Luke 18:1–17

Introduction

Luke 18:1–17: By means of two parables, one about a widow and a judge, and another about a Pharisee and a tax collector, Jesus teaches about being persistent in prayer and about true humility. The reading concludes with Jesus blessing little children.

Today’s Key Verse: Luke 18:14b GNT

[Jesus said:] “For those who make themselves great will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be made great.”

Read

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged. ² “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people. ³ And there was a widow in that same town who kept coming to him and pleading for her rights, saying, ‘Help me against my opponent!’ ⁴ For a long time the judge refused to act, but at last he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect people, ⁵ yet because of all the trouble this widow is giving me, I will see to it that she gets her rights. If I don’t, she will keep on coming and finally wear me out!’”

⁶ And the Lord continued, “Listen to what that corrupt judge said. ⁷ Now, will God not judge in favor of his own people who cry to him day and night for help? Will he be slow to help them? ⁸ I tell you, he will judge in their favor and do it quickly. But will the Son of Man find faith on earth when he comes?”

⁹ Jesus also told this parable to people who were sure of their own goodness and despised everybody else. ¹⁰ “Once there were two men who went up to the Temple to pray: one was a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood apart by himself and prayed,^[a] ‘I thank you, God, that I am not greedy, dishonest, or an adulterer, like everybody else. I thank you that I am not like that tax collector over there. ¹² I fast two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all my income.’ ¹³ But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even raise his face to heaven, but beat on his breast and said, ‘God, have pity on me, a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you,” said Jesus, “the tax collector, and not the Pharisee, was in the right with God when he went home. For those who make themselves great will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be made great.”

¹⁵ Some people brought their babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. The disciples saw them and scolded them for doing so, ¹⁶ but Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁷ Remember this! Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

Reflect

The widow in the first parable (verses 1–8) has no money to bribe the bad judge and no social influence to pressure him. What lesson is Jesus presenting here? In what way is the widow a model for prayer? Reread verses 9–14. How would you describe the behavior of the Pharisee and the tax collector? Why does Jesus say that the tax collector “was in the right with God” (verse 14)? What does Jesus say after the disciples scold those who came to Jesus with their children (verse 16)? What does his response teach you about Jesus? What is your understanding of what it means to receive the Kingdom of God like a child?

Pray

Lord Jesus, I come to you with a humble heart, seeking to receive the Kingdom of God as a child. Strengthen my faith day by day and help me to pray fervently. When I stray, remind me of your never-ending and welcoming love and draw me close to you. Thank you for your blessings and for the richness of your grace. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading

Proverbs 3:1–35: A father gives advice to his child.