Luke 18 · WEB
Persistent Prayer, Humility, and the Cost of Discipleship
Listen — WEB narration 0:00 / 0:00 Narration: World English Bible (David Williams), public domain — AudioTreasure.
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He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray and not give up,
2saying, "There was a judge in a certain city who didn't fear God and didn't respect man.
3A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, 'Defend me from my adversary!'
4He wouldn't for a while, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man,
5yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.'"
6The Lord said, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.
7Won't God avenge his chosen ones who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?
8I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
9He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.
10"Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
11The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.'
13But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'
14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
15They were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
16Jesus summoned them, saying, "Allow the little children to come to me, and don't hinder them, for God's Kingdom belongs to such as these.
17Most certainly, I tell you, whoever doesn't receive God's Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it."
18A certain ruler asked him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
19Jesus asked him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one—God.
20You know the commandments: 'Don't commit adultery,' 'Don't murder,' 'Don't steal,' 'Don't give false testimony,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'"
21He said, "I have observed all these things from my youth up."
22When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
23But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.
24Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into God's Kingdom!
25For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter into God's Kingdom."
26Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?"
27But he said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."
28Peter said, "Look, we have left everything and followed you."
29He said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for God's Kingdom's sake,
30who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life."
31He took the twelve aside, and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.
32For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on.
33They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again."
34They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn't understand the things that were said.
35As he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.
36Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.
37They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
38He cried out, "Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!"
39Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "You son of David, have mercy on me!"
40Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him,
41"What do you want me to do?" He said, "Lord, that I may see again."
42Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you."
43Immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God.
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Summary
Jesus teaches persistent prayer through the parable of the widow and unjust judge, then exposes the danger of self-righteousness with the Pharisee and tax collector. He welcomes little children, calls a rich ruler to give up his wealth and follow him, and predicts his coming death and resurrection in Jerusalem for the third time. The chapter closes with a blind beggar near Jericho who refuses to be silenced and is healed because of his faith.
Themes
- Persistent, faithful prayer
- Humility versus self-righteousness
- Childlike receptivity to the Kingdom
- The danger of riches and the cost of discipleship
- Faith that sees Jesus rightly
Key verses
- Luke 18:1 — “He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray and not give up.”
- Luke 18:14 — “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Luke 18:17 — “Whoever doesn't receive God's Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.”
- Luke 18:27 — “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
Context & background
Luke 18 unfolds along the road to Jerusalem (modern Israel). Widows were among the most vulnerable in ancient Near Eastern society, with no legal standing apart from a male advocate, which gives the widow's persistence in court its sharp social edge. Pharisees and tax collectors represented the two extremes of Second Temple Judaism — religious insiders and despised collaborators with Rome — and the temple in Jerusalem was the public stage for prayer. Jericho, where the blind man cries out, lies in the West Bank near the Jordan River, about a day's uphill walk from Jerusalem; it was Jesus' last major stop before his triumphal entry.
Cross-references
- Genesis 18:23-33 — Abraham's persistent intercession before God
- Isaiah 53 — the suffering Servant whose mission Jesus is about to fulfill
- Isaiah 57:15 — God dwells with the humble and contrite in spirit
- Mark 10:13-16 — parallel account of Jesus blessing the children
- Matthew 19:16-30 — parallel account of the rich young ruler