The Word Made Fresh
1Then he told them a parable about always praying and never losing heart. 2He said, “There was a judge in a certain city who had no fear of God or respect for others. 3In that same city there was a widow who kept pestering him and asking him to rule against her opponent. 4The judge refused for some time, but then he thought, ‘I have no fear of God nor any man, 5but since she keeps bothering me I’ll grant her request, or sooner or later she’ll wear me out.’”
6Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the crooked judge says. 7And won’t God give justice to those who cry out day and night? Do you think God will delay long in helping them? 8I tell you, God will waste no time in granting them justice. Even so, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith anywhere on earth?”
9He also told this parable to some who thought they were righteous and looked down on others: 10“Two men, a Pharisee and a tax collector, went to the temple to pray. 11The Pharisee stood there and prayed like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people – thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week. I give a tenth of all my earnings.’ 13The tax collector stood apart, looked down instead of up to heaven, beat his chest and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14I say this man went home justified, but not the other man. Everyone who thinks too highly of himself will be humbled, but those who humble themselves will be lifted up.”
15People were bringing their children to him, even babies, hoping he would touch them. The disciples, though, tried to turn them away. 16But Jesus invited them, saying, “Let the little ones come to me. Don’t stop them. The kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17The truth is that those who don’t accept the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
18A certain official asked him, “Good teacher, what do I have to do in order to inherit eternal life?”
19Jesus replied, “Why do you call me good? Only God alone is good. 20You know the commandments – don’t commit adultery; don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t bear false witness, honor your parents.”
21The man replied, “I’ve kept all these rules since I was a boy.”
22When he heard this, Jesus responded, “You are still lacking one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.”
23When Jesus said this, the man was saddened because he was a very wealthy man. 24So, Jesus looked at him and said, “It is so hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God! 25In fact, it is easier for a camel to walk through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom.”
26Someone nearby asked, “Then who can be saved?”
27Jesus answered, “That which is impossible for men is possible for God.”
28Then Peter said, “Listen, we have given up even our homes and followed you.”
29Jesus responded, “The truth is that there is no one who has left home or spouse or brothers or parents or children in order to gain the kingdom of God 30who will not get in return much more in this life, and eternal life as well.”
31Then he met with the twelve privately and told them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything the prophets have written about the Son of Man will take place. 32He will be turned over to the Gentiles and they will make fun of him and insult him and spit on him. 33Then they will whip him and execute him, but on the third day he will rise again.” 34But they didn’t understand what he was talking about. Indeed, the meaning of what he said was hidden from them so that they couldn’t grasp it.
35As he was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting begging by the road. 36When he heard some people passing by he asked what was going on. 37They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was going by. 38Then he started shouting, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!”39The people in front of him tried to make him be quiet, but that just made him call out even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40Jesus stopped and told them to bring the man to him. When they did he asked him, 41“What do you want me to do for you?”
He said, “Lord, help me see again.”
42Jesus said, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”
43The man was able to see immediately and began to follow Jesus and praise God, and all the people who had seen it happen began to praise God as well.
Commentary
1-8: Prayer has not been mentioned since chapter 11 (but has been an important part of Jesus’ practice — see 3:21, 6:12, 9:18, 9:28, and 11:1). Now chapter 18 begins with two parables about prayer. The first has to do with persistence, the second with attitude.
Widows were nearly powerless, and judges notoriously powerful. She has nothing with which to bribe the judge, and thus has no reason to continue approaching him except her belief that her cause is just. The judge finally gives in for no reason except to get rid of her. A new feature is that in this case Luke introduces the parable with an explanation of it (it illustrates the virtue of persistence in prayer) which indicates that he might be afraid the parable will be misinterpreted. In other words, God is nothing like the judge in the parable, but we should be like the widow. Another new feature is that Jesus ends the parable with a series of three questions. The answer to the first is, “Yes” (and the reference to God’s “chosen” probably means the Jews). The answer to the second is, “No.” What do you think is the answer to the third?
9-14: The Pharisee is thankful that he fasts and tithes, unlike thieves, rogues, adulterers, and tax collectors. The tax collector by contrast is ashamed of his behavior. The tax collector goes home “justified,” but not the Pharisee. The Pharisee does not need to be justified because he has done no wrong, but Jesus’ comment at the end warns us that the idea that we can secure our own justification by tithing and fasting is a bad idea.
15-17: These three little verses have inspired much of the reform that has taken place in our society’s attitudes toward children in our emphasis on providing protection for them and securing their rights. But Jesus wasn’t trying to make reforms; he was simply teaching a lesson about the nature of God’s kingdom. What comes to mind for me is an old photo of my daughter as a four-year-old looking at a simple ball ornament on a Christmas tree. Her eyes are wide, her mouth is agape and her whole visage is a study in pure wonderment. Her wonder is uncluttered by the kind of knowledge adults have — the cost of the tree, the effort of hauling ornament boxes down from the attic, the anticipation of post-Christmas depression and credit card bills, and so forth. I don’t mean to suggest that we suspend real world knowledge and experience in order to receive the kingdom of God. I am suggesting that we are not to allow that real world knowledge and experience to cloud our perception of the simple beauty of everything God has made.
18-30: Luke’s account of this incident has subtle differences from the way Matthew (19:16) and Mark (10:17) tell it. The questioner is identified as an “official,” which probably means he was a presiding officer in the synagogue. Luke does not say he was a young man (as in Matthew) and we have no idea he is rich until we are well into the conversation. In Luke’s version he does not walk away when Jesus tells him to distribute his wealth to others, but stays put so that Jesus’ comment about a camel passing through a needle’s eye is directed to him. Then a question from the crowd prompts a response from Jesus. Finally, Peter points out that he and the other disciples have given up everything, and Jesus assures him that their willingness to give up everything for the sake of the kingdom of God will result in their inheriting eternal life. I hope the official learned the lesson.
31-34: It is interesting that Jesus pulls his disciples aside at precisely this point to tell them once again of his impending death and resurrection. It is an affirmation that possessions possess little attraction for one who is willing to die for others.
35-43: This story has parallels in Matthew (20:29) and Mark (10:46), each with unique features. Entering Jerusalem, Jesus is hailed by a blind beggar who has been told, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” The beggar knows exactly what he wants and boldly asks. Jesus simply tells him to see again. He does, and follows Jesus into the city glorifying God. Jesus actually tells him two things: to receive his sight, and that his faith has saved him, the word “saved” in this case simply meaning he is healed.
Takeaway
Eternal life is not a wage to be earned but a gift for being faithful.