The One Year Bible Club with Teaching
Commentary by Nick Boork
April 16
Luke 18:1-17
Commentary by Nick Boork
April 16
Luke 18:1-17
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April 16 - Luke 18:1-17
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ 6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” 9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” 15 Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it,they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
OKAY, HERE'S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
In this portion of Scripture Jesus teaches a parable about prayer. The goal was to encourage people to not give up and quit praying. Jesus said men should always pray and not lose heart. Why do people lose heart when it comes to prayer? Because many times it seems like the answers to our prayers are delayed and take a long time coming. Jesus knew that if people give up praying they would lose spiritual momentum in their walk with God. So He gave this parable to teach people the importance of continuing to pray even about specific issues and not give up until the answer comes.
He said there was an unjust judge who didn't fear God or care about the opinions of men. In other words, he was living for himself probably taking bribes because Jesus said he was “unjust”. However, there was this lady who was a widow and you know that means she was probably very poor. She didn't have any extra money to grease the wheels of the legal system and pay this judge off to motivate him to do something she needed. You see she was facing some legal battles in her own life and needed somebody to stand up and go to bat for her. So, she thought who should I get but the judge to intervene for me. This judge wasn't buying her story and he really didn't care about her problems. It didn’t matter, this widow was persistent and determined that she was going to get him to help her against these trouble makers. She kept coming back day after day after day crying out for this judge to get involved helping her in her legal battles.
Jesus said that for a while this judge didn't pay any attention but then he started to get really tired of listening to this woman every day. He thought to himself hey I know I'm not a God-fearing man but this woman is about to drive me crazy and wear me out by her constantly coming and crying out in my courtroom for help. I'm going to do what she is asking just to get her off my back so I can maintain my peace! After sharing this parable, Jesus said hear what the unjust judge says. Then he makes a comparison to the unjust judge with His Heavenly Father. Now all the Jews knew Almighty God is the great judge. Jesus was saying My Father is just and He will answer your prayers but you need to be like this widow woman and not give up. She didn’t have money but she did have a voice and she used it to get the attention of an unjust judge to answer her petition. Jesus was teaching that God, His Heavenly Father is just and will answer the prayers and petitions of His own people if they will have faith and keep praying the answers will surely come!
Some of us get so discouraged when we pray and we don't see the answer right away we think it's not the will of God to answer our prayers. However, remember the prophet Daniel. He prayed for 21 days until an angel came and brought the answer!Gabriel said to Daniel I was sent on the 1st day that you began to pray but was resisted for 20 days by the Prince of Persia which was a demonic ruler in the heavenly realms. Daniel kept praying and fasting and the answer came. What if Daniel had given up the second day? The Bible reveals that we also are in a spiritual struggle not against people but Satan and his demons. Ref; Ephesians 6:10-20. I can testify about the goodness and faithfulness of God in this area of answering personal prayers. As a matter fact, I've come to the place of my spiritual walk with God where now I value spending time with Him in personal worship and prayer on a consistent basis. I've seen Him answer so many of my prayers and I have to tell you I pray about everything from computer software to personal relationships, ministry outreach, business and my finances and God's will for my life.
It seems like sometimes I go through periods of not seeing much activity and I sense resistance to answer my prayers. However, there are other times when it just seems like the heavens open and God answers multiple prayers in a short season. This has happened several times and I praise the Lord for his goodness and faithfulness to me! Here’s a link to a message I shared on “Learn to Pray Well” This is in mp3 audio and you can download it to your computer or smart phone. http://www.inspirationaltestimonies.com/teaching.html
Jesus asked a very important question after sharing this parable. He asked; “Will the Son of Man find faith on earth when He comes?” Why did Jesus ask this question? Because mankind is on a continual down-slide away from God. The good news is the answer is yes! Jesus will find faith on earth when He comes because there are multitudes of believers that have true faith in God and pray with perseverance. These Christians see God moving in their life answering their prayers on a continual basis.
What’s the Bottom Line?
1. God wants to answer your prayers!
2. You have faith in God and learn to be persistent praying and not give up!
3. There are unseen spiritual forces that work against the prayers of God's people but they cannot prevail if we don't give up because God is faithful and will answer our prayers.
4. Determine that you will be one of those that has faith in God even in the midst of the darkest times up until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember Jesus promise to us His disciples: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:20
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ 6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” 9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” 15 Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it,they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
OKAY, HERE'S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
In this portion of Scripture Jesus teaches a parable about prayer. The goal was to encourage people to not give up and quit praying. Jesus said men should always pray and not lose heart. Why do people lose heart when it comes to prayer? Because many times it seems like the answers to our prayers are delayed and take a long time coming. Jesus knew that if people give up praying they would lose spiritual momentum in their walk with God. So He gave this parable to teach people the importance of continuing to pray even about specific issues and not give up until the answer comes.
He said there was an unjust judge who didn't fear God or care about the opinions of men. In other words, he was living for himself probably taking bribes because Jesus said he was “unjust”. However, there was this lady who was a widow and you know that means she was probably very poor. She didn't have any extra money to grease the wheels of the legal system and pay this judge off to motivate him to do something she needed. You see she was facing some legal battles in her own life and needed somebody to stand up and go to bat for her. So, she thought who should I get but the judge to intervene for me. This judge wasn't buying her story and he really didn't care about her problems. It didn’t matter, this widow was persistent and determined that she was going to get him to help her against these trouble makers. She kept coming back day after day after day crying out for this judge to get involved helping her in her legal battles.
Jesus said that for a while this judge didn't pay any attention but then he started to get really tired of listening to this woman every day. He thought to himself hey I know I'm not a God-fearing man but this woman is about to drive me crazy and wear me out by her constantly coming and crying out in my courtroom for help. I'm going to do what she is asking just to get her off my back so I can maintain my peace! After sharing this parable, Jesus said hear what the unjust judge says. Then he makes a comparison to the unjust judge with His Heavenly Father. Now all the Jews knew Almighty God is the great judge. Jesus was saying My Father is just and He will answer your prayers but you need to be like this widow woman and not give up. She didn’t have money but she did have a voice and she used it to get the attention of an unjust judge to answer her petition. Jesus was teaching that God, His Heavenly Father is just and will answer the prayers and petitions of His own people if they will have faith and keep praying the answers will surely come!
Some of us get so discouraged when we pray and we don't see the answer right away we think it's not the will of God to answer our prayers. However, remember the prophet Daniel. He prayed for 21 days until an angel came and brought the answer!Gabriel said to Daniel I was sent on the 1st day that you began to pray but was resisted for 20 days by the Prince of Persia which was a demonic ruler in the heavenly realms. Daniel kept praying and fasting and the answer came. What if Daniel had given up the second day? The Bible reveals that we also are in a spiritual struggle not against people but Satan and his demons. Ref; Ephesians 6:10-20. I can testify about the goodness and faithfulness of God in this area of answering personal prayers. As a matter fact, I've come to the place of my spiritual walk with God where now I value spending time with Him in personal worship and prayer on a consistent basis. I've seen Him answer so many of my prayers and I have to tell you I pray about everything from computer software to personal relationships, ministry outreach, business and my finances and God's will for my life.
It seems like sometimes I go through periods of not seeing much activity and I sense resistance to answer my prayers. However, there are other times when it just seems like the heavens open and God answers multiple prayers in a short season. This has happened several times and I praise the Lord for his goodness and faithfulness to me! Here’s a link to a message I shared on “Learn to Pray Well” This is in mp3 audio and you can download it to your computer or smart phone. http://www.inspirationaltestimonies.com/teaching.html
Jesus asked a very important question after sharing this parable. He asked; “Will the Son of Man find faith on earth when He comes?” Why did Jesus ask this question? Because mankind is on a continual down-slide away from God. The good news is the answer is yes! Jesus will find faith on earth when He comes because there are multitudes of believers that have true faith in God and pray with perseverance. These Christians see God moving in their life answering their prayers on a continual basis.
What’s the Bottom Line?
1. God wants to answer your prayers!
2. You have faith in God and learn to be persistent praying and not give up!
3. There are unseen spiritual forces that work against the prayers of God's people but they cannot prevail if we don't give up because God is faithful and will answer our prayers.
4. Determine that you will be one of those that has faith in God even in the midst of the darkest times up until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember Jesus promise to us His disciples: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:20
ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll