The big picture
On his way toward Jerusalem, the temple city, the teacher Jesus tells his followers to keep praying. They must not lose heart. A widow's persistence and a tax collector's humble plea challenge the belief that rank or a good record can secure God's favour. Infants are welcomed, while a wealthy ruler struggles to release his possessions. Jesus again explains the suffering awaiting him, but the twelve do not understand. A blind man then calls for mercy and receives sight, becoming a follower who openly praises God.
In this chapter
- A Widow Keeps Asking for Justice Luke 18:1-8
Jesus tells an account to encourage prayer without giving up.
- Two Prayers Reveal Different Hearts Luke 18:9-14
Jesus addresses people who trust their own goodness and despise others.
- Infants Receive an Open Welcome Luke 18:15-17
People bring infants for Jesus to touch, but his followers rebuke them.
- A Rich Ruler Finds the Cost Too Great Luke 18:18-30
A ruler asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life.
- The Twelve Cannot Grasp the Coming Suffering Luke 18:31-34
Privately, Jesus tells the twelve what Jerusalem will bring.
- A Beggar’s Cry Stops the Crowd Luke 18:35-43
Near Jericho, a town on the road, a blind beggar hears a crowd passing.
Central truth
Jesus honours persistent and humble trust while exposing reliance on rank, possessions, and a confident view of one's own goodness.
Scripture beside the summary
Luke · King James Version · 43Luke 18:1-8
A Widow Keeps Asking for Justice
Jesus tells an account to encourage prayer without giving up. A judge neither fears God nor cares about people. A widow keeps asking him to settle her claim against an opponent. He refuses for a while, then acts because her repeated visits wear him down. Jesus asks the hearers to notice the judge's motive. If even such a man eventually responds, God will certainly bring justice for his chosen people crying to him day and night. Delay does not mean he has forgotten them. Jesus ends with a question about whether the Son of man, his title for himself, will find enduring faith when he comes.
In everyday life
An unpaid pension claimant returns to a service counter with the same unpaid entitlement until an indifferent clerk finally opens the file. She has little influence but refuses to let the claim disappear. The clerk acts to end the repeated visits. Jesus argues from a reluctant official to God's faithful justice, not that God shares the clerk's indifference.
Notice
Luke 18:8 The final question turns from God's willingness to the endurance of human faith. The hearers are asked whether trust will last through the wait.
Luke 18:1-8
King James Version1And 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:
3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5Yet 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.
7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Luke 18:9-14
Two Prayers Reveal Different Hearts
Jesus addresses people who trust their own goodness and despise others. Two men pray in the temple, God's worship centre. A Pharisee, from a strict religious group, thanks God that he is unlike dishonest and immoral people, including the nearby tax collector. He lists fasting and giving a tenth of his possessions. The collector stands far off, lowers his eyes, beats his chest, and asks God for mercy as a sinner. Jesus says this man goes home put right with God, rather than the other. The self-exalting will be brought low, and the humble lifted. A religious list has not replaced the need for mercy.
In everyday life
A driver at a restorative meeting lists every rule he usually follows and points to another driver's worse record. The other driver admits the harm he caused and asks how repair can begin. One defends his standing while the other faces his need. Jesus declares acceptance before God, not the result of a human mediation session.
Notice
Luke 18:13 The tax collector offers no comparison with someone worse. His prayer brings his own sin to God and asks for mercy without a supporting list of achievements.
Luke 18:9-14
King James Version9And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11The 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.
12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13And 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.
14I 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.
Luke 18:15-17
Infants Receive an Open Welcome
People bring infants for Jesus to touch, but his followers rebuke them. Jesus calls the children toward him and orders the obstruction to stop. God's kingdom belongs to people like these. He says that a person who does not receive the kingdom as a small child will not enter it. The emphasis is on receiving rather than gaining admission through status, knowledge, or achievement. Infants cannot present the kind of record the earlier Pharisee listed. Jesus gives them a place in front of followers who thought they should be kept back. Their dependence becomes a picture of welcome rather than a reason for exclusion.
In everyday life
A swimming-session organiser opens the warm shallow pool to parents carrying infants after an assistant tries to reserve all space for skilled swimmers. The babies have no ability to demonstrate before being welcomed with care. Their need is enough for the space to be offered. Jesus describes receiving God's kingdom, not admission to a family activity.
Notice
Luke 18:17 Receiving as a child receives is Jesus' condition for entry. He does not make mature achievement the condition for entering what God gives.
Luke 18:15-17
King James Version15And 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.
17Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
Luke 18:18-30
A Rich Ruler Finds the Cost Too Great
A ruler asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life. Jesus directs the title good toward God and names commands about faithful and honest treatment of others. The ruler says he has kept them since youth. Jesus tells him to sell his possessions, give to poor people, and follow. He grows deeply sad because he is very rich. Jesus compares a rich person's entry into God's kingdom with a camel passing through a needle's eye. Hearers ask who can be saved. God can do what people cannot. Peter, a close follower, recalls their own losses. Jesus promises abundant return and eternal life to those leaving home and family for God's kingdom.
In everyday life
An estate heir receives an invitation to join a demanding relief mission but learns he must release control of the property consuming all his time. He wants the work's meaning while keeping every claim that prevents him from going. He stands silent beside the deeds. Jesus calls for complete discipleship and promises eternal life, not a new charitable role.
Notice
Luke 18:27 The answer about salvation points to God rather than reducing the demand. Human inability is not the boundary of God's action.
Luke 18:18-30
King James Version18And 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.
20Thou 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!
25For 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,
30Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
Luke 18:31-34
The Twelve Cannot Grasp the Coming Suffering
Privately, Jesus tells the twelve what Jerusalem will bring. Everything the prophets wrote about the Son of man will be fulfilled. He will be handed to Gentiles, people outside the Jewish nation. They will mock him, treat him cruelly, spit on him, whip him, and kill him. He will rise on the third day. Luke says the followers understand none of it; its meaning is hidden from them. Jesus is walking knowingly toward events they cannot yet fit with their hopes. His clear warning and their lack of understanding stand side by side.
In everyday life
A family-support worker explains a severe diagnosis to relatives who keep planning as though the patient will return to normal next week. They hear each word but cannot yet join the facts into a changed expectation. The worker repeats the plan with care. Jesus predicts death and resurrection as fulfilment of Scripture, not the likely course of illness.
Notice
Luke 18:34 Luke repeats the followers' lack of understanding in several ways. Their presence beside Jesus does not mean they already grasp the meaning of his coming death.
Luke 18:31-34
King James Version31Then 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.
32For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
33And 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.
Luke 18:35-43
A Beggar’s Cry Stops the Crowd
Near Jericho, a town on the road, a blind beggar hears a crowd passing. Told it is Jesus of Nazareth, the town where Jesus grew up, he calls for mercy. He uses Son of David, a title linking Jesus to the promised king from David's family. People at the front tell him to be quiet, but he calls louder. Jesus stops and has him brought near. Asked what he wants, he requests sight. Jesus grants it and says faith has saved him. He sees at once, follows Jesus, and praises God. The crowd then praises too, after first trying to silence his appeal.
In everyday life
A bus-terminal guide hears a blind traveller call over the noise and stops despite impatient passengers. She asks what he needs instead of deciding for him, then helps him reach the correct platform. The crowd's rush no longer controls the encounter. Jesus restores sight and names saving faith, not only the help needed to travel.
Notice
Luke 18:43 The healed man follows while praising God, and the crowd joins the praise. His persistent cry has changed the response of those who tried to stop him.
Luke 18:35-43
King James Version35And 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Luke 18:1 begins with “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”
Where the chapter turns
Luke 18:22 forms a natural hinge: “Now 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…”
The final note
Luke 18:43 leaves the reader with “And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Jesus, kingdom, avenge, receive, asked, certain help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- publican
- A tax collector, often despised for the work he did.
- justified
- Put right before God rather than accepted on a claim of personal merit.
- scourge
- Beat someone with a whip as a punishment.
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
