60 to 75 min Analyze the Parable of the Persistent Widow as a model for unceasing prayer and justice. Examine the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector regarding justification by grace. Understand Jesus' welcome of infants and the radical challenge to the Rich Ruler regarding wealth. Trace Jesus' third passion prediction and the healing of blind Bartimaeus near Jericho. Approaching Jericho on the final ascent to Jerusalem, Jesus provides profound teachings on prayer, humility, and wealth. He tells the Parable of the Persistent Widow, who wears down a corrupt judge through relentless pleading: if an unrighteous judge finally renders justice, how much more will God speedily vindicate his elect who cry to him day and night? He contrasts a self-satisfied Pharisee bragging about his fasting and tithing with a broken tax collector beating his breast and praying: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" When disciples rebuke parents bringing infants, Jesus embraces them: whoever does not receive the kingdom like a child will never enter it. A wealthy ruler asks how to inherit eternal life, but leaves sorrowful when Jesus commands him to sell all and give to the poor. Foretelling his torture and crucifixion in Jerusalem, Jesus heals a blind beggar outside Jericho who cries out in relentless messianic faith. God justifies the humble who cry for mercy, grants his kingdom to those who receive it like little children, and opens the eyes of the blind who call upon the Son of David. 18:1-8: The Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge Jesus tells a parable to teach that disciples ought always to pray and not lose heart. In a city an unjust judge who neither feared God nor respected people repeatedly refuses justice to a defenseless widow. Because she keeps bothering him, he grants justice lest she wear him out. The Lord says: will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? 18:9-14: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector To those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt, Jesus tells of two men going up to the temple to pray. The Pharisee stands and prays about himself, thanking God he is not like extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even this tax collector, boasting of fasting twice a week and tithing everything. But the tax collector stands far off, not even lifting his eyes to heaven, beating his breast, saying: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" Jesus declares: this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted. 18:15-30: Children and the Rich Ruler Disciples rebuke people bringing infants to Jesus. Jesus calls them: "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." A ruler asks: "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus cites the commandments. The ruler claims: "All these I have kept from my youth." Jesus tells him: "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." Hearing this, he becomes deeply sorrowful, for he was extremely rich. Jesus remarks: "How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." What is impossible with man is possible with God. 18:31-34: The Third Passion Prediction Taking the Twelve aside, Jesus prophesies what will happen in Jerusalem: all things written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. He will be delivered over to the Gentiles, mocked, shamefully treated, spit upon, flogged, and killed, and on the third day he will rise. The disciples understand none of these things; the saying is hidden from them. 18:35-43: The Blind Beggar at Jericho As Jesus draws near Jericho, a blind beggar sits by the roadside. Hearing the crowd, he asks what it means. Told that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, he cries out: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Those in front rebuke him, telling him to be silent, but he cries out all the more: "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stops and commands him to be brought: "What do you want me to do for you?" He replies: "Lord, let me recover my sight." Jesus says: "Recover your sight; your faith has made you well." Immediately he receives sight and follows him, glorifying God, and all the people praise God. Be Merciful (Hilaskomai) The tax collector's plea for atoning propitiation, asking God to look upon him through the mercy seat of the temple sacrifice. Receive the Kingdom Like a Child Approaching God with utter dependence, helplessness, and total trust, free from legalistic pride or self-manufactured merit. Son of David The royal messianic title used by the blind beggar outside Jericho, acknowledging Jesus as Israel's promised Davidic deliverer. Never stop praying for justice and spiritual breakthrough; bring your petitions before God with persistent, bold faith. Abandon every form of self-righteous comparison with others; stand before God solely on the basis of Christ's atoning mercy. Surrender whatever possessions, status, or comforts compete with following Jesus, trusting that what is impossible for man is possible with God. How does the Parable of the Persistent Widow encourage us during seasons of apparent divine silence? Why was the tax collector justified rather than the morally upright Pharisee in the temple? What made it so difficult for the rich ruler to let go of his possessions to follow Jesus? Clarify that the unjust judge is an "argument from the lesser to the greater": if even a corrupt judge answers persistence, how much more will a loving Father vindicate his children! Point out that the tax collector beats his breast, the seat of human guilt and sorrow, and uses the temple sacrificial verb for mercy (hilaskomai). Help the group see the contrast between the rich ruler who walked away grieved and the blind beggar who left everything to follow Jesus. Joel B. Green, The Gospel of Luke, chapter 18. Kenneth E. Bailey, Through Peasant Eyes, chapters on the Widow and the Pharisee. Darrell L. Bock, Luke 9:51 to 24:53, BECNT. Identify a long-standing prayer request for a family member, social justice issue, or personal struggle where you have felt discouraged. Spend fifteen minutes praying persistently for that need, renewing your trust in God's sovereign timing. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of David, have mercy on us! We bring no self-righteous boast or moral pedigree before your throne, but cry out like the tax collector for your grace. Open the eyes of our hearts, free us from the idolatry of wealth, and grant us childlike faith to follow you on the way of the cross. Amen. Humility, Persistent Prayer, and Renunciation in Luke 18 Write 700 to 900 words on the theological themes of Luke 18. Analyze the Parable of the Persistent Widow, the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, the encounter with the Rich Ruler, and the healing of the blind beggar near [Jericho](/bible/explorer/place/jericho) as Jesus journeys toward [Jerusalem](/bible/explorer/place/jerusalem). Examine the literary structure and theological contrast of the Persistent Widow against the unjust judge. Analyze the prayers of the Pharisee and the tax collector in the temple of [Jerusalem](/bible/explorer/place/jerusalem), evaluating what constitutes true justification before God. Evaluate the interaction between [Jesus](/bible/explorer/person/jesus) and the rich ruler in light of wealth, discipleship, and receiving the kingdom like an infant. Discuss the blind beggar's persistent messianic cry near [Jericho](/bible/explorer/place/jericho) as a model of persevering faith. Integrates rigorous textual exegesis of Luke 18 with historical awareness of Second Temple temple liturgy, rabbinic tithe requirements, and discipleship theology. What prayer did the humble tax collector pray in the temple in Luke 18:13? God, be merciful to me, a sinner! What animal did Jesus say it was easier to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God? A camel (Luke 18:25). What title did the blind beggar near Jericho cry out repeatedly when he heard Jesus was passing by? "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" (Luke 18:38-39). Read Luke 18:1 to 43 in two modern translations. Read Psalm 51:1 to 19 and Isaiah 35:1 to 10. Justification in Luke 18:14 Scholars note that Luke 18:14 contains the only occurrence of the verb dikaioō ("justified") in the Gospels in the Pauline sense of forensic vindication by grace through faith rather than works of the law. The Eye of a Needle Medieval legend claimed that the "needle's eye" was a small pedestrian gate in Jerusalem walls. Exegetes reject this folklore; Jesus used a deliberate Middle Eastern hyperbole comparing the largest animal in Palestine with the smallest opening to emphasize human impossibility without divine grace. The Greek verb hypōpiazō used by the judge in 18:5 literally means "to give a black eye," metaphorically meaning to wear out or ruin his public reputation. Jericho was an opulent winter resort city for Herod the Great and Roman elites, located near freshwater springs. Kenneth E. Bailey, Through Peasant Eyes: More Lucan Parables (Eerdmans). Joel B. Green, The Gospel of Luke (NICNT).