Luke 18#References

The original text was written in Koine Greek. Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:

• Papyrus 75 (AD 175–225)
• Codex Vaticanus (325–350)
• Codex Sinaiticus (330–360)
• Codex Bezae (~400)
• Codex Washingtonianus (~400)
• Codex Alexandrinus (400–440)

This chapter is divided into 43 verses.

{{Main|Parable of the Unjust Judge}}

File:John Everett Millais - Parable of the Unjust Judge.jpg by John Everett Millais (1863)]]

This parable appears only in the Gospel of Luke, and is also known as the Parable of the Unjust Judge and the Parable of the Importunate Widow. Luke's introductory wording (verse 1) states that the parable is intended to show Jesus' disciples "that they should always pray and not give up"{{bibleverse||Luke|18:1|NIV}}: New International Version or "not lose heart".{{bibleverse||Luke|18:1|NKJV}}: New King James Version The King James Version enjoins the disciples "not to faint".{{bibleverse|Luke|18:1|KJV}}: KJV It tells of a judge who "did not fear God and did not respect man",{{bibleverse||Luke|18:2|NASB}}: NASB who is repeatedly approached by a poor widow who is seeking justice. Initially rejecting her demands, he eventually honors her request to avoid being worn out by her persistence. This parable is found immediately prior to the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican (also on prayer) and is similar to the parable of the Friend at Night, recorded in Luke 11.

Methodist commentator Joseph Benson notes that the separation of chapter 18 from chapter 17 "improperly interrupts" Jesus' discourse regarding the "coming of the kingdom",New King James Version, sub-heading at Luke 17:20–37 arguing that the forthcoming persecution "would render the duties of prayer, patience, and perseverance peculiarly seasonable".Benson, J., [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/luke/18.htm Benson Commentary] on Luke 18, accessed 8 August 2020 Anglican churchman Henry Alford argues that while it is "not perhaps spoken in immediate unbroken sequence after the last discourse", it probably "arose out of it: perhaps [it] was the fruit of a conversation with the disciples about the day of His coming and the mind with which they must expect it". In Alford's reading of the parable, "in its direct application it is ecclesiastical, and not individual, but by a legitimate accommodation: the widow is the Church, [and] the judge [is] her God and Father in heaven.Alford, H., [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/alford/luke/18.htm Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary – Alford] on Luke 18, accessed 23 January 2021

In modern translations, the widow's request is for "justice".See English Standard Version, New King James Version, New International Version etc. Traditionally her plea for εκδικησον με (endikeson me) has been translated as "avenge me".{{bibleverse||Luke|18:3|KJV}}: King James Version, Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition etc. The Revised Standard Version sees her requesting "vindication".{{bibleverse||Luke|18:3|RSV}}: RSV Benson states that "the word properly signifies 'to judge a cause', and defend the injured judicially from the injurious person. The English word avenge, therefore, does not exactly hit the sense here intended, although, as Dr. Campbell observes, in the application of the parable, {{bibleverse||Luke|18:7|KJV}}: And shall not God avenge his own elect?, "it answers better than any other term".

Alford adds that the persistence intended by the story refers to the believer's "earnest desire of the heart ..., rather than, though of course including, the outward act" of prayer.

{{Main|Pharisee and the Publican}}

File:BasilikaOttobeurenFresko07.JPG, baroque fresco in Ottobeuren Basilica]]

In the New Testament, Pharisees often display a punctilious adherence to Jewish Law. United Methodist theologian Joel B. Green explains that the Pharisee depicted in this parable went beyond his fellows, fasting more often than was required, and giving a tithe on all he receives, even in cases where the religious rules did not require it.Joel B. Green, [https://books.google.com/books?id=wzRVN2S8cVgC&pg=PA643 The Gospel of Luke], Eerdmans, 1997, {{ISBN|0802823157}}, pp. 643–649. Confident in his religiosity, the Pharisee asks God for nothing, and thus receives nothing. He gives thanks not because he is good but because (in his own opinion) he is the only one who is good.Buls, H. H., [http://pericope.org/buls-notes/luke/luke_18_9_14.htm Buls' Notes] on Luke 18:9–14, accessed 7 August 2020

On the other hand, publicans were despised Jews who collaborated with the Roman Empire. Because they were best known for collecting tolls or taxes (see tax farming), they are commonly described as tax collectors. The parable, however, does not condemn the publican's occupation (cf {{bibleref|Luke|3:12–13|131}}), but describes the publican as one who "recognizes his state of unworthiness before God and confesses his need for reconciliation". Coming to God in humility, the publican receives the mercy and reconciliation he asks for.

{{also|Teaching of Jesus about little children}}

These verses contain a saying of Jesus regarding children and the Kingdom of God. From these verses onwards, Luke rejoins the other two synoptic gospels, from which his narrative has diverged since {{bibleverse|Luke|9:51|9}}.Maclaren, A., [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/maclaren/luke/18.htm Maclaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture] on Luke 18, accessed 20 July 2021

{{Main|Jesus and the rich young man}}

:Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”{{bibleverse||Luke|18:18|NKJV}}

This is the same question as had been asked by a lawyer in {{bibleverse||Luke|10:25|NKJV}}, to which Jesus responded with his confirmation of the Great Commandment and the parable of the Good Samaritan.

{{Main|Healing the blind near Jericho}}

File:Christus Bartimaeus Johann Heinrich Stoever Erbach Rheingau.JPG

Each of the three synoptic gospels tells of Jesus healing the blind near Jericho, as he passed through that town, shortly before his passion. Mark {{bibleverse-nb||Mark|10:46-52|NIV}} tells only of a man named Bartimaeus (literally "Son of Timaeus") being present, as Jesus left Jericho, making him one of the few named people to be miraculously cured by Jesus. Matthew {{bibleverse-nb||Matthew|20:29-34|NIV}} has a similar account of two blind men being healed outside of Jericho, but gives no names. Luke {{bibleverse-nb||Luke|18:35-43|NIV}} tells of one unnamed blind man, but ties the event to Jesus' approach to Jericho rather than his departure from there.[http://biblehub.com/commentaries/jfb/luke/18.htm Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary] on Luke 18, accessed 9 July 2018

These men together would be the second of two healings of blind men on Jesus' journey from the start of his travels from Bethsaida (in Mark {{bibleverse-nb||Mark|8:22–26|NASB}}) to Jerusalem, via Jericho.{{cite web |last= |first= |date=24 October 2009 |title=Reflections: The blind Bartimaeus: Mark 10:46–52 |url=http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/226313/the-blind-bartimaeus |work=St. Pauls |publisher=Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802041951/https://mb.com.ph/articles/226313/the-blind-bartimaeus |archive-date=2 August 2012 |access-date=2025-03-21}} It is possible, though not certain, that Bartimaeus heard about the first healing, and so knew of Jesus' reputation.Phyllis Kersten, "What Bartimaeus wanted: Mark 10:46–52", Christian Century, October 20, 2009, found at [http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=7881 Christian Century website], accessed October 28, 2009.

• Jericho
• Ministry of Jesus
• Miracles of Jesus
• Parables of Jesus
• Related Bible parts: Matthew 19, Matthew 20, Mark 10

{{reflist}}

• {{bibleverse|Luke|18|KJV}} King James Bible - Wikisource
• [http://www.latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=1&b=3&c=18 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate]
• [http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=Luke+18 Online Bible at GospelHall.org] (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=49&chapter=18 Multiple bible versions at Bible Gateway] (NKJV, NIV, NRSV etc.)

{{sequence

| prev = Luke 17

| list = Chapters of the Bible
Gospel of Luke

| next = Luke 19

}}

{{Gospel of Luke}}

Category:Gospel of Luke chapters

Category:Pharisees

Category:Biblical Jericho