Luke 18

Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Not give up. We are to be determined and not give up when we pray. There may be a time when we feel the assurance that God is going to answer and we can stop praying for that specific thing and just trust God but other than that, we must not give up if God doesn't answer immediately. I know we live in an instant generation that wants everything here and now but sometimes waiting and trusting is the way to go.

Luk 18:2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
Luk 18:3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
Luk 18:4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
Luk 18:5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
Luk 18:6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
Luk 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

God is much more just and fair than the unjust judge. If the judge answered the woman's pleas to keep her from bothering him, then how much more would a loving God answer prayer.

Luk 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

I wonder how much faith God sees now.

Luk 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Luk 18:11 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.
Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13 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.
Luk 18:14 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.

If Satan can't get us one way, he will try the other. Probably every religious body of believers have had the temptation of being "too religious". This is where we lose sight of winning the lost and helping the weak and start exalting ourselves above them. We think that we are better and despise those that are not like us. When we do this, we lose our effectiveness to win the lost. This is hard.

On the other hand we also can lose our effectiveness to win the lost if we do not tell the lost they are lost. If we do not confront sin, they will remain sinners. If we try to love sinners so much that we do not warn them of their sin, then they will be lost. We can't compromise sin. Both extremes are bad. If we study the letters to the churches in the 2nd and 3rd chapters of Revelation, we will see the warnings given to them. I believe both kinds of churches are represented there. The first church in Ephesians sounds like the one that was strict in sound doctrine but lost their first love and probably lost their ability to win the lost. The Laodiceans were part of the second group which compromised with the world, grew lukewarm and also lost their ability to win the lost because they didn't confront sin. They didn't care one way or the other.  If some wanted to sin, fine, lets just get along. 

When Jesus did not condemn the woman that the religious men brought before him that they had caught in the act of adultery, he wasn't excusing sin in the woman but exposing sin in the religious crowd that brought her. In the end, Jesus told the woman also that He didn't condemn her but that she was to go and sin no longer.

Luk 18:15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
Luk 18:16 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.

Children can and should be invited to come to Christ for salvation. They are never too young. I've heard marvelous stories about people being called to preach at a very young age. Never leave the kids in a play area while only adults are receiving the word and having the opportunity to receive Christ as savior. Children need the message of the gospel as soon as they are able to receive it.
One of my fondest memories as a child is my dad holding me in a prayer meeting. I still can hear the shouts of praises and the singing of southern gospel hymns. I always felt safe and secure in such a place.

Luk 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

Little children are so trusting and believe what they are told. If only we could be the same concerning the word of God yet be adults as far as believing false doctrine and things contrary to the truth.

Luk 18:18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Luk 18:19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

This young ruler thought he himself was good and Christ was pointing out to him that only God can be considered good.

Luk 18:20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
Luk 18:21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
Luk 18:22 Now 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.

The young man kept all the commandments but did not walk in love. If we walked in perfect love, we would not hoard riches when one person in the world was starving.

Luk 18:23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
Luk 18:24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
Luk 18:25 For 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.

Does this sound like Jesus believed the modern day prosperity doctrine? The more we have in this world's goods, the more responsibility we have to care for the poor. If we see one suffering and do nothing, how can the love of God be within us?

Luk 18:26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
Luk 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

This is our hope and our comfort that nothing is impossible and that God wants to save, "whosoever will". Praise the Lord for His salvation. He is worthy of all our praise. We were lost but through the Son, Jesus Christ, we are found. God saw us headed for an eternal hell but sent His Son to show us the way out. He is good and worthy of all our adoration. Blessed be the name of the Lord now and forever.

Luk 18:28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
Luk 18:29 And 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,
Luk 18:30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

This verse is used to justify the prosperity doctrine but if you take this verse along with the other words of Jesus concerning treasure on earth and treasure in heaven, you will find that the prosperity doctrine is false. If we leave all to follow Christ we will receive more than we could ever receive not following Christ but what I believe this means is spiritual things. There are things God gives that can't be seen with the natural eye. They are the spiritual blessings that is seldom talked about anymore. Yet as a child I knew a little of what being blessed by God was. I hear talk of God's blessings today and it is usually thought of as material blessings. They is not the blessings that count. God blesses spiritually. It is something one cannot see but it is felt, it is known and it comforts, brings peace, joy and strengthens faith. This is the blessings of God. Material blessings may come too because God promises to care for us but this is not the main blessing of God. They are spiritual. The more we forsake to follow God, the more spiritual blessings and the more of His presence one will have in their life. We are as close to God as we want to be. God's presence will be with one who forsakes all to follow Him. Yes, He will bless materially but that is just a side issue compared to what is the real blessings of God. The main thing is that we are not to seek the material but trust Him to take care of us according to what is needed. We are to seek first the kingdom of heaven and all necessary things will be added to us. This message of prosperity must be taught in balance with the whole word of God and not just use a couple of scriptures to base the doctrine on.  We must be careful with the word of God.  The way it is taught in today's world, the poor is considered to be lacking in faith and out of the will of God.  This is not what Jesus taught.  Remember the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. 

Luk 18:31 Then 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.
Luk 18:32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
Luk 18:33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
Luk 18:34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

Had they fully understood, they would have tried to keep the Lord from being crucified. I think that is why it was hidden from them. Jesus knew all that He was going to suffer and He could have avoided it but He knew that was the only way to save us from sin so that we could inherit eternal life. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Luk 18:35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
Luk 18:36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
Luk 18:37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
Luk 18:38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

Sometimes the poor, uneducated and weak will exercise faith while the rich, educated and self-made persons remain in the dark.

Luk 18:39 And 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.
Luk 18:40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
Luk 18:41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
Luk 18:42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

Faith is a powerful thing to have. It caused this man to be insistent and not give up. Had the man not have had faith, he would not have insisted on being heard.

He had simply child-like faith.

Luk 18:43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

Luke 19