When Quickness Tarries Luke 18:1-14
Two Parables with a Central Point And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart (18:1-7) When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? (18:8) He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous (18:9-14)
Jesus & Prayer in Luke His regular practice Early morning & late night (6:12) Often (5:16) A customary place (11:1; 22:39) For others For his friends (22:32) For those who crucified him (23:34) At critical moments Beginning of ministry (3:21-22) Choosing disciples (6:12-13) Peter s confession (9:18) Transfiguration (9:28) Before teaching others (11:1) Before the cross (22:39) On the cross (23:34)
The Persistent Widow Luke 18:1-8
Luke 18:1-5 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, Give me justice against my adversary. For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her
Luke 18:5-8 justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming. And the Lord said, Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? (ESV)
The Principle And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart (18:1)
Lose Heart (enkakeō) Give up, become weary, tired, fall into despair.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing. (ESV)
The Parable There was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man... And there was a widow (18:2-3)
Biblical Mandates You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit. (Ex 23:6, ESV) Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not bring justice to the fatherless, and the widow s cause does not come to them. (Isa 1:23, ESV)
Biblical Mandates Then I will draw near to you for judgment... against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless... and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:5, ESV) Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction. (James 1:27, ESV)
Give me justice (ekdikeō) A legal term: Help me to justice, let justice be done, vindicate me.
Beat me down (hupopiadzo) A boxing term, literally to strike under the eye. Figuratively to wear down, exhaust. Similar to our word browbeat.
The Application Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? (18:6-7)
Comparison by Contrast Judge Uncaring Unconcerned Immoral Unloving Self-seeking Acts for the wrong reasons God Loves you Values you Listens to your needs Will act on behalf of his people with their best interests in mind
Two Questions: Will not God give justice to his elect who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?
Answer: I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.
2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. (ESV)
The Humble Tax Collector Luke 18:9-14
Luke 18:9-13 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get. But the tax collector, standing far off, would
Luke 18:13-14 not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted. (ESV)
The Principle He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt (18:9)
The Parable Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector (18:10-14)
Comparison by Contrast Pharisee Stands apart so as not to be defiled Congratulates himself Criticizes the tax collector Brags about exceeding the demands of the law Tax Collector Stands afar because he is broken Shows extreme sorrow Acknowledges his sinfulness Asks for mercy
Humble Yourself Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 18:4, ESV) Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Mt 23:12, ESV) Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you. (1 Pet 5:6, ESV)
The Application For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted (14)
Conclusion When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? (18:8)