Luke 18

Summary. In this chapter all believers can see plainly regarding the heart of the beloved Son of God for humans. Regardless of what situation you are in, if you have faith and trust in Him, His mercy will pour on you; the mercy that you do not need to pay for, but only must give your heart and have faith, and the mercy will come upon you, no judging and no charge of your wealth of this earth, just have a clean heart and faith which is more valuable than any treasure of this earth. Luke 18:1-8. The parable of the persistent widow. Jesus gives this parable for all to think about: when the Son of God comes on the earth, will He find anyone persistent in praying and begging for His mercy as this woman did to that judge. Luke 18:9-11. The Pharisee and the tax collector praying. We are all sinners and the Lord gives this parable, so we think about this tax collector's actions who was humble physically and spiritually towards God; all humans should take him as an example. Luke 18:15-17. Jesus receives the little children. Jesus teaches us that we must receive the kingdom of God like a little child in order to enter into it. Luke 18:18-30. The rich ruler seeks advise from Jesus. Jesus teaches about the Trinity, He is God andeveryone has a choice to embrace, regardless rich or poor, the treasure in heaven cannot be compared, the riches of this earth do not last, but the treasure of heaven is for eternity. Luke 18:31-34. Jesus foretells His death to His disciples. The beloved Son of God knows very well what will happen to Him, but in His own willingness, He will go to Jerusalem to make all things done according to the Father's will to save humans. Luke 18:35-43. Jesus heals a blind beggar. Jesus has mercy on all, He shows His power over the sickness and gives sight to this blind man, and all the people, having seen it, gave praise to God.

[1] And He spoke a parable to them about that they ought always to pray, and not to lose heart;

Comments Luke 18:1 The beloved Son of God wants all humans to understand, prayer is important and when the verse has told not to lose heart, if you pray, your faith will be stronger, and in the same way, if you do not keep yourself in prayer your heart will wither in faith, and you cannot even find your own thought.

[2] saying, There was a certain judge in a certain city, fearing not God, and respecting not man;

Comments Luke 18:2 Read carefully what the verse has told, this man has a position on this earth, but has no fear of God, even he himself knows his position is from the Lord Himself, besides that he did not care or pay attention to any fellow human around him, that tells plainly how this man is for this earth; his end will not be good, not the end of this life on this earth but the end of life in the hand of the Lord as well.

[3] and there was a widow in that city; and she was coming to him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

Comments Luke 18:3 In this parable the Lord wants to point out, this woman, a widow that has no one to protect, but has put her trust in man, and expects man to help her, but also pay attention, she has come to man not to God to beg for mercy.
"Avenge me of mine adversary". She expects the man to avenge her, but she forgot to think if the man will avenge justly for her or not, when she knows already, the true one who can avenge her fairly, but she did not come to that one.

[4] And he would not for a while, but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor respect man;

[5] yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest she wears me out by her continual coming.

Comments Luke 18:4-5 All readers can notice plainly the type of man she is seeking help from, no fear of God nor respect of man, but give attention to how persistent she is, even she did not get any help yet, but her continual doing had worn the evil man out. But, come to the right one the Most-High God to ask for help, if you are persistent how much the Lord of your life will help you and give you justice.

[6] And the Lord said, Hear what the unrighteous judge says.

Comments Luke 18:6 All readers should pay attention, the Lord God Most High hears everything that humans say and here is the place that the Lord wants all readers to see.

[7] And shall not God avenge His elect, that cry to Him day and night, and be deferring in regard to them?

Comments Luke 18:7 This verse has told all believers plainly, if you come and beg to the Lord your God, day and night, will He not help you? But the help is not in going and killing people for you, pay attention to this parable's ending.

[8] I say to you, that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?

Comments Luke 18:8 "I say to you, that He will avenge them speedily". If you are persistent in begging, the Lord of life will grant you mercy, and He will avenge for you, just do not give up in praying and begging for His mercy and justice.
"Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" The Lord of life has given this example for all to think about: when the Son of God comes on the earth, will He find anyone persistent in praying and begging for His mercy as this woman did to that judge? These two parallels link together.

[9] And He spoke also to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised the others, this parable:

Comments Luke 18:9 Among all listeners there will be some that this parable will talk straight, not just to their hearts but also rebuking their actions as well.

[10] Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector.

Comments Luke 18:10 These are two types of people, each one is completely opposite to each other, opposite in both, work and heart in worshiping the Lord.

[11] The Pharisee stood and prayed thus by himself, God, I thank Thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.

Comments Luke 18:11 Now we can notice in this verse, one that considers themselves holy, had put another one which he himself believes is a true sinner, and he had lifted himself to God, as he is the best of all, does good not only physically, but also with giving thanks to the Lord, but he has forgotten that the tax collector also is a child of God as well, and who are you to put the children as not worthy; his mistake is here, he is not a judge, there is only one judge of all the universe, God the Father Himself, not humans who believe themselves to be holy.

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

Comments Luke 18:12 Let all readers notice this, this man has believed in his good deeds. He is fasting two times a week, but did he make fast of his heart by worshiping the Lord with love and thankfulness, or just only wants to point out his action, and tell out to God, see what I am doing, I deserve all rewards, this is what this man's intention is.

[13] But the tax collector, standing afar off, was not willing not even to lift up the eyes to heaven, but was striking his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, the sinner!

Comments Luke 18:13a Think of this sinner's actions, humble man, humble in physical and spiritual, he believed himself is not worthy to look up to heaven, be humble more than most humble people could be, also he begged the Lord of life to be merciful to him; all humans should take him as an example.

Comments Luke 18:13b Striking his breast in this place is not a physical action, but he has rebuked his own soul to be humble to the Lord more than what he thought he could do, to make the Lord see that he is not worthy, but by being humble in this way, he already has shown to the Lord how humble he is, and he recognized himself as a sinner; all he wants from the Lord is mercy. All humans should learn from this verse, beg for mercy, but not beg for favor, that the Lord should do something for being humble.

[14] I say to you, This man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone that exalts himself shall be humbled; but the one that humbles himself shall be exalted.

Comments Luke 18:14a When the Lord has told justified more than the other, at the same time He did tell all readers plainly, the Lord has lifted this sinner to be righteous, what more any human would want to be, be lifted by man or by God Himself, all should think about this.

Comments Luke 18:14b When the verse has told exalts himself, here is the proof of this man, the Pharisee, he has lifted up himself, by his own judgement he sees that he himself is worthy above all.

[15] And they were bringing to Him also the infants, that He might touch them; but the disciples having seen rebuked them.

Comments Luke 18:15 For verses 15 to 17 see Comments Matthew 19:13-15 and Comments Mark 10:13-16.

[16] But Jesus called them to Him, saying, Allow the little children to come to Me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.

[17] Truly I say to you, Whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall in no way enter into it.

[18] And a certain ruler asked Him, saying, good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Comments Luke 18:18 For verses 18-23 see Comments Matthew 19:16-22 and Comments Mark 10:17-22.

[19] And Jesus said to him, Why call you Me good? none is good, except One - God.

[20] You know the commandments, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, you shall honor your father and mother.

[21] And he said, All these I have kept from my youth.

[22] Then having heard, Jesus said to him, Still one thing you lack: as much as you have sell, and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in eternity; and come, follow Me.

Comments Luke 18:22 Q: Why did the Lord tell this man to sell all that he has and not just a portion? A: The Lord always makes the difference to the true heart of a person. If a person has much love for the treasure of this earth, then he is better off to have none and be saved. Here the Lord gives a choice to choose, everyone has a choice to embrace, regardless rich or poor, the treasure in heaven cannot be compared, the riches of this earth do not last, but the treasure of heaven is for eternity.

[23] But when he heard these things, he became very sorrowful; for he was exceedingly rich.

[24] Then Jesus having seen him become sorrowful, said, With difficulty those having riches shall enter into the kingdom of God!

Comments Luke 18:24 For verses 24 to 30 see Comments Matthew 19:23-30 and Comments Mark 10:23-31.

[25] For it is easier for a camel to enter through an eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

[26] And those who heard said, Then who can be saved?

[27] But He said, The things which are impossible with people are possible with God.

[28] And Peter said, Behold, we have left our own, and followed Thee.

[29] And He said to them, Truly I say to you, There is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,

[30] who shall not receive manifold more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.

[31] And taking aside the twelve, He said to them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.

Comments Luke 18:31 For verses 31 to 33 see also Comments Matthew 20:17-19 and Comments Mark 10:32-34. The verse tells all readers, the beloved Son of God knows very well what will happen to Him, but in His own willingness, He will go to Jerusalem to make all things done according to the Father's will to save humans.

[32] For He will be delivered up to the Gentiles, and will be mocked, and will be shamefully treated, and will be spit upon;

Comments Luke 18:32 In Matthew 20:18-19 we have "and the Son of Man shall be delivered to the chief priests and scribes; and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles ..."
Also, remember who is the ruler of the people at that time; in order to be delivered to the people, first He must be given into the hands of the ruler of earth, and they will make the gentiles do their will to the beloved Son of God, in order for them to not feel guilty towards God, because they are not the ones who mistreated the beloved Son of God. The way they disgraced Him is as if He is a criminal, but the beloved Son of God is willing to accept that treatment in order to turn around and save all humans on earth to be as His own people.

[33] and having scourged they will put Him to death, and the third day He will rise again.

Comments Luke 18:33 Death for the human body is a fearful thing even for the beloved Son of God Himself, but He knows perfectly well, in three days He will rise again.

[34] And they understood none of these things; and this spoken-word was hidden from them, and they knew not the things that were said.

Comments Luke 18:34 When the beloved Son of God has spoken to them about His death, this is according to the Father's will, but the human mind will not be able to understand, even His Own disciples, they are simple humans as well. The things that He has told them, for the human mind to understand, will not be revealed yet until He explains to them in their hearts, not by human words, but by the spiritual way only.

[35] And it came to pass, as He drew near to Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the roadside begging;

Comments Luke 18:35 For verses 35 to 43 see Comments Mark 10:46-52. The healing of this blind man in Luke 18:35-43 is the same healing case as in Mark 10:46-52.

[36] and hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this might be.

[37] And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.

[38] And he cried, saying, Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

[39] And they that went before rebuked him, that he should be silent, but he much more cried out, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

[40] And having stood, Jesus commanded him to be brought to Him. And having come near to Him, He questioned him,

[41] What desire you that I should do to you? And he said, Lord, that I may receive sight.

[42] And Jesus said to him, Receive sight! Your faith has healed you.

[43] And immediately he received sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, having seen it, gave praise to God.

Life and Faith Applications. 1)Prayer is important in the life of a Christian; we must always pray and not lose our heart. 2) We should pray humbly and not look down on other people as sinners. 3) Do not tighten your heart with the riches of this earth. 4) Believe in the Trinity of God and Jesus' death on the cross and His bodily resurrection. 5) Cry to God for mercy and the Lord will show you mercy.