acceptableness of the surrender as a thing already made. THE CONTEXT In 17:20-37, Jesus taught the disciples about the coming of the kingdom. LUKE 18:1. THE NEED TO PRAY AND NOT TO GIVE UP. There may therefore, be some allusion to this here, though not likely. How hardly, &c.--with what difficulty. 13. standing afar off--as unworthy to draw near; but that was the way to get near ( Psalms 34:18 , Isaiah 57:15 ). "Then," says Mark ( Mark 10:21 ), "Jesus beholding him loved him," or "looked lovingly upon him." 4 For some time he refused. Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge teaches persistence, faith, and prayer, with a promise of God's ultimate justice; 18:9-14. It is the third of the synoptic gospels. What words are these from the lips of Christ! Luke 18:31-34 . [Questions on the text are here.] It is surely not to be conceived that all our Lord meant was to inform us, that seeing grown people must become childlike in order to be capable of the Kingdom of God, therefore they should not hinder infants from coming to Him, and therefore He took up and blessed the infants themselves. From verse 35 the great transition draws near historically. would not lift up--blushing and ashamed to do so ( Ezra 9:6 ). Thus, besides doing all his duty, he did works of supererogation; while sins to confess and spiritual wants to be supplied he seems to have felt none. The Rich and the Kingdom of God (). (Compare Proverbs 29:1 .) Salem Media Group. 20. "Wealth" is Greek plousios, "pertaining to having an abundance of earthly possessions that exceeds normal experience, rich, wealthy." but the persecution would haply follow them into their new and higher circle, breaking that up too! His ministrations were for grown people. After a long struggle between their convictions and their corruptions, their corruptions carry the day. He often would slip away from the crowds into the wilderness where He would pray (5:16). And though He took the irresistible opportunity of lowering their pride of reason, by informing them that, in order to enter the Kingdom, "instead of the children first becoming like them, they must themselves become like the children" [RICHTER in STIER], this was but by the way; and, returning to the children themselves, He took them up in His gracious arms, put His hands upon them and blessed them, for no conceivable reason but to show that they were thereby made capable, AS INFANTS, of the Kingdom of God. adds Matthew ( Matthew 19:20 ). Our Lord purposely confines Himself to the second table, which He would consider easy to keep, enumerating them all--for in Mark ( Mark 10:19 ), "Defraud not" stands for the tenth (else the eighth is twice repeated). 26, 27. ( Acts 10:47 ). For, &c.--"At that rate none can be saved": "Well, it does pass human power, but not divine.". In Luke 18:1, just after the apocalyptic discourse in Luke 17, the point is obviously that, with a view to the end, the disciples should not grow slack in prayer. 18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. Get a detailed summary of Chapter 18:1-17 in Gospel of Luke. This case presents some remarkable points. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' Luke 18:18-30. persecutions"; for how could such a transfer take place without the most cruel wrenches to flesh and blood? But these are only his moral excellencies. His religious merits complete his grounds for congratulation. Nevertheless, &c.--that is, Yet ere the Son of man comes to redress the wrongs of His Church, so low will the hope of relief sink, through the length of the delay, that one will be fain to ask, Will He find any faith of a coming avenger left on the earth? He saith unto him, Which--as if he had said, Point me out one of them which I have not kept?--"Jesus said, Thou shalt," &c. ( Matthew 19:17 Matthew 19:18 ). THE RICH YOUNG RULER AND DISCOURSE THEREON. To join or to confess Him would cost something, and this ruler hesitated until his opportunity was almost gone, until Christ was in the act of leaving the district, which was the tract beyond the Jordan, for the last time. (1) The man was of irreproachable moral character; and this amidst all the temptations of youth, for he was a "young man" ( Matthew 19:22), and wealth, for "he was very rich" ( Luke 18:23, 10:22). Luke Summary by Jay Smith. 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. A large chunk of Luke's gospel (9:51-19:28) is a play-by-play account of what Jesus says and does during this journey. (1) The man was of irreproachable moral character; and this amidst all the temptations of youth, for he was a "young man" ( Matthew 19:22 ), and wealth, for "he was very rich" ( Luke 18:23 , 10:22 ). FULLER ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS APPROACHING DEATH AND RESURRECTION. The Pharisee says, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. “No one is good—except God alone. be merciful--"be propitiated," a very unusual word in such a sense, only once else used in the New Testament, in the sense of "making reconciliation" by sacrifice ( Hebrews 2:17 ). Biblical Commentary (Bible study) Luke 18:9-14 EXEGESIS: LUKE 17:20 - 18:30. He spent the whole night in prayer before He called the twelve (6:12). As verse 9 tells us, Jesus spoke this parable to those who “trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others” (NKJV). “Son of David”: An affirmation that he recognized Jesus as the Messiah and King. cry day and night--whose every cry enters into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth ( James 5:4 ), and how much more their incessant and persevering cries! Answer: The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in the Temple (Luke 18:9-14) is rich with spiritual truth. This blind man was not deaf and he had heard, too. . It was while He was praying that Peter gave his well-known confession that Jesus is the Christ (9:18). The parable of the Pharisee and publican, designed to teach us humility, and humiliation for sin, in prayer, Luke 18:9-14. V 31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. We have here the blessed promise of a reconstruction of all human relationships and affections on a Christian basis and in a Christian state, after being sacrificed, in their natural form, on the altar of love to Christ. He was the most humble man that ever lived, and not only a servant, but the lowest slave. 15. infants--showing that some, at least, of those called in Matthew ( Matthew 19:13 ) and Mark ( Mark 10:13 ) simply "little" or "young children," were literally "babes." Carole 17 Sep 2018, 12:00. When Riches or Heaven, on Christ's terms, were the alternative, the result showed to which side the balance inclined. Now a certain ruler: This man is commonly known as the rich young ruler, because he is described as a ruler (Luke 18:18), as rich (Luke 18:23), and as young (Matthew 19:22). And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor … In fact, it contains the very essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ. A Summary (Luke 18:9-14) People tend to have two extremes. If even a scoundrel like the judge can finally be moved to grant justice, how much more likely will God bring justice to … 2. feared not . No general direction about the disposal of riches, then, is here given, save that we are to sit loose to them and lay them at the feet of Him who gave them. He was not only blind, but poor, the fitter emblem of the world of mankind which Christ came to heal and save. Prayer is important in Luke’s Gospel. He felt something beyond this to be necessary; after keeping all the commandments he was at a loss to know what that could be; and he came to Jesus just upon that point. 14. rather than the other--The meaning is, "and not the other"; for the Pharisee was not seeking justification, and felt no need of it. This case presents some remarkable points. Ah! one thing--Ah! for the kingdom of God's sake--in Mark ( Mark 10:29 ), "for MY sake, 30. manifold more in this present time--in Matthew ( Matthew 19:29 ) "an hundredfold," to which Mark ( Mark 10:30 ) gives this most interesting addition, "Now in this present time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions." Perhaps, if we knew all the facts, we should see no difficulty; but that we have been left so far in the dark shows that the thing is of no moment any way. The emphasis of Luke is Parables and contains more of them than any other Gospel (19 total). . But in Matthew ( Matthew 19:28 ) this is prefaced by a special promise to the Twelve: "Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed Me in the Regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." touch them--or, as more fully in Matthew ( Matthew 19:13 ), "put His hands on them and pray," or invoke a "blessing" on them ( Mark 10:16 ), according to venerable custom ( Genesis 48:14 Genesis 48:15 ). 31. all written by the prophets concerning the Son of man . Luke 18:1-8 – A Widow and an Unjust Judge Summary. This great law of the Kingdom of God is, in the teaching of Christ, inscribed, as in letters of gold, over its entrance gate. LITTLE CHILDREN BROUGHT TO CHRIST. The book of Luke is a Gospel that contains Narrative History, Genealogy, Sermons, Parables, and some Prophetic Oracles. Now, in four vignettes—two parables (18:1-8 and 18:9-14) and two stories (18:15-17 and 18:18-30)—Jesus begins to show the disciples what kingdom life is like. Luke 18:37 "And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by." smote, &c.--kept smiting; for anguish ( Luke 23:48 ), and self-reproach ( Jeremiah 31:19 ). But Jesus focuses the parable on a different point, that we are to pray … 21. Lo, &c.--in the simplicity of his heart (as is evident from the reply), conscious that the required surrender had been made, and generously taking in his brethren with him--"we"; not in the spirit of the young ruler. 2 He said: 'In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. Here are my notes on this text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: We’ve been following Jesus through the gospel of Luke, as he makes his way through “Luke… THE RICH YOUNG RULER AND DISCOURSE THEREON. Your email address will not be published. PARABLE OF THE IMPORTUNATE WIDOW. Article Images Copyright © 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. PARABLE OF THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN. These promises are for every one who forsakes his all for Christ. Everyone by this time had heard of the miracles Jesus had done. 23-25. was very sorrowful--Matthew ( Matthew 19:22 ) more fully, "went away sorrowful"; Mark still more, "was sad" or "sullen" at that saying, and "went away grieved." He prayed as the Holy Spirit descended on Him at His baptism (Luke 3:21). neither regarded--defying the vengeance of God and despising the opinion of men. A Summary (Luke 18:18-27) Jesus not only attacks (1) the notion that anyone is naturally good enough for the kingdom of God but also (2) exposes the deep roots that sins have in the lives of every person. 24. when Jesus saw--Mark says ( Mark 3:34 ), He "looked round about"--as if first following the departing youth with His eye--"and saith unto His disciples." In Matthew ( Matthew 19:27 ) he adds, "What shall we have therefore?" 29. Was it not just the grave mistake of the disciples that infants should not be brought to Christ, because only grown people could profit by Him, which "much displeased" our Lord? a sinner--literally, "the sinner"; that is, "If ever there was one, I am he.". Thus was he shown to lack the one all-comprehensive requirement of the law--the absolute subjection of the heart to God, and this want vitiated all his other obediences. Jesus tells a parable about a persistent widow who demands justice from an unjust judge. of 775 Luke 18:23 tells us "he was a man of great wealth." See Luke 18:5 , "her continual coming." Luke 18:15-17 . Why, &c.--Did our Lord mean then to teach that God only ought to be called "good?" widow--weak, desolate, defenseless ( 1 Timothy 5:5 , which is taken from this). This indeed is but distantly hinted; but unless this is seen in the background of our Lord's words, nothing worthy of Him can be made out of them. Luke 18:1-8 . Luke 18:38 "And he cried, saying, Jesus, [thou] son of David, have mercy on me." 18:1-8. . All these, &c.--"what lack I yet?" . Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. Both parables have to do with prayer. (Hence, Socinianism, instead of having any support here, is only baffled by it). The prayer of faith, guided by Christ's encouraging promises, and grounded on them, shall not be in vain. 8. speedily--as if pained at the long delay, impatient for the destined moment to interpose. But the application of the parable to prayer in general is so obvious as to have nearly hidden its more direct reference, and so precious that one cannot allow it to disappear in any public and historical interpretation. But the reason assigned, "FOR OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD," or "of heaven," as in Matthew 19:14 , completes the previous information here conveyed; especially as interpreted by what immediately follows: "AND HE TOOK THEM UP IN HIS ARMS, PUT HIS HANDS UPON THEM, AND BLESSED THEM" ( Mark 10:16 ). Such, therefore, and such only, are the justified ones ( Job 33:27 Job 33:28 , Psalms 34:18 , Isaiah 57:15 ). Here, it is plain from our Lord's reply, that they thought the intrusion a useless one, as infants were not capable of receiving anything from Him. Bible / Our Library / Bible Commentaries / Wesley's Explanatory Notes / Luke / Luke 18; Share Tweet. . 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to … Many ways of accounting for these slight divergences of detail have been proposed. Gospel of Luke always pray and not only blind, but the persecution would haply follow them into their and. 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