Luke 18:1-8
A widow in those days struggled to get by. They had very limited means for which to provide for their own basic needs. If a widow was wronged and needed a judge to intervene, there was little chance of it happening. To even get a judge to hear a case, you had to either offer a bribe or be able to return some favor. A widow could do neither. She had 3 strikes against her before she started:
- She was a woman. In those days there was little respect for a woman. Her testimony wasn't admissible in court.
- Women didn't go to the judge and she had no husband.
- She was poor and unable to offer a bribe.
In the parable, she was persistent enough in pursuing the judge, he took her case so she would weary him no longer.
If a widow with no authority, respect or sway of any kind over a judge moved him to act on her behalf, then how much more will our God act on our behalf when He loves us and has gone to such a great extent to save us and care for those called by His name. God will avenge His children speedily. While the woman of the parable was at the mercy of the law, we run to the throne of grace.
However, when Jesus comes, will He really find faith on the earth? This is a great question. The widow acted in faith by her persistence, she was sure it would make a difference. Will we be found in faithful prayer to our Father in heaven, the just and righteous judge? Or will the prayers cease and His people lose heart? Will there be ten righteous?
Luke 18:9-14
I've really become a fan of how Luke groups his gospel account. What seems to be an abrupt shift of topics or random insertion begins to find a home after digging into the passages. They begin to grow together and gel. Verse nine seems to be a change of topic at first glance, as if he moved away from the end times discussion. But the question was asked at the end of verse eight, "Will He really find faith on the earth?" The unjust judge ended up helping the widow, how much more will The Just Judge take care of His children? Do you believe that? Do you trust in that? Or are there other things propping you up?
Jesus spoke another parable some who trusted themselves, having faith in their own goodness. This group of people were not only self-righteous, but they despised any who were not like them. In His parable, Jesus spoke of the Pharisee first. He was a good Pharisee, making his way to worship at the temple. He offered His prayer to God, thanking God that he was so good and not like those extortioners, unjust, adulterers or tax collectors. He found additional righteousness in fasting twice a week and giving tithes for everything. The law did not require fasting in this way, nor were they required to tithe in this extreme manner. The law required a single day of fast for the Day of Atonement, the Pharisees mad a habit of fasting twice a week. This man simply reported to God how good he was. It's almost as if he thought God now owed him something.
The tax collector was a societal outcast. He was seen as a turncoat, abandoning his countryman to rob them for Rome. Tax collectors would not be welcomed with open arms. The text tells us he was standing far off. It maybe he was in the outer court only, the court of gentiles; but there is also the thought this was because of humility. This man knew his wretchedness, his unworthiness and would not even raise his eyes to heaven. Beating his breast was an act of mourning and contrition. He recognized that he was a sinner as he cried out to the Lord for mercy. Jesus reports that this man was justified. It was a complete reversal of the understanding at that time. It wasn't the religious appearance of the Pharisee, his religious language and all his works that justified a man. It was humble, repentant heart presented to God. Those who exalt themselves, it seems God will deal with them. Those who humble themselves before Him, He will lift them up.
Will He really find faith on the earth? Apparently so, some of which will be in the unlikeliest places.
Luke 18:15-17
In those days and in that culture, children weren't really valued until they got older and could perform some work or chores for the family. However, it was normal for a young child to be brought to the Rabbi to be blessed. For the most part, though, young children were mostly to be seen and not heard. When some brought their babies to Jesus so that He could bless them, the disciples responded to this, attempting to wave off these babies. They apparently felt Jesus' time was too valuable to be wasted on children. Jesus rebuked the disciples and asked that the children come. In fact, their coming to him this way was likened to the kingdom of God.
The children came trusting. In them, Jesus would find faith. They had no notion of self-righteousness and didn't understand their depravity. They simple ran to Him, to enjoy Him and be with Him. They employed the simple trust needed to enter the Kingdom.
Luke 18:18-23
A young man came to Jesus seeking eternal life. He was a ruler of some kind, a man of authority and power. There's no way to know what this position was. He came to be taught the formula to eternal life by the good teacher. He had wealth and position. He was young but apparently realized that would last. He needed to add eternal life to his treasures. Why did the man refer to him as good when only God is good?
For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. (Psalm 86:5)
You are good, and do good;
Teach me Your statutes. (Psalm 119:68)
This man came to add what Jesus offered as if it were an accessory to his life. He had all he ever wanted, yet knew there was something missing. He knew some day, death would call and his riches and authority would be useless. To his proud heart, Jesus gave the law.
Surely He scorns the scornful,
But gives grace to the humble. (Proverbs 3:34)
The pride comes out into the open when He tells the only 'good' man to ever live that he was good, that he had not broken the laws. If this man truly kept the law as he thought, he didn't need a savior. Of course, we know that's not the case. The bible tells us every man has sinned.
Jesus sent the man away with instructions. This man's faith and trust was in his riches. He couldn't come humbly to Jesus, repent and trust Him if he believed his money was sufficient and he had never done anything wrong. The kingdom was near, but oh so far away. This all becomes painfully obvious when the man goes away sad. Given the choice between kingdom and riches, he couldn't see parting with the riches to pursue something he couldn't see and didn't offer anything of value on that day, as far as he could see.
Luke 18:24-27
The young rich man was sorrowful because he could not let go of his riches. It was if he were shackled to them, always needing a little more, just in case. The thought of giving it all away was far from any reality he could consider. Jesus acknowledge this with his words. One can't trust in riches and trust in God simultaneously. This makes it hard for those who have riches to enter the kingdom. Who are these rich people? If you are an American you likely fall into this category. If you are the among the poorest 20% of Americans, you are wealthier than the majority of people in the most other affluent nations of the world.
Can a camel to through the eye of a needle? Sometimes you hear a story of a cate called, 'the eye of the needle.' This is a fable. There was a needle gate in the middle ages, but that nothing to do with this. Jesus used hyperbole to make the point – this is how hard it is to enter the kingdom. However, what appears impossible to us is nothing for God. In Him, all things are possible. We are proof of that.
This brings to mind the previous chapter when Jesus gave examples of those who were together and one will be taken and the other left on the day of Jesus. When He comes, will He really find faith on the earth?
Luke 18:28-30
This seems like a self-exaltation – a spiritual brag, no different than the Pharisee would say. Its probably not meant to be that, otherwise Jesus would have likely corrected him. Peter is pointing out that they had, in fact, left it all to follow Jesus. They had no other life, no plan B. Jesus assured them that they had made the right decision. Those forsaking all for the kingdom of God will receive many times more in the present and the coming age.
Luke 18:31-34
Jesus spoke these words only to the inner circle, only to the twelve. All that the prophets said was about too play out in Jerusalem. What a strange conversation for them. They were thinking the kingdom was coming, it was near. They were thinking about having a position a cabinet position when Jesus took the throne. Now he was talking about being mocked, insulted, spit on, scourged and killed. Then, He would rise on the third day. These things were hidden from them. They did not register. This probably wasn't anything supernatural in this, it just wasn't discerned. There was no context for it.
Luke 18:35-43
As they neared Jericho, thy came upon a blind man. Matthew said there were two blind men while Luke is focused on the one. This may be the one people knew more of. His name was Bartimaeus (means son of Timaeus). He heard Jesus was coming and cried out to Him repeatedly, even when others told him to be quiet. He called out to the Son of David, a messianic name.
Jesus stopped and called to Bart. Mark adds the interesting detail that Bartimaeus threw off his cloak as he ran to Jesus. Jesus asked him what he wanted Him to do. He believed Jesus could deliver him from blindness and He asked for that. Jesus told him to receive it. His faith had led him to the only one who could do the impossible. Jesus made it possible and his sight was restored. That's amazing, but what happened then is even more important. He followed Jesus, glorified God. Those who witnessed it glorified the Lord also.
Bartimaeus displayed the persistence of the widow we saw in verses 1-8. He displayed the brokenness of the tax collector. He came with the simple faith of a child. While he was blind, he saw better than most. His faith gave him spiritual eyes to see his Lord and trust in Him. The restoration of his sight was a physical display of the change that had occurred in his heart.
Luke gives us a fascinating set of contrasts in this chapter.
- A Pharisee, trusting in goodness and willing to explain to God just how good he was. He was thankful that he wasn't like any of those other people – those he saw as less. He was bold, but blind and foolish. He was ignorant to the truth and reality of Christ.
- The tax collector was humble, broken over his sin. Repentant and trusting. He was timid in his approach to God, feeling unworthy.
- The children wanted to run to Jesus but others tried to keep them away. They came simply and innocently – not aware of sin, only love and affection. They stand as the model for others. They carry nothing into the relationship. They run boldly to him as to a father.
- A rich man who had good physical vision, but could not see spiritually. His spiritual eyes couldn't see past his wealth. We went away from Jesus carrying what he had. He came boldly, as his money made him so. He was not broken. He was as self-righteous as the Pharisee.
- The blind beggar who can see the truth of Jesus and the way to the kingdom. A man who threw away his only possession to follow Jesus. He looked like the children. He was persistent as the widow. He proved he did not need eyes or status or religion. He just needed hope and the boldness to cry out to Him.
©2020 Doug Ford
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