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In this lesson:
Don't stop praying (18:1). Two parables on prayer. The persistent widow and the Godless judge (18:2-8). The Pharisee and the tax collector (18:9-14). Prayer shouldn't be a series of mindless repetitions (Matthew 6:7). Make it an ongoing dialogue with God that shows devotion and helps you grow in faith. Study Tip: Before starting each lesson, take a few minutes to ask God to open your heart. |
By an unknown artist.
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The Gospel According to St. Luke
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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Luke 18:1-14
Two parables on prayer 1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? 9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 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. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 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. 14 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. |
Margin notes:
"Men ought always to pray." (18:1) - A message so important, it is repeated in Romans 12:12, Ephesians 6:18 and Colossians 4:2. "Not to faint." (18:1) - Means, "don't lose heart." "Which feared not God, neither regarded man." (18:2) - "Who didn't respect God or people." "Avenge me of mine adversary." (18:3) - "Protect me from my enemy." "He said within himself." (18:4) - "He said to himself." "This widow troubleth me." (18:5) - "This widow pesters me." "Unjust judge." (18:6) - "Evil judge." "Though he bear long with them?" (18:7) - "Will He take long to help them?" "The Pharisee stood and prayed." (18:11) - See Matthew 6:5 to read Jesus' opinion on standing up in public to pray. "Publican." (18:10) - Publicans were tax collectors. Some manned customhouses and collected duty on imported and exported trade goods. Others collected taxes on everything that was bought or sold. There were taxes to cross bridges, to use the roads or the harbor, to enter the marketplace or to ship merchandise. There were taxes on wagons and the animals that pulled them. To the disgruntled population it seemed like everything was taxed. The publicans paid Rome for the right to collect the taxes and then paid themselves by overcharging (Luke 3:12-13) and keeping the difference. Couple this with the fact that tax collectors worked for the oppressive Romans occupying their land and you can understand why they were not popular with the Jewish population. Publicans were considered sinners (Luke 19:7) and lumped together with harlots (Matthew 21:31-32). "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are." (18:11) - The Pharisee thought he was "pure" (Proverbs 30:12). "I fast." (18:12) - "I abstain from eating." Devout Jews would not eat during a time of prayer, but these types of "good deeds" can not save us. "I give tithes of all that I possess." (18:12) - Is this enough? Listen to Jesus (Matthew 23:23). "Smote upon his beast." (18:13) - "Beat his chest." "God be merciful." (18:13) - Except through God's mercy, mankind can not earn forgiveness or save itself. "This man went down to his house justified rather than the other." (18:14) - For Jesus to tell His audience that a hated tax collector was forgiven before a respected Pharisee would have been earth shattering. "Every one that exalteth himself shall be abased." (18:14) - "Everyone who praises himself will be humbled." This teaching can also be found in the Old Testament (Proverbs 29:23; Ezekiel 21:26). Jesus repeated it in Matthew 23:12 and Luke 13:30 and reinforced it again 14:11. |
New Living Translation
Luke 18:1-14
Parable of the Persistent Widow
1 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
2 "There was a judge in a certain city," he said, "who neither feared God nor cared about people.
3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, 'Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.'
4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, 'I don't fear God or care about people,
5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'"
6 Then the Lord said, "Learn a lesson from this unjust judge.
7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?"
Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector
9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else:
10 "Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: 'I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don't cheat, I don't sin, and I don't commit adultery. I'm certainly not like that tax collector!
12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.'
13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.'
14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Parable of the Persistent Widow
1 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
2 "There was a judge in a certain city," he said, "who neither feared God nor cared about people.
3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, 'Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.'
4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, 'I don't fear God or care about people,
5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'"
6 Then the Lord said, "Learn a lesson from this unjust judge.
7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?"
Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector
9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else:
10 "Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: 'I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don't cheat, I don't sin, and I don't commit adultery. I'm certainly not like that tax collector!
12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.'
13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.'
14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?" (18:7)
"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." (18:11-13)
"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." (18:11-13)
Today's Question:
1. What does the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector teach us? (18:9-14)
Read your Bible and strengthen your relationship with God.
1. What does the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector teach us? (18:9-14)
Read your Bible and strengthen your relationship with God.
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector teaches the doctrine of justification* by faith (Galatians 3:23-24)
versus justification by the Mosaic Law. To justify ourselves through faith, we must acknowledge that we are sinners in need of God's mercy. The Pharisee in this parable didn't do this when he prayed. In fact, he didn't pray at all; he recited a list of sins he hadn't committed (18:11). This isn't holding communion with God. While the Pharisee was calling others "sinner," the tax collector in the parable recognized himself for what he was and begged forgiveness. He was too ashamed to even raise his eyes to God (18:13). This contrast leads us to a deeper understanding of justification and what it truly means to be made right with God.
*Additional note: To be justified is to be made right, declared righteous, not guilty, pardoned and set free from sin. It means we are forgiven, not by obeying the Mosaic Law in the Old Testament, but by faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23-29; Galatians 2:16). Our deeds do not justify us; rather they are the results of our justification. Being justified means we are free from punishment and "have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).
Application thought for the day:
Have you done an honest appraisal of your relationship with God?
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible". All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2026 evolke
© 2026 evolke