Jesus with Children

LUKE — LESSON 18

Scriptures for this lesson are taken from Luke 18.

In chapter 17, Jesus was up on the border between Galilee and Samaria. He has been moving south toward Jerusalem. Jesus was teaching His followers in the towns and villages as He journeyed south. At the beginning of Chapter 18, Jesus told His disciples a parable about prayer.

[Luke 18:1-6] (1) Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (2) He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. (3) And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ (4) “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, (5) yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” (6) And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. (7) And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? (8) I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

In Luke chapter 17:5-6 Jesus told His disciples that answered prayer depended on their faith. Here in this parable about the persistent woman going to the judge to get justice, Jesus taught the disciples that they needed to be persistent in asking God for what they needed. Just because prayers are not answered immediately does not mean that they won’t be. God works on His timetable not ours. Jesus said that if we continue to take our petitions to God trusting, believing that He will answer, then He will.

[Luke 18:9-14] (9) To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: (10) “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. (11) The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people — robbers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector. (12) I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ (13) “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ (14) “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

This parable was aimed directly at the Pharisees and Sadducees who believed that because they were descended from Abraham and they carefully kept the Old Covenant laws, they were righteous and sinless and had an automatic ticket into heaven. Like the Pharisee in this parable who in his prayer thanked God that he was not like sinners. But the tax collector bowed and cried out to God for mercy because he knew that he was a sinner. Jesus added another factor to having prayer answered — humility.

[Luke 18:15-17] (15) People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. (16) But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. (17) Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Jesus’ disciples were annoyed because people were taking Jesus’ time by bringing their babies and young children to Him to be blessed. But Jesus scolded His disciples. He loved the children because they were innocent, without sin. He tried to explain to His followers that unless a person humbles himself/herself and came to Jesus without pride, asking for forgiveness they would not be able to enter heaven.

[Luke18:18-30] (18) A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (19) “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good — except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother” (21) “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. (22) When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (23) When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. (24) Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! (25) Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (26) Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” (27) Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” (28) Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” (29) “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God (30) will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

The rabbis taught that having wealth meant that a person was worthy and blessed by God. The Pharisees, Sadducees and rabbis who were mostly wealthy were considered ready for heaven. Jesus destroyed this teaching when He said that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to get into heaven. The disciples were amazed. They asked Jesus if the supposedly righteous Pharisees and rabbis could not go to heaven, then who could be saved? Jesus’ answer in verse 27, “What is impossible with man is possible with God. The meaning is that man by his own efforts cannot receive eternal life in heaven. All men are sinners whether rich or poor, religious teachers or obvious sinners. Only God can save the lost by His love and grace.

In verses 29 and 30 Peter asked Jesus about their standing, would they be able to go to heaven. In order to understand this question, we need to look at the background of many of Jesus’ followers. Peter, Andres, James and John were all in a lucrative fishing business together. Matthew was a tax collector and likely financially well off. Joanna was the wife of King Herod’s steward. Mary, Martha and Lazarus were a wealthy family. So I am sure that these disciples who were well off were concerned when Jesus said that it was almost impossible for a rich man to go to heaven. Jesus then assured them that someone who would leave their homes and families to work for the Kingdom of God would have blessings in this world and in heaven. So our relationship with God and how we live our lives is more important than whether we are rich or poor.

[Luke 18:31-34] (31) Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. (32) He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; (33) they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” (34) The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

As His ministry time was coming to an end, Jesus took the 12 Apostles aside and told them clearly that they were going to Jerusalem for Passover and that the Old Covenant prophecies about the Son of Man or the Messiah would come about. In other words, He would be arrested, mocked, insulted, flogged and killed by the Gentiles, meaning Rome. In three days He would rise from the dead. The Apostles did not comprehend what Jesus was telling them. Verse 34 tells us that the meaning was hidden from them and they did not understand. Luke tells us that they were near Jericho which was just north and east of Jerusalem a few miles so these things would come about soon.

[Luke 18:35-43] (35) As Jesus approached Jericho; a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. (36) When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. (37) They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” (38) He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (39) Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (40) Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, (41) “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. (42) Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” (43) Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

As Jesus and His party were going on the road near Jericho, a blind man heard the crowd and asked what was going on. When he was told that Jesus was on the road, he called out to Jesus. When Jesus heard him and what he wanted, the man was healed. Jesus told him that his faith had healed him. The people traveling with the blind man and others on the road were amazed and praised God for this miracle.

Lessons to learn from Luke Chapter 18:

1. The Christian should pray continually, having faith with a humble heart.

2. The sinner must come to Jesus sincerely, humbly asking for forgiveness.

3. It is impossible to earn your way into heaven. Eternal salvation comes only through the love and grace of God.

4. Divine healing is possible if we have enough faith.

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