Expository Outlines from Luke 28. Persistence-Pride-Pardon (Luke 18:1–17)

PERSISTENCE-PRIDE-PARDON

Luke 18:1–17

Jesus speaks about three things in this passage of Scripture. (1) Persistence—all Christians must be persistent in their living, or they will be a failure in the Christian life. (2) Pride—Christ speaks of selfish, spiritual pride, which keeps many people away from God. (3) Pardon—those who are sincere toward God will find pardon from their sins. No sin is too great. No one is too great a sinner to receive this pardon.

I. SINCERE PERSISTENCE—vv. 1–8

1. Prayer—v. 1. Man should always pray and not faint (compare 1 Thess. 5:17).

2. People—vv. 2–3. A judge, who feared neither God nor man. A widow, who came again and again, seeking justice.

3. Persistence—vv. 4–5. The judge ignored her plea for a long time, but because of her persistence he finally meted out justice. It was her continual coming to the judge that caused him to give her the desires of her heart.

4. Picture—vv. 6–8. If the ungodly judge gave the woman justice because of her constant pleas, how much more will a just God hear and answer our prayers (compare James 5:16; Jer. 33:3; Matt. 7:7–9).

II. SINFUL PRIDE—vv. 9–14

1. Parable—v. 9. A parable of a publican and a Pharisee is used by Jesus to explain a truth.

2. People—v. 10. The Pharisee and the publican both go to the temple to pray.

3. Pharisee’s prayer—vv. 11–12. His prayer is filled with boasting and self-righteousness. The personal pronoun I is mentioned five times.

4. Publican’s prayer—v. 13. His prayer is simple, without any boasting. “God be merciful to me a sinner.”

5. Pride—v. 14. God answers the publican’s prayer, not the prayer of the Pharisee. Note: If a person exalts himself, he will be humbled … if he humbles himself, he will be exalted (see Matt. 23:12).

III. SIMPLE PARDON—vv. 15–17

1. Bringing children—v. 15. Children are brought to Jesus to be blessed. The disciples rebuke those bringing them, claiming that Christ has no time for them.

2. Blessing the children—v. 16. Jesus accepts the children and blesses them. He then says that of such is the kingdom of God. In simple words, His kingdom is simple enough for children to accept.

3. Becoming as children—v. 17. We must be converted, and become as children if we expect to enter heaven.

Pride separates men from God—both now on earth and, later, in eternity. Satan uses pride to destroy many people. Be humble before God. Learn to crucify yourself, putting the Lord first in your plans and ambitions.

PERSISTENCE-PRIDE-PARDON

PERSISTENCE-PRIDE-PARDON

Luke 18:1–17 KJV 1900

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

PERSISTENCE - PRIDE - PARDON

PRIDE

PARDON

Jesus speaks about three things in this passage of Scripture.

(1) Persistence—all Christians must be persistent in their living, or they will be a failure in the Christian life.

(2) Pride—Christ speaks of selfish, spiritual pride, which keeps many people away from God.

(3) Pardon—those who are sincere toward God will find pardon from their sins. No sin is too great. No one is too great a sinner to receive this pardon.

I. SINCERE PERSISTENCE

PERSISTENCE - PRIDE - PARDON

1. Prayer—v. 1. Man should always pray and not faint.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV 1900

Pray without ceasing.

2. People—vv. 2–3. A judge, who feared neither God nor man. A widow, who came again and again, seeking justice.

3. Persistence—vv. 4–5. The judge ignored her plea for a long time, but because of her persistence he finally meted out justice. It was her continual coming to the judge that caused him to give her the desires of her heart.

4. Picture—vv. 6–8. If the ungodly judge gave the woman justice because of her constant pleas, how much more will a just God hear and answer our prayers (compare ; ; ).

James 5:16 KJV 1900

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Jeremiah 33:3 KJV 1900

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Matthew 7:7–9 KJV 1900

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

II. SINFUL PRIDE

PERSISTENCE - PRIDE - PARDON

1. Parable—v. 9. A parable of a publican and a Pharisee is used by Jesus to explain a truth.

2. People—v. 10. The Pharisee and the publican both go to the temple to pray.

3. Pharisee’s prayer—vv. 11–12. His prayer is filled with boasting and self-righteousness. The personal pronoun I is mentioned five times.

Luke 18:11–12 KJV 1900

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

LUKE

4. Publican’s prayer—v. 13. His prayer is simple, without any boasting. “God be merciful to me a sinner.”

5. Pride—v. 14. God answers the publican’s prayer, not the prayer of the Pharisee. Note: If a person exalts himself, he will be humbled … if he humbles himself, he will be exalted.

Matthew 23:12 KJV 1900

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

III. SIMPLE PARDON

PERSISTENCE - PRIDE - PARDON

1. Bringing children—v. 15. Children are brought to Jesus to be blessed. The disciples rebuke those bringing them, claiming that Christ has no time for them.

2. Blessing the children—v. 16. Jesus accepts the children and blesses them. He then says that of such is the `kingdom of God. In simple words, His kingdom is simple enough for children to accept.

3. Becoming as children—v. 17. We must be converted, and become as children if we expect to enter heaven.

Luke 18:17 KJV 1900

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

LUKE 18:

Pride separates men from God—both now on earth and, later, in eternity.

Satan uses pride to destroy many people.

Be humble before God. Learn to crucify yourself, putting the Lord first in your plans and ambitions.

PERSISTENCE - PRIDE - PARDON