Welcome! I’m so glad you’ve come to study with me. Today we’re in Luke 18 and I think it’s going to be fun today. It’s Faith focused.
Before we start, let’s pray:
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for these stories and these words. Thank You for coming to lead us again this week. Guide us through this chapter and help us to learn and see and realize all that You want us to see. Thank You, Lord. Lead on.
Please read Luke 18:1-8
Parables on Prayer
1 Now Jesus was telling the disciples a parable to make the point that at all times they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart, 2 saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and had no respect for man. 3 There was a [desperate] widow in that city and she kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice and legal protection from my adversary.’ 4 For a time he would not; but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and legal protection; otherwise [a]by continually coming she [will be an intolerable annoyance and she] will wear me out.’” 6 Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says! 7 And will not [our just] God defend and avenge His elect [His chosen ones] who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay [in providing justice] on their behalf? 8 I tell you that He will defend and avenge them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [this kind of persistent] faith on the earth?”
What point was Jesus trying to make here?
He ended this story with a question. Rewrite that question, including the bracketed text. Do you see the kind of faith He’ll be looking for when He comes? And since we don’t know when He’ll come, the best practice now would be to have persistent faith, keep praying.
Please read Luke 18:9
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves and were confident that they were righteous [posing outwardly as upright and in right standing with God], and who viewed others with contempt:
Stop here. Read slowly again. …some people who __________ in ________________ and were _______________ that they were __________________…and who viewed others with ___________.
Please read Luke 18:10-14
10 “Two men went up into the temple [enclosure] to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood [ostentatiously] and began praying to himself [in a self-righteous way, saying]: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men—swindlers, unjust (dishonest), adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing at a distance, would not even raise his eyes toward heaven, but was striking his chest [in humility and repentance], saying, ‘God, be merciful and gracious to me, the [especially wicked] sinner [that I am]!’ 14 I tell you, this man went to his home justified [forgiven of the guilt of sin and placed in right standing with God] rather than the other man; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself [forsaking self-righteous pride] will be exalted.”
How did the tax collector pray: [in ____________________ and ___________________ ]. Clearly, the humble prayer is heard and answered. To humble yourself you must [forsake __________________________ ]
Please read Luke 18:15-17
15 Now they were also bringing their babies to Him, so that He would touch and bless them, and when the disciples noticed it, they began reprimanding them. 16 But Jesus called them to Himself, saying [to the apostles], “Allow the children to come to Me, and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God [with faith and humility] like a child will not enter it at all.”
Receive with faith and humility, no work, just faith.
Please read Luke 18:18-19
The Rich Young Ruler
18 A certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher [You who are essentially and morally good], what shall I do to inherit eternal life [that is, eternal salvation in the Messiah’s kingdom]?” 19 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is [essentially and morally] good except God alone.
Essentially and Morally good. I think Jesus’s question here is because He knew this ruler didn’t believe He was God. But He is God and He is essentially and morally good.
Please read Luke 18:20-23
20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not testify falsely, Honor your father and your mother.’” 21 He replied, “I have kept all these things from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “You still lack one thing; sell everything that you have and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have [abundant] treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me [becoming My disciple, believing and trusting in Me and walking the same path of life that I walk].” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.
The answer to the ruler’s question is by following Jesus. What do the bracketed texts say that means? [ _____________________, ___________________________________ and ______________________________________________________].
Jesus knew his money was the problem. He’s not saying that those with faith have to be poor, He just knows that for this man, his money is in the way of his faith. See how he responded when he heard what Jesus said? ‘But when he heard these things, he _______________________________, for ________________________________________.’
Please read Luke 18:24-27
24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How difficult it is for those who are wealthy 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 man [who places his faith in wealth or status] to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And those who heard it said, “[b]Then who can be saved?” 27 But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”
See? It’s all about where you place your faith. From John 6 we know that those whom God brings to Jesus will be saved. And from earlier in this book, the invitation is a compelling invitation. Respond and you will be saved.
Please read Luke 18:28-30
28 Peter said, “Look, we have left all [things—homes, families, businesses] and followed You.” 29 And He said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly 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 as much in this present age and in the age to come, eternal life.”
A sincere promise. You can count on Him. His words are always true.
Please read Luke 18:31-34
31 Then taking the [c]twelve [disciples] aside, He said to them, “Listen carefully: we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that have been written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled and completed. 32 He will be betrayed and handed over to the Gentiles (Roman authorities), and will be mocked and ridiculed and insulted and abused and spit on, 33 and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and on the third day He will rise [from the dead].” 34 But the disciples understood none of these things [about the approaching death and resurrection of Jesus]. This statement was hidden from them, and they did not grasp the [meaning of the] things that were said [by Jesus].
‘Listen carefully…understood none…did not grasp the meaning of the things that He said.’
So grateful that He went through what He did. But oh the sorrow that He had to do this. Yet every word He told them is true. Focus on verse 33. ‘and after they have ….. they will …and on the third day ______________________.’ And in that rising from the dead we are eternally freed from sin and safe and will receive ‘in the age to come, eternal life.’
Please read Luke 18:35-43
Bartimaeus Receives Sight
35 As He was approaching Jericho [on His way to Jerusalem], it happened that a blind man was sitting beside the road begging. 36 Now when he heard a crowd going by, he began to ask what this was [about]. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 So he shouted out, saying, “Jesus, [d]Son of David (Messiah), have mercy on me!” 39 Those who were leading the way were sternly telling him to keep quiet; but he screamed all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 Then Jesus stopped and ordered that the blind man be led to Him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me regain my sight!” 42 Jesus said to him, “Regain your sight; your [personal trust and confident] faith [in Me] has made you well.” 43 Immediately he regained his sight and began following Jesus, glorifying and praising and honoring God. And all the people, when they saw it, praised God.
The blind will see. The blind did see. To really see means to know. Look at what Bartimaeus called Jesus. He knew before he could see, that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of David promised so very long ago that would save the world. But only those who really believe will be saved. Yes, anywhere in the world, so long as your faith is in Jesus, you are saved.
Praise be to You, Lord Jesus. All the glory be to You.
Footnotes
Luke 18:5 Or in the end she will come and give me a black eye.
Luke 18:26 The common opinion was that the wealthy had been blessed by God, and would probably enter the kingdom of God provided that they met all their financial obligations (tithes, offerings) to Him and were charitable to those less fortunate.
Luke 18:31 See note 6:13.
Luke 18:38 A common Messianic title recognizing the Messiah as a descendant of David.