Receiving Justification

Dependance, Prayer, Justification & The Kingdom of God

In Luke 18:1–8 Jesus tells the story of the unjust judge and the persistent widow, a story in which he uses the δικ- word group six times (18:3 [2x], 5, 6, 7, 8).

The widow asks for “justice” against her “adversary” (18:3).

Justice & Adversary have the same Greek root word.

Although he is unlike God (“unjust”; 18:6), the judge nevertheless grants “justice” to the widow lest she wear him down (18:5).

Jesus asserts that God will bring “justice” for his chosen ones (18:7–8)

and concludes the story with an important question:

“However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (18:8).

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What kind of faith is Jesus looking for?

He shows us in the very next parable

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In the next parable (Luke 18.9-14), Jesus continues the emphasis on justice using the δικ-word group, though it is virtually impossible to see its three occurrences in an English translation.

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Luke 18:15–17 ESV

Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

We do not add anything to the kingdom… we only receive!

If you do not and cannot receive God’s kingdom like a child, you cannot and will not enter it.

How does a child receive?

A child has nothing.

They are fully and completely dependent.

Sometimes when my children are naughty they will claim something as theirs.

I remind my children that everything they have is on loan from me. I own it. I allow them use of it.

Jesus says that if we come as an owner or as if something is owed to us, we cannot and will not enter into His kingdom.

We must come receiving.