The Gospel According to Saint Luke
Luke 18
Chapter XVIII · Vol. IV, pp. 188–192
1 The parable of the unjust judge and the importunate widow. 9 Of the Pharisee and the publican. 15 Children brought to Christ. 18 A ruler that would follow Christ, but is hindered by his riches. 28 The reward of them that leave all for his sake. 31 He foreshoweth his death, 35 and restoreth a blind man to sight.
1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought aalways to pray,1 and not to faint;Cited in WSC 107
A.D. cir. 33.
a 1 Th.5.17. ch.11.5-8;21.36. Ps.65.2;102.17. Ro.12.12. Ep.6.18. Phi. 4.6. Col.4.2. Ge.32.26.
1 That men ought always to pray. That is, perseveringly, and in opposition to doubt about the use or final success of prayer or intermission, arising from disrelish, weariness, or despondency.—C.
3 And there was a cwidow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me2 of mine adversary.
c Ps. 83. 3, 4. De.27.19. Is.1.17,23.
2 Avenge me. 'Do me justice on my adversary.'—C.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God,3 nor regard man;
3 Though I fear not God. Because he denied his existence, his moral government, or his retributive justice.—C.
5 Yet dbecause this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
d See ver.7;ch.11.8.
6 And the Lord said, eHear what the unjust judge saith.
A.M. cir. 4037. A.D. cir. 33.
e Mat.7.11. ch.11.13; 16.8.
7 Andg shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, 4though he bear long with them?5Cited in WSC 107
g ch.11.8. Ps.9.18; 13.1; 22.1,2; 103.9. Jn.13.1. 2 Th.1.6,7. Re.6.10,11. Hab.2.3. He.10.35-37.
4 See note † in second column.
5 The argument in this parable is, as Alford has well observed, a fortiori:—'If such be the power of earnest entreaty, that it can win right even from a man sunk in selfishness and fearing neither God nor men, how much more will the right be done by the just and holy God in answer to the continued prayers of his elect.'—P.
† Though he bear long with them. That is, though he bear long with their cries, tears, and anxieties, before answering their petitions, and with the cruelties, oppressions, and persecutions of their enemies before he inflicts his judgments. It was thus he bore long both with Egypt and Israel before he punished the one and heard and delivered the other.—C.
8 I tell you that hhe will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when6 the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?7Cited in WSC 107
h 2 Pe.3.8,9. Ps.46.5. He.10.37. Re.18.8.
6 Mat.24.12. 2 Ti.3.1; 4.3. 1 Ti.4.1. 2 Th.2.3. When Christ comes to destroy the Jews and judge the world, he will find little real religion among them.
7 See note * below.
* Shall he find faith on the earth! When he cometh to avenge his elect 'speedily,' will he find faith in 'the land of Israel?' (as the word translated 'earth' in such circumstances generally signifies). A question fully illustrated by the fact, that comparatively few of the Jews believed, even when our Lord had risen from the dead, and these few 'were scattered abroad' by the persecutions of Herod and the Pharisees (Ac.7.59; 8.1; 12.1,2), so that when the Lord came to 'avenge his elect,' whose voice and whose blood cried to him day and night, there were but few believers in the land of Judea, and his apostles had been directed by the Spirit and providence of God to 'turn to the Gentiles.'—C.
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which itrusted in themselves that they were righteous,8 and despised others:Cited in WLC 145
i ch.10.29; 16.15. Phi.3.4-6. Ro.9.31,32; 10.2,3. Is.65.5.
8 Or, as being righteous.
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; thej one a Pharisee,9 and the other a publican.
j Mat.21.31,32. ch.7.29,30; 15.1,2.
9 See note on Mat. 3.7.—C.
11 Thek Pharisee stood1 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:Cited in WLC 145
k Mat.6.2,5,16; 23.14; 9.14. Is.1.11-15; 58.2; 65.5. Re.3.17. 1 Sa.15.13. Mat.23.23. Phi.3.4-6. Ga.1.14. Ro.10.2,3.
1 'Standing by himself, prayed.'—Campbell.
12 I fast2 twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
2 The Jews fasted on the second and fifth days of the week, answering to Monday and Thursday.—C.
13 And3 the publican, lstanding afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful4 to me a sinner.Cited in WLC 185
3 Or, But.
l Ezr.9.5,6,15. Je.31.18,19; 3.13,25. Eze.16.63. ch.23.48. Ac.2.37. 1 Ti.1.15. Ps.40.12. Job 40.4. Ro.7.24.
4 God be merciful. Rather, 'be propitious to me through sacrifice'—accept an atonement for my sin.—C.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house njustified5 rather than the other: ofor every one that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.Cited in WLC 185
15 And pthey brought unto him also infants,6 that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, qthey rebuked them.Cited in WLC 166 · WCF 10.3, 28.4
p Mat.19.13-15. Mar.10.13-16. Ge.48.14,15. 1 Sa.1.24. Je.49.11.
6 Infants. Little children in the strictest sense of the word—whence is drawn the conclusion, most comforting to Christian parents, that their infants, in life or in death, form a part of Christ's kingdom.—C.
16 Butr 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.Cited in WLC 166 · WCF 10.3
17 Verilys I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
s Mat.18.3,4. Mar.10.15. Jn.3.3,5. 1 Pe.2.1,2; 1.14. 2 Co.5.17. Ga.6.15. 1 Co.14.20. Ps.131.2.
18 Andt a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master,7 what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
t Mat.19.16-29. Mar.10.17-26. ch.10.25-29. Jn.6.28. Ac.2.37. Ro.9.31,32; 10.2,3.
7 See note on Mat. 19.17.—C.
20 Thouv knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
v ch.10.26-28. Ex.20.12-17. Ro.13.9. Ga.4.21; 3.10,12; 5.14. Ja.2.8. De.5.16-21. Col.3.20.
22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, yYet 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.
y ch.12.33; 16.9. 1 Ti.6.18,19. Mat.6.19,20. Ac.4.34.
8 See note on Mat. 19.21.—C.
23 And when he heard this, he zwas very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
A.M. cir. 4037. A.D. cir. 33.
z ch.8.7,14; 21.34. Ju.18.23,24. Ps.17.14. Phi.3.19. 2 Co.7.10.
24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, aHow hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
a See ver.23. Job 31.24. Ps.62.10. Pr.11.28. 1 Co.1.26,27. 1 Ti.6.9,10. Ja.2.5; 4.4. Mat.19.23-29. Mar.10.23-27.
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.
28 Thend Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
d Mat.19.27-29. Mar.10.28-31. ch.5.11. Phi.3.7-9. De.33.9.
29 And he said unto them, eVerily 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,
e ch.14.26,27; 9.23,24. Phi.3.7-14. Ps.19.11. 1 Co.15.58. 1 Ti.4.7,8. Ro.6.23. Re.2.10,17; 3.21.
30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
31 Theng 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.9
g Mat.20.17-19. Mar.10.32-34. Ps.22.1-21; 69.1-21. Is.53.2-10. ch.9.22-44; 13.33; 12.50; xxii.-xxiv. Mat.xxvi.-xxviii. Mar. xiv. xv. xvii. Jn.xviii.-xx.
9 'To him gave all the prophets witness.' Take as a specimen, (1) The rage of the heathen and of the Jewish rulers against him, Ps.2.1,2. (2) His condemnation and crucifixion, Ps.22.16. Mi.5.1. Is.53.5. (3) His death, Ps.22.15. Is.53.12. (4) His resurrection, Ps.16.10. Ho.6.2. (5) His ascension, Ps.16.11; 68.18.—C.
32 Forh he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, iand 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.
34 Andj they understood none of these 1things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
j ch.9.45; 24.25. Mar.9.32. Jn.16.17,19; 12.16.
1 Having formed the opinion that Messiah must be a temporal conqueror, and possess a temporal kingdom, they could not reconcile with this opinion the revelation of his death. The prophetic truths that our Lord uttered concerning his sufferings and death were, therefore, as little 'understood' as if he had spoken in an unknown tongue.—C.
35 Andk it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way-side begging:
36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
39 And they which went before orebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but phe cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
o ver.15; ch.11.52; 19.39.
p Ps.141.1. Mat.15.22-28. ch.11.8. Ge.32.26. Ps.22.2. Mat.7.7. ver.1.
40 And qJesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
41 Saying, rWhat wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
Notes
Ver. 35. Luke and Mark mention but one blind man; Matthew (ch. 20. 30) describes two. This variety, however, presents no contradiction. Matthew records the fact of two blind men having been cured; Luke, writing at a time when it is most probable only one of them survived, mentions but that one; and Mark (ch. 10. 46) mentions one by name as authentic and living evidence of the miracle he narrates. The apparent contradiction lies in the assertion of Matthew (ch. 20. 29) that the miracle took place 'as they (Jesus and his disciples) departed from Jericho,' and of Mark (ch. 10. 46), that it occurred 'as he (Jesus) went out of Jericho,' while Luke assigns it to the time 'when he (Jesus) was come nigh unto Jericho.' The attempt to reconcile these contradictions by changing the translation 'when he was come nigh' to 'when he was nigh' seems utterly unsupported by any sufficient authority. The reconciliation must therefore be sought for from another source, and that source is opened in a modern example. London, as a general geographical name, includes Westminster, Southwark, &c. &c. One historian accordingly, in speaking of a public occurrence, affirms it took place 'as some one departed from London,' though, in another geographical sense, he really departed from Westminster. Another, relating the same event, affirms it occurred as the party described 'was come nigh to London,' meaning thereby, not London inclusive of Westminster, &c., but London as specially commencing at Temple-bar. Now, is there any contradiction here? None whatever. Why then are the Scriptures condemned where a secular historian is acquitted? Besides, Jericho consisted of an old and a new town, as Josephus records. Our Lord therefore may have performed his miracle as he 'departed' from Jericho, the one town, and as he 'was come nigh' to Jericho, the other. C.
Reflections.—The fervent and importunate prayer of faith is always effectual at last. A gracious answer cannot be delayed beyond the best time. And all the injuries done to the saints shall be fearfully resented, though God often patiently delays his justice till religion be almost utterly extirpated. What a mixture is in our worshipping assemblies on earth! Different tempers, manners, and ends have different effects on the very same duty. Pride, formality, and hypocrisy indulged, render men's persons and worship detestable to God. But not the greatest sinner, who humbly asks mercy through Jesus' righteousness, shall be denied a full justification unto eternal life. It is criminal for professors to withhold children from Christ, who delights to bless them. And very honourable to be like them in teachableness and humility.—No external privileges or duties are in the least to be rested in. Men may go inconceivable lengths in apparent holiness, and yet their hearts remain unrenewed and attached to the world. Awful is the state when God's law does not convince men that they need a better righteousness than their own to justify them! and when love to Christ cannot wean their hearts from the world. Earthly enjoyments indeed often entangle and ensnare men to their everlasting ruin. And there is need of almighty power to deliver us from a carnal mind, and to make us content to forego all for Christ. But everything suffered for his sake, from principles of faith and love, will be gain at last. And nothing is too much to suffer for him, who suffered so much for us. Yet, alas! how slow of heart are men to conceive aright of his sufferings and glory! It is a great mercy to be awakened to prayer by curiosity or any means. Jesus is ready to take notice of, and grant relief under, all our troubles. And a deep sense of sin and earnest desires of mercy will quickly issue in grateful praise and holy obedience.