Luke 18

King James Version

Full text for Luke Chapter 18

1¶ And he spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2Saying, ‹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.›

6And 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.›

15¶ And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when [his] disciples saw [it], they rebuked them.

16But 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.›

17‹Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.›

18¶ And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

19And Jesus said unto him, ‹Why callest thou me good? none [is] good, save one, [that is], God.›

20‹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.›

21And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

22Now 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.›

23And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

24And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, ‹How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!›

25‹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.›

26And they that heard [it] said, Who then can be saved?

27And he said, ‹The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.›

28Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

29And 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,›

30‹Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.›

31¶ 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.›

32‹For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:›

33‹And they shall scourge [him], and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.›

34And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

35¶ And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

36And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.

37And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

38And he cried, saying, Jesus, [thou] Son of David, have mercy on me.

39And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, [Thou] Son of David, have mercy on me.

40And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,

41Saying, ‹What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?› And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

42And Jesus said unto him, ‹Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.›

43And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw [it], gave praise unto God.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jesus teaches on persistent prayer through the parable of the unjust judge and on humility through the parable of the Pharisee and publican. He welcomes children, stating that the Kingdom of God belongs to such. Jesus challenges a rich ruler to forsake his possessions for eternal life, foretells his own suffering, and heals a blind man whose faith saves him.

Medium Summary

Luke 18 opens with Jesus' parables on prayer and humility. The parable of the unjust judge encourages persistent prayer, assuring that God will swiftly answer His elect. The parable of the Pharisee and publican contrasts self-righteousness with the humble repentance of a publican, declaring the latter justified. Jesus then welcomes little children, emphasizing that the Kingdom of God is received with childlike faith. He challenges a rich ruler to forsake his wealth to inherit eternal life, highlighting the difficulty for the rich to enter the Kingdom but affirming that all things are possible with God. Finally, Jesus foretells His suffering and resurrection to His disciples, though they do not comprehend, and restores sight to a persistent blind man near Jericho, commending his faith.

Long Summary

The eighteenth chapter of Luke begins with Jesus teaching the necessity of persistent prayer through the parable of the unjust judge and the widow. He illustrates that if an unrighteous judge yields to a widow's importunity, how much more will God, a righteous judge, avenge His elect who cry to Him day and night, doing so speedily. This parable concludes with a poignant question about finding faith on earth at the Son of Man's coming. Following this, Jesus addresses those who trust in their own righteousness with the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. The Pharisee boasts of his piety and despises others, while the publican humbly confesses his sin, receiving justification over the self-exalting Pharisee. Jesus then welcomes infants, rebuking His disciples for hindering them, and declares that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who receive it with the humility of a child. A rich ruler approaches Jesus, asking how to inherit eternal life, to which Jesus initially points to the commandments. Upon the ruler's claim of keeping them all, Jesus challenges him to sell all his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him, revealing the man's attachment to wealth. Jesus then laments the difficulty for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God, likening it to a camel passing through a needle's eye, but assures His disciples that what is impossible with men is possible with God. Peter then highlights the disciples' sacrifice, and Jesus promises manifold rewards in this life and eternal life in the world to come for those who forsake all for the Kingdom. Lastly, Jesus privately reiterates to the twelve His impending journey to Jerusalem, where He will be delivered to the Gentiles, mocked, scourged, and put to death, but will rise again on the third day, though the disciples remain uncomprehending. As they approach Jericho, a blind man persistently calls out to Jesus, the Son of David, for mercy, and Jesus, moved by his faith, restores his sight, leading the man to follow Him and glorify God.

Core Concepts

  • Persistent PrayerThe parable of the unjust judge teaches that believers ought always to pray and not to faint, as God will surely avenge His elect who cry out to Him day and night.
  • Humility vs. Self-RighteousnessIllustrated by the Pharisee and publican, this concept shows that justification comes through humble confession of sin rather than self-exalting piety and despising others.
  • Childlike FaithJesus emphasizes that the Kingdom of God is received by those who approach it with the simple trust and humility characteristic of a little child.
  • Wealth and SalvationThe encounter with the rich ruler highlights the significant challenge wealth can pose to entering the Kingdom of God, though Jesus affirms that what is impossible with men is possible with God.
  • Sacrifice for the KingdomJesus promises manifold rewards in this present time and everlasting life in the world to come for those who forsake worldly possessions and relationships for the sake of God's Kingdom.
  • Prophecy of Suffering and ResurrectionJesus explicitly foretells His betrayal, suffering, death at the hands of the Gentiles, and His resurrection on the third day, though His disciples struggle to understand these things.
  • Faith and HealingThe blind man's persistent crying out to Jesus and his belief in Jesus' power results in his immediate healing, demonstrating that his faith had saved him.