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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Luke Chapter 18 

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Luke
Date Penned: (60 AD)
Overview: Luke Presents the Life of Christ  (c 1-24)
Theme:  The Message & Ministry of Jesus, the Savior (c 4-21)
Message: Jesus Blesses the Children  (v 1-43)

Luke 18 Commentary

(18:1-8) Jesus Tells the Parable of the Persistent Widow - This parable, unique to Luke, illustrates the importance of prayer for Christians (a theme of Luke’s, see 5:16; 6:12; 11:1-13). In the same way as the widow, Christians should not give up praying to God even when facing indifference and powerful opposition.

(18:9-14) Jesus tells the Parable of Two Men Who Prayed - After encouraging the disciples to be persistent in prayer (18:1-8), Jesus taught them, with a parable, how to pray. This parable sharply contrasts the prayer of a Pharisee with that of a tax collector.

(18:15-17) Jesus Blesses the Children - Jesus used a child’s humility as a striking picture of the appropriate attitude with which to approach God. That type of humility was demonstrated by the tax collector in the previous parable (18:9-14).

(18:18-30) Jesus Speaks to the Rich Young Man - This episode with the rich young man differs greatly with Jesus’ blessing of children in the previous section. The children are an example of innocent faith and trust. The rich young man thought he could gain eternal life by what he did, only to find that he could not have it.

(18:31-34) Jesus Predicts His Death the Third Time - For the third time, Jesus predicted his death; this time, he graphically described his rejection by the religious leaders and even predicted his own resurrection. Luke placed these predictions within his long section that recounts Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. He placed the first two predictions at the beginning of the journey (9:22, 43-45) and this third prediction toward the end, showing that Jesus was heading to Jerusalem to fulfill these predictions (see 12:50; 13:32-33; 17:25).


(18-35-43) Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar - The healing of the blind man is the last miracle before the Passion Week. On his approach to Jerusalem, Jesus went through Jericho. Here a blind man, a person considered insignificant by others, cried out for mercy and expressed his faith in Jesus as the Messiah who could save him. His bold faith was rewarded.

 


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Have You Given All to the Lord?

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the book of Luke with Chapter 18. In our text today we see Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow, the two men who prayed, the way for the rich man, predicts His death, and heals the blind beggar. What catches my eye is the rich man who tried to do good but was not willing to give all to follow the Lord. In making application we see that when we come to Jesus we need to be willing to give all. We cannot come with hidden sin or half heart-ed but rather need to come giving our whole heart to the Lord. How about you? Have you given all the Lord? Let us learn from our text today and the example of the rich man who was not willing to give all to follow Jesus to see that when we come to Jesus we must be willing to forsake all of sin as we repent and receive the Lord-Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  

 

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Luke 18

Luke 18

 1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

 2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

 3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

 4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

 5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

 6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

 7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

 8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

 9And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

 10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

 11The 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.

 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

 13And 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.

 14I 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.

 15And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

 16But 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.

 17Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

 18And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

 19And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

 20Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

 21And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

 22Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

 23And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

 24And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

 25For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

 26And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

 27And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

 28Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

 29And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,

 30Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

 31Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

 32For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:

 33And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

 34And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

 35And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

 36And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.

 37And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

 38And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

 39And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.

 40And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,

 41Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

 42And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

 43And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.