Chap18_Luke

OOOOOOOOOOOO Luke 18:1–8 (ESV)The Parable of the Persistent Widow ---18 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Jesus is continues his earlier lesson - on as he describes what will be happening in the end. What is unsual is that a parable usually tends to come with mystery or ending that needed to be pondered to understand. In this on he gives the point of the lesson in advance ..........-18 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart, Things will come about quickly and there will be judgement - justice meted out. Jesus is comparing an ungodly judge’s actions to the expected actions of God. The judge is a god unto himself. He fears or reveres neither man nor God. He even admits to himself about who he is. However this widow, a woman who has not standing, no resources, no relatives with influence pesters him. She is the lowest of the low and yet she overpowers him with her persistence. Deuteronomy 10:18 (ESV)18 He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.

This is not a directive to pester God, but to persevere in prayer. I’ve heard of some people praying for salvation for a wayward son or daughter for 20 yrss before that prayer was answered. There may have been a an unknown reason why prayers were not answered quickly, but don’t give up.

The comparison is that if this independent, arrogant, confident judge who has legal power behind hi, if he answers prayer don’t you thing that God will answer prayer.

Have faith, trust in God won’t he deliver justice as promised. .... And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. It refers to the elect, the godly who will receive swift justice . though justice will come to all, the non-believers may not receive justice as quickly as believers.

But Jesus ends with t Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? A hanging statement - will I find people who trust in me on that day?

OOOOOOOOOOOO Luke 18:9–14 (ESV) The Pharisee and the Tax Collector— 9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Again he repeats the same format by explaining the lesson in advance. ...-9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: Just like the judge of the widow, the Pharisee doesn’t respect men and he doesn’t seem to fear God - he trust in his own abilities and sacrifices and not god’s desire.

The Pharisee stands apart, no in a corner, but where he could easily be observed and his eloquent, long winded prayer Then he thanks God that he is not like the low life, but he is a great example of a holy man. He isn’t so much praying to god, but explaining to god how good he is. The only mandatory day of fasting was on the day of Atonement. But it was common to fast on Mondays and Thursdays which coincidentally were the market days with the larger potential crowd. Some of the holy pretenders or actors would whiten their face and wear old disheveled clothes to show all how much they suffered for god.

Long ago, one American cynic remarked about a preacher’s prayer as “the most eloquent prayer ever offered up to a Boston audience.”

In contrast, the unholy, vile tax collector is shown standing far off [away from public observance] humbled in deep repentance. he is so ashamed that he doesn't even lift his eyes up towards god.He reveres god and not himself. He knows the depth of his sin and pleads for god’s mercy. Jesus says I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” This man is aligned, approved by God. the tax collector knows who he is especially in comparison to God almighty, God of justice.

The point: Dedicated kingdom living involves prayer that confesses one’s sin and seeks God’s forgiveness, not prayer that extols self and excludes others.

OOOOOOOOOOO Luke 18:15–17 (ESV) Let the Children Come to Me--- 15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 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. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Children, though loved, were not to interfere with adults. Especially when it involves religion. It was common to bring a child on their first birthday to a rabbi for a blessing. But now these children are being brought to The Rabbi, The Messiah. The one who had serious matters to achieve and to explain. Jesus was taking the Pharisees and Sadduccees to task, he was deemed for great upcoming events. He can’t be bothered or disturbed by children. the disciples acted as his gatekeeper, they guarded Jesus. But Jesus not only welcomes children admonishes his disciples and says don’t stop them. IN Fact to ones like these the kingdom of heaven belongs. The kingdom is made for and consists of ones like these. The kingdom is not a place for God, but it is a place for the saints. Like these children they trust, each day they find joy and wonder, it is all new. Children are naturally dependent - other day I read about a child who had lost his parents, his first question was who is going to take care of me. The child had not experienced loss, but knew that he could not take care of himself. Those that trust, those that have faith in God will and are ingeriting their place, the kingdom of God. .....Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Who does not"welcome” the kingdom with child like trust will not be let in.

The kingdom has been started, it is now being explained, the gates will be flung open with the grand opening on Resurrection Day. 6he of July is coming in a few days, what about our daily celebration and gratitude for being selected, downpayment paid and accepted for the kingdom and will soon reside there.

OOOOOOOOOOO Luke 18:18–23 (ESV)The Rich Ruler— 18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ ” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.

......Good Teacher, This was not a common title used in those days. In all of Jewish literature this title cannot be found. It may have been the ruler’s way of flattery. Jesus turned or this into a question. Jesus made this into something that would require his examination. “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. He wasn’t rejecting what the ruler called him, but Jesus has claimed that he is I AM . In a form of a very deep question, Jesus is asking him do you recognize me as God? And he says that only God is without sin, only God is truly beneficent.

Then Jesus goes directly into scriptural teachings. Have you followed the law. The ruler says absolutely even as a child “21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” is the man looking for the last little thing that he can do perfectly. Jesus knew that the man trusted in his position of wreath and power. Jesus does not debate the man’s claim of always following the law, but he know the one thing that the ruler trusts in- give away everything to the poor, discard the last hold that the world has on you and give it away.

But he was very, very rich and this saddened him. Mark elaborates on how things ended. Mark 10:22 (ESV)22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. So the man did not give away his shackles saddenly, but in obediance. No he turned and walked away sadly. He left Jesus and returned to his wealth and keeping the law. Jesus had just said Luke 16:13 (ESV)

13 .....You cannot serve God and money.” Luke 16:13 (ESV)Luke 16:13 (KJV 1900)13 No servant can serve two masters: ....... Ye cannot serve God and mammon..........

OOOOOOOOOOOO Luke 18:24–30 (ESV) 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28 And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” 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 will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” The wealth ruler walked away and Jesus tatught about the temptation of prison of money. “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” . He speaks in hyperbole = that it is extremely difficult to give up your money. The Jews knew Jesus’s teachings but still they looked at wealth as a sign of god’s approval and blessing. Much like today’s prosperity teachers. They teach about getting things and money, rather that prosperity means to have enough and have family , and joy.

.....Truly, I say to you - Jesus is reemphasizing, “truly” this may not seem right and against you customs, your long held belief, but in this kingdom as you give up and abandon your trust in this world, you will receive many times your worldly loss in this time and in eternal life.

Note: Jesus does not say that you will get worldy things in return. You will not necessarily be rewarded in the same manner with what you gave up. You will receive much more. As a child you gave your toy away to some other child, as an adult would you want your toy back?

OOOOOOOOOOOO Luke 18:31–34 (ESV) Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time — 31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” 34 But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

OOOOOOOOOOOO Luke 18:35–43 (ESV) Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar --- 5 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.