Luke 18: Advice for the Rich
What does it mean to “always pray and never give up”?
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Luke 18:1 To illustrate their need to always pray and never give up, Jesus told a story,
King James
Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Why should Jesus story about the judge who didn’t care about the people be an encouragement to keep praying, never giving up on God?
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Luke 18:1–8 To illustrate their need to always pray and never give up, Jesus told a story, saying, “There was a judge in town who did not fear God and had no respect for people. A woman in his town kept coming to him and begging. ‘Give me justice against the one who has done me harm.’ At first, he refused to hear her case, but he eventually changed his mind. He said to himself, ‘I do not fear God or care about people, but this woman keeps pestering me. If I do not do something, she will wear me out with her endless pleas. Therefore, I will hear her case and give her the justice she wants.’ Consider how the unrighteous judge responded. Don’t you know that God, who cares for his people, will hear the case and bring justice to those who cry to him day and night? He will not put them off forever. I am telling you, he will bring justice, and soon. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find such persistent faith on the earth?”
King James
Luke 18:1–8 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
When is self-confidence good, and when might it be a liability?
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Luke 18:9 He gave an illustration for those who trusted in themselves, were confident in their own goodness, and despised others.
King James
Luke 18:9 He gave an illustration for those who trusted in themselves, were confident in their own goodness, and despised others.
Why were the tax collector’s prayers answered?
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Luke 18:10–14 “Two men went to pray at the Temple. One was a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like others who are greedy, dishonest, and unfaithful. I thank you that I am nothing like that tax collector over there. Twice a week, I fast, and I never fail to give you a tenth of my income.’ The tax collector stood in the distance, away from other people, and would not so much as look up toward heaven. In despair, he pounded his chest and prayed, ‘God, have mercy on me, for I have sinned.’ I guarantee, the tax collector had peace with God when he went home, not the Pharisee. For those who try to make themselves great will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
King James
Luke 18:10–14 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 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. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 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. 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.
Why did the disciples object to infants being brought to Jesus?
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Luke 18:15 Parents brought their infants so Jesus could touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.
King James
Luke 18:15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
What do children have in common with those who enter the Kingdom of God?
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Luke 18:16–17 “Don’t stop them,” Jesus said. “Allow the little ones to come to me. Of such is the Kingdom of God. Without exception, I tell you, those who do not accept the Kingdom of God like a young child cannot enter.”
King James
Luke 18:16–17 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. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
Why did the religious leader think some good deed would give him eternal life?
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Luke 18:18 A religious leader said to Jesus, “Most excellent Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
King James
Luke 18:18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Why did Jesus object to being called great?
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Luke 18:18–19 A religious leader said to Jesus, “Most excellent Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
“Why do you call me most excellent?” Jesus said. “No one is most excellent except God.”
King James
Luke 18:18–19 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
What did Jesus say would result in eternal life?
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Luke 18:20–22 “You know the commandments. Do not murder, commit adultery, steal, or give false testimony. Honor your parents.”
“I’ve done all that since I was young.”
“You lack one thing. Go and sell everything you own, and give the money to the poor. You will have treasure in Heaven and can follow me.”
King James
Luke 18:20–22 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. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. 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.
Why didn’t the man accept Jesus’ invitation to eternal life?
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Luke 18:23 Upon hearing this, he became very sad, because he had great wealth.
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Luke 18:23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
Why do rich people have difficulty entering God’s Kingdom?
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Luke 18:24–25 When Jesus saw his sorrow, he said, “It is nearly impossible for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. “It is harder for a man of great wealth to enter the Kingdom than for a camel to get through a needle’s eye.”
King James
Luke 18:24–25 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 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.
Why did people question, if rich people were excluded, whether anyone could be saved?
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Luke 18:26 Those listening said, “If that is true, then who in the world can be saved?”
King James
Luke 18:26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
With God making possible the impossible, how are rich people saved?
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Luke 18:27 “With men,” Jesus said, “it is impossible. But with God, all things are possible.”
King James
Luke 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
Other Gospel writers quantify “much more” as “a hundred times.” How did Peter receive so much more than what he had sacrificed?
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Matthew 19:29 “Those who have sacrificed their homes, relatives, or possessions for my sake will receive a hundred times more and will have eternal life.”
Mark 10:29–30 Jesus said, “Those who have sacrificed their homes, relatives, or possessions for my sake and for the good news will receive a hundred times more and will have eternal life.”
Luke 18:28–30 Simon Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you.”
Jesus said, “I guarantee, those who have sacrificed their homes, relatives, or possessions for sake of the Kingdom will receive much more in this life and will have eternal life.”
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Matthew 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Mark 10:29–30 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Luke 18:28–30 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. 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, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
Why couldn’t the disciples understand Jesus’ description of how he must suffer and die?
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Luke 18:31–34 Jesus took the twelve disciples aside and said to them privately, “Listen, we are going to Jerusalem. Everything the prophets have written about the Son of Man must be fulfilled. He will be delivered to the Romans, mocked, insulted, and spat upon. He will be whipped and killed. But on the third day, he will rise again.”
The disciples did not understand. What Jesus said was a mystery they could not figure out.
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Luke 18:31–34 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. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
How had the blind man learned about Jesus?
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Luke 18:35–38 As Jesus was passing near Jericho, a blind man sat by the side of the road, begging. Hearing the crowd going by, the blind man asked what was happening. When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was near, he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.”
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Luke 18:35–38 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
Why did the crowd tell the blind man to be quiet? What did they think when Jesus called the man?
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Luke 18:39–40 Those in the crowd who were closest to him rebuked him, telling him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me.”
So Jesus stopped and called for him.
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Luke 18:39–40 Those in the crowd who were closest to him rebuked him, telling him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me.” So Jesus stopped and called for him.
Why did Jesus ask the man what he wanted?
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Luke 18:41 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus said. “Heal my eyes, sir, so I can see.”
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Luke 18:41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
What did Jesus do to heal the man?
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Luke 18:42–43 “Look around. Because you believed, you now can see.”
Immediately, his eyes were healed, and he joined those who followed him, glorifying God.
All who saw the miracle praised God as well.
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Luke 18:42–43 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.