Luke
By Joyce Webb 2021
Chapter 18 Verses 1-14
Verse 1 Jesus told the disciples –“Men should always pray, and not faint.” The New Living Bible says “never give up”.
When we have prayed for a long time for something—-and our prayer is not answered—we often give up believing that God will answer that prayer.
This is a difficult thing.
We could be praying for something that is not the best for us, and God is protecting us by not giving us what we pray for.
Sometimes what we pray for—is about another person and their will and their choices keep the prayer from being answered.
God does not force someone to do something. So if we are praying for a person that they will do something—-God may be working in their heart and mind—to try to show them truth or a new understanding—but they have a will and they must choose.
So we may have to pray for a long time before that person changes what they do.
God also has a time that is best for us to have some things.
We must wait for his time.
Maybe the reason God has waited so long to answer our prayer—is because God was waiting for us to change—to grow more mature—to change our attitude, etc.
Verse 2-7 Jesus told the story about a judge and a woman who asked him to help her.
She came to him over and over asking for help.
The judge said to himself—I am not afraid of any man, and I do not fear God—but because this woman keeps coming over and over—and I am tired of seeing her—-I will help her—just to stop her from coming.
Then Jesus said—Will not God hear the prayers of his believers—who cry to him day and night—he has listened to their prayers for a long time. He will give them justice.
These verses seem to be talking about believers who have had troubles and problems because people did not like them because they were Christians.
These believers were praying for God to do something about the people who were giving them so much trouble.
Then Jesus said—When the Son of Man comes to earth again—will he find faith on the earth?
We live in a time—when people do not believe in God as people did before.
So many people now, do not go to church. They do not care about God or what the Bible says. They have no faith in God.
People who were believers are giving up faith. They are walking away from God and going their own way.
Some are just discouraged, and give up. Some are disappointed that God did not answer their prayers as they wanted—so they stopped believing.
Jesus is trying to tell them to keep on praying and do not give up faith. Trust God—that when the time is right—he will answer.
I know that is hard to do.
Think about this. With no faith—what do you have? Without God–what to you have? Your own wisdom and strength is not enough. Also, if you want to go to heaven, you have to have faith and God.
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Verses 9-14 Jesus told this story to some in the group who thought they were righteous and holy —and felt satisfied with themselves that they were so righteous.
Jesus said: There were 2 men who went to the temple to pray.
One man–a Jewish leader—a Pharisee—stood—and prayed “with himself”.
He said, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men are, who not honest and take money from others by charging them too much.
I do not do things that are not right, I do not do adultery, I am faithful in my marriage.
I am not like this “publican”—tax collector.
(The Jewish people hated the Jewish men who collected tax money for the Romans who ruled over Israel.
And another reason, the men who collected tax money often were not honest. They told people they owed more money than was true. Then the collector man kept the extra money for himself.)
I fast (go without eating) 2 times a week.
I give my tithes (1/10th of my income).
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The other man, stood far away. He did not lift his face up. He kept his head down and bowed.
He hit his chest with his hands and said, God, show me mercy, I am a sinner.
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Jesus said, God heard the prayer of the publican.
The Jewish leaders, Pharisee, was not really praying to God. He was talking loud —-so other people could hear what he said. He was bragging about how good he was.
The publican, saw himself as a man who did wrong things sometimes. He knew he needed God to forgive him. He was humble. He was in the temple to really pray.
Jesus said that God heard the publican’s prayer and forgave him.
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Then Jesus said, The person who lifts himself up and is proud—-in the end will be put to shame.
The person who is humble—he will be well thought of—people will lift him up and respect him.
God will hear the prayer of the humble person.