Seek the Lord in Undeterred, Humble Faith

William H. Banegas

Scripture: Luke 18

Theme: Seek the Lord in undeterred, humble faith.

Introduction: Today, we’re going to survey 2 parables and 4 subsequent events that all provide for us instruction about the nature of faith. From our passage today, I hope that we will all be challenged to Seek the Lord in faith.

Background context: Jesus has just concluded Luke 17 with teaching concerning the coming of the Kingdom. Hence, Jesus was talking about His Second Coming just prior to our passage.

Instructive Illustrations

Pray to our just God in persevering faith (The Parable of the Unjust Judge Luke 18:1-8)

Parable Details

Let’s consider some observations about this judge.

How does Jesus describe this judge?

The emphasis here is on the fact that he does not fear God.

This attitude should immediately prompt alert us.

If he does not fear God, who does he fear?

If he does not respect man, who does he respect?

Notice, this phrase is repeated twice.

First, Jesus uses the phrase.

Then, the unjust judge uses the phrase.

Initially, he was unwilling to give justice! (18:4)

We could say that this unjust judge is only concerned about himself.

Neither fears God nor respects man.

Makes a just judgment on account of someone pestering him.

If he’s only concerned about himself, what attitude motivates his decisions that we would characterize him as unjust?

Let’s consider some observations about this widow.

First, while it’s hard to be a widow anytime, it was harder during this period.

This is why the Scripture gives attention to caring for widows.

Thus, she’s already in a disadvantaged position.

Jesus uses an interesting term translated as opponent.

On the surface, it could give the impression that this is just someone against the widow.

It actually implies legal proceedings.

The term refers to one who has brought up a charge in a court against another.

In other words, the widow is likely the one being sued!

We’re thus prompted to side with this widow!

She’s disadvantaged.

She’s being sued.

How does Jesus characterize her persistence?

“She kept coming”

She kept demanding justice.

“She will wear me out”

There are 2 possible ways to understand this phrase.

She’s going to get violent with the judge.

She’s just going to annoy him.

What’s another way that we could describe the widow’s attitude?

She will settle for nothing less than justice.

She is determined.

Parable Application

Is it just me, or does it seem odd that Jesus references when the Son of Man comes, when He is already here?

Hence, Jesus must be pointing to his Second Coming.

Thus, what could potentially prompt us to ‘lose heart’ is waiting for Jesus’ coming again.

You see, the parable is not about whether or not God will act justly.

We’ve seen an unjust judge who exercised justice for his own personal concerns.

This selfish example highlights all the more God’s shining example of righteousness.

Instead, this parable concerns persevering faith.

Luke began by telling us the point of this parable.

What did Luke identify as the point of this parable?

What does it mean to ‘not lose heart’?

Other translations include: ‘not give up’, ‘grow tired’, or faint

What are some things in this life that could prompt us to ‘lose heart’?

Jesus’ inquiry is not meant to be a rebuke.

Rather, Jesus’ inquiry becomes an invitation.

This invitation is based on the superlative example of God’s righteousness.

While this is the worst human example, we are reminded of three things.

Humans know what justice looks like.

Humans can perform acts of justice.

Humans will disappoint.

We can be confident that God will exercise righteousness always.

The widow, then, patterns for us the continual seeking that we are invited to undertake.

Hence, we are invited to seek the Lord in prayer by faith.

When we pray, we are not praying to someone who is selfishly stubborn to hear our petitions.

Our prayers, then are motivated by the confidence of God’s righteousness.

Transition: Jesus carries forward the theme of faith into His next parable concerning the Pharisee and the Publican/Tax-Collector.

Pray to our justifying God in humble faith (The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican Luke 18:9-14)

Parable Details

Who does the Pharisee direct his prayer to?

What is the content of his prayer?

Count with me the items that the Pharisee references.

First, he’s thankful that he’s not like others.

Second, he’s not like a swindler - or someone who cheats others.

Third, he’s not like a general sinner.

Fourth, he’s not like adulterers.

Fifth, he’s not like the tax collector.

Sixth, he fasts more than is required by the Law (Law required once during Day of Atonement).

Seventh, he tithes on all his income.

As you may recall, the number 7 factors significantly in the Scriptures and generally indicates something that is complete or perfect.

In other words, the Pharisee believes that he’s perfect.

Was the Pharisee perfect?

What’s interesting is what the Pharisee leaves out concerning sins that he has not committed.

What sins has the Pharisee left out of this list?

Let’s look now at the Publican.

What do you notice about his posture?

His eyes are directed to the ground.

What does this kind of posture normally indicate?

Shame

What do you notice about his behavior?

He’s striking his chest.

The implication of the passage is that, throughout his prayer, he is consistently striking his chest.

Such an action is meant to convey just how entirely convicted this man was of his sin.

What do you notice concerning his prayer?

He asks for Mercy.

This is mercy towards his sin.

In other words, the tax collector is humbly acknowledging his sin before the Lord and asking for forgiveness in repentance.

His humility is further evidenced in the way that he describes himself.

How does the tax collector describe himself?

Sinner

The tax collectors agrees with the assessment made by the Pharisee!

The tax collector humbly singles himself out among all the other sinners

He recognizes how his sin singles him out as deserving God’s wrath

Instead of attempting to justify himself before God, He recognizes that only God can justify him.

Thus, the tax collector throws himself at the mercy of the Lord.

Parable Application

In the end, the Pharisee was unconcerned with his spiritual state because he saw no reason to be concerned.

Have you ever felt such remorse over your sin that you could not even raise your head from above looking at the ground or just repeating over and over again to the Lord how much you need His forgiveness?

Transition: Having considered the message of both of these parables concerning perseverance in humble faith before the Lord, let us continue in looking at 4 events that conclude our passage.

Instructive Events

Seek Jesus in a childlike manner (The Incident of the Children Coming to Jesus Luke 18:15-17)

Event Details

What would prompt these parents to bring their children to Jesus?

For Jesus to touch the children.

Luke is filled with instances where Jesus’ touch brings great blessing.

What would prompt the disciples to rebuke the parents?

What prompted Jesus to welcome the children?

Event Application

In spite of the rebuke on the part of the disciples, Jesus does not rebuke His disciples.

Instead, the picture that is painted for us concerns Jesus' welcoming attitude.

Whether child or adult, Jesus welcomes all who approach Him.

However, such an approach must be in a childlike manner.

In this case, a childlike manner references simple faith.

Faith that believes that Jesus is who He says He is and takes Him at His Word.

Transition: Following Jesus’ encounter with these children, Jesus has another encounter related to the topic of entering God’s Kingdom.

Seek Jesus unattached to this world’s treasures (The Rich Ruler Luke 18:18-30)

Event Details

What does this individual ask Jesus?

How to inherit eternal life by doing something.

Does someone do something in order to inherit eternal life?

No.

Jesus just answered this in his interaction with the children.

One does not do something to inherit eternal life.

One receive eternal life as a gift of God’s grace.

Have you ever read this passage and thought, “Why did Jesus make this statement about God’s goodness?”

If you have, that’s exactly what Jesus intended for you to do.

It’s designed to prompt us to consider who Jesus was.

Since Jesus is God, we are thus prompted to immediately follow His instructions.

Notice, what commands, did Jesus leave off?

What would prompt Jesus to leave off these commands?

The commands left off reference worshipping God and covetousness.

Demonstrates that this was intentional.

Jesus has a purpose in leaving off the other commands to expose what is going on in the man’s heart.

In other words, this man has a sin problem in making wealth his idol.

How did this individual initially respond to Jesus?

In Judaism, it was believed that at 13 a boy became a man and was responsible for the Law.

In other words, this individual was communicating that they exceeded the religious expectation of the day.

Also, there’s no need to doubt this individual’s sincerity.

What we doubt is the extent of their obedience and their motivation.

Furthermore, we’re prompted to compare his response to Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

In coming to Jesus, was he seeking to humbly repent of sin or to justify himself?

Therefore, who does the rich ruler most identify with?

How does Peter respond to this circumstance?

Peter uses a term that emphasizes one’s goods that they would collect at home.

In other words, Peter is saying that he has left his home goods to follow Christ.

Event Application

In response to the rich ruler’s sadness, what proverb does Jesus quote?

Jesus compares one of the smallest items to the largest creature of that region.

This comparison exalts God’s power to do what is impossible for us as humans.

How does Jesus respond to Peter?

Jesus does not rebuke Peter.

Instead, Jesus calls attention to other items that people leave to follow Christ.

The point of Jesus calling attention to these items is not to minimize their loss.

Instead, Jesus emphasizes the incomparable value of being part of God’s kingdom.

What does Jesus mean by stating that will receive much now and then eternal life?

There are joys to be experienced in this life that one can only receive in knowing Christ as their Savior.

What sort of joys come as a result of knowing Christ now?

Comfort from the Lord in the form of His Word, through the Spirit and His people

Pleasure of God’s presence

Privilege of understanding God’s Word through the Spirit

Joy of helping others and seeing them grow in their discipleship

Seek Jesus unattached to this world’s pleasures (Jesus foretells His death Luke 18:31-34)

Event Details

Event Application

How did the disciples respond to Jesus’ statement?

They did not understand.

What prompted them to not understand?

Probably amazement that Jesus would die given the great things He’s done.

Additionally, the understanding was hidden from them.

In other words, the meaning would likely clouded for God’s sovereign purposes.

However, we know that they eventually understood the meaning!

Jesus knew that trouble lay ahead of Him, yet it did not deter Him from pursuing God’s Will in continuing on to Jerusalem

Jesus reminds us in John 16 that we will have trouble in this world

However, we can face it in the confidence of knowing that Christ as overcome the world

When our emotions catch up with our circumstances, we can likewise seek the Lord in our grief and torment for comfort that only He can provide since, as Paul confesses, our Lord is the God of all comfort 2 Corinthians 1

Seek Jesus in undeterred, humble faith. (The Blind Man who Receives Sight Restoration Luke 18:35-43)

Event Details

According to the passage, this man could see at one time but lost his sight for a reason that is not preserved for us.

What would prompt others in the crowd to attempt to silence the blind man?

What other part of our passage references someone being rebuked?

The children coming to Jesus.

You would think that it would have been learned by this point that Jesus welcomes all who come to Him.

Did the blind man receive their rebuke and become silent?

Instead, the blind man shouted all the more.

The term used in reference to his shouting is used to describe animals making noise.

In other words, this man gave an impassioned shout to get Christ’s attention.

Following Jesus’ miraculous healing, what did this blind man do?

He praise God with all around him.

He followed Christ.

Event Application

This is undeterred faith like the widow

This is humility like the tax collector

The blind man came to Jesus like the children

The blind man had no personal possessions to idolize that he kept to stop him from following Jesus

In other words, the blind man becomes the application for the passage before us.

Conclusion: In our passage today we’ve seen how the blind man demonstrates the qualities of faith that the Lord encourages us to exercise. We are inspired to seek the Lord in prayer, confident that He will always do what is right. We are encouraged to further demonstrate humility in prayer, recognizing our own sin. The Lord demonstrates that He is welcoming to all who approach Him in childlike trust.