Parables about Prayer (Luke 18:1-17)

Introduction:

How have you been discouraged in you walk with Christ?

What are ways you have dealt with discouragement?

We’re going to talk about that today.

I. The Problem of Discouragement (1-8)

A. Revelation

Read verses 1-8

Q: The purpose of this parable is given to us from the get-go, what is that purpose?

A: To always pray and never lose heart/become discouraged

So Jesus tells a parable to illustrate why we should pray and never become discouraged as his disciples.

Q: Who is the first character and how is he described?

A: A judge who did not fear God or respect others

Q: Who is the second character?

A: A widow in the city

Q: What did this widow want from this judge?

A: to give her justice against her adversary

Even though this was fictional story that Jesus was using to illustrate a point, this shows how desperate widows were and how they were often taken advantage of. Since she did not have her husband to care for her, she went to the judge of the city.

Well she comes once and says, “give me justice against my adversary”....and the judge does nothing! So she would come again the next day, “give me justice against my adversary!” And on and on this went for some time.

Q: In verse 4, what does the judge finally do after refusing her justice so many times?

A: he says interestingly enough, “though I neither fear God nor respect man (he admits it!), yet since she keeps bothering me I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming!” Great reason right?? What a winner!

But as bad as this judge is Jesus tells us to listen to him! “Hear what the unrighteous judge says”(v.6)

Q: What connection does Jesus make between the unrighteous judge and God?

A: God is contrasted with the unrighteous judge, not compared to him. The point is, just as an unrighteous judge would give justice begrudgingly when pressed, how much would God give justice to those whom he loves (the elect)!

Just because God seems to be delayed in his response to our requests, he is not irritated with us or annoyed at our requests like the judge was.

Then Jesus poses an open-ended question to the disciples asking if he will find faith on earth when He returns. In other words, will he find persistent disciples who never give up in their commitment to God and their relationship to Him?

B. Relevance

Q: Why might you be tempted to give up in your prayer life?

A: discussion

Q: How might this parable encourage you to pray consistently and not be discouraged?

A: discussion

Illustration:

In the months May and June of 1940 Great Britain faced the imminent threat of invasion by Hitler and his Nazi forces. Peace talks had failed time and time again, making them appear weaker and weaker. However, by God’s providence, a man rose up from obscurity to rally the nation against the then superior forces of tyranny that threatened them. This of course was Winston Churchill, who gave his most famous speech on June 4, 1940, "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender...”

This can be a great message for our lives as well. No matter how much the odds look against us, we are encouraged to “never surrender” and never lose heart!

Transition: Next Luke gives us another parable in which the purpose is stated up front.

II. The Problem of Pride and Contempt (9-14)

A. Revelation

Q: What is the purpose that is stated for this parable?

A: Jesus was speaking to those who trusted in themselves and looked down on others

Q: Who were the characters in the parable, and their social standings?

A: discussion

Q: What was wrong with the prayer of the Pharisee and his demeanor?

A: discussion.

Q: What was the demeanor of the tax collector and what was his prayer like?

Q: How is their standing before God described as a result (v.14)

B. Relevance

Q: How might you see Pharisaical attitudes creep up in your life?

A: Come before God with a prideful attitude, bragging about what you have done for him. Looking down on others.

Illustration:

A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down you can’t see something that is above you.

C. S. Lewis

Transition: So we see that in order to live a life that is in right standing with God, it is not about bragging about our accomplishments, it is confessing our failures. It is not how much we exalt ourselves, but how humble we come before him. This is further taught in the next passage…

III. The Solution of Childlike Faith (15-17)

Q: How does this passage link with the previous one?

A: discussion

Parents were bringing their children and even newborn infants so that Jesus would touch them.

However the disciples felt that it would be a bother to Christ, but they couldn’t be more wrong.

They rebuked the parents, but Jesus rebuked their rebuking!

IV. Application and Conclusion:

Never give up humbly praying to God!

God is never tired of hearing your requests, God never fails to answer your prayer!

Even when you feel God is distant and is tired of hearing your prayers, that is the perfect time to pray!

Nothing is off limits, cast your prayers upon Him, for he cares for you! (Peter 5:7)