181 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart , 2 saying , "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man . 3 "There was a widow in that city , and she kept coming to him, saying , 'Give me legal protection from my opponent .' 4 "For a while he was unwilling e ; but afterward e he said to himself , 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man , 5 yet because this widow bothers e me, I will give her legal protection , otherwise e by continually e coming she will wear me out.' " 6 And the Lord said , "Hear what the unrighteous judge said ; 7 now , will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night , and will He delay long over them? 8 "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly . However , when the Son of Man comes , will He find faith on the earth ?"
9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous , and viewed others with contempt : 10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray , one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector . 11 "The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself : 'God , I thank You that I am not like other people : swindlers , unjust , adulterers , or even like this tax collector . 12 'I fast twice a week ; I pay tithes of all that I get .' 13 "But the tax collector , standing some distance away , was even unwilling e to lift up his eyes to heaven , but was beating his breast , saying , 'God , be merciful to me, the sinner !' 14 "I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other ; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled , but he who humbles himself will be exalted ."
15 And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. 16 But Jesus called for them, saying , "Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these . 17 "Truly I say to you, whoever e does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."
18 A ruler questioned Him, saying , "Good Teacher , what shall I do to inherit eternal life ?" 19 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good ? No one is good except God alone . 20 "You know the commandments , ' DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY , DO NOT MURDER , DO NOT STEAL , DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS , HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER .' " 21 And he said , "All these things I have kept from my youth ." 22 When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack ; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor , and you shall have treasure in heaven ; and come , follow Me." 23 But when he had heard these things , he became very sad , for he was extremely rich .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 18:1-23
Commentary on Luke 18:1-8
(Read Luke 18:1-8)
All God's people are praying people. Here earnest steadiness in prayer for spiritual mercies is taught. The widow's earnestness prevailed even with the unjust judge: she might fear lest it should set him more against her; but our earnest prayer is pleasing to our God. Even to the end there will still be ground for the same complaint of weakness of faith.
Commentary on Luke 18:9-14
(Read Luke 18:9-14)
This parable was to convince some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. God sees with what disposition and design we come to him in holy ordinances. What the Pharisee said, shows that he trusted to himself that he was righteous. We may suppose he was free from gross and scandalous sins. All this was very well and commendable. Miserable is the condition of those who come short of the righteousness of this Pharisee, yet he was not accepted; and why not? He went up to the temple to pray, but was full of himself and his own goodness; the favour and grace of God he did not think worth asking. Let us beware of presenting proud devotions to the Lord, and of despising others. The publican's address to God was full of humility, and of repentance for sin, and desire toward God. His prayer was short, but to the purpose; God be merciful to me a sinner. Blessed be God, that we have this short prayer upon record, as an answered prayer; and that we are sure that he who prayed it, went to his house justified; for so shall we be, if we pray it, as he did, through Jesus Christ. He owned himself a sinner by nature, by practice, guilty before God. He had no dependence but upon the mercy of God; upon that alone he relied. And God's glory is to resist the proud, and give grace to the humble. Justification is of God in Christ; therefore the self-condemned, and not the self-righteous, are justified before God.
Commentary on Luke 18:15-17
(Read Luke 18:15-17)
None are too little, too young, to be brought to Christ, who knows how to show kindness to those not capable of doing service to him. It is the mind of Christ, that little children should be brought to him. The promise is to us, and to our seed; therefore He will bid them welcome to him with us. And we must receive his kingdom as children, not by purchase, and must call it our Father's gift.
Commentary on Luke 18:18-30
(Read Luke 18:18-30)
Many have a great deal in them very commendable, yet perish for lack of some one thing; so this ruler could not bear Christ's terms, which would part between him and his estate. Many who are loth to leave Christ, yet do leave him. After a long struggle between their convictions and their corruptions, their corruptions carry the day. They are very sorry that they cannot serve both; but if one must be quitted, it shall be their God, not their wordly gain. Their boasted obedience will be found mere outside show; the love of the world in some form or other lies at the root. Men are apt to speak too much of what they have left and lost, of what they have done and suffered for Christ, as Peter did. But we should rather be ashamed that there has been any regret or difficulty in doing it.