This is a chapter of contrasts. There are two kinds of people represented here: those that think they have it together, and those that know they don’t. Jesus gives us the contrast between them by showing us various different portraits. I think the idea is to give us a picture of what our approach to God should be like, but what often in reality we do.
So we see:
A Pharisee contrasted with a sinner (more alike than they know)
Children contrasted with adults
A rich young ruler who thinks he has everything who really has nothing, contrasted with Savior who has everything but gives it all up
A man who was left out by a society, but received by that Savior - contrasted with those who stood in the way of faith.
We begin, though, by Jesus setting the stage with a parable:
Verses 1 - 8
How much do you need God? What kind of attitude does it take to approach God anyway?
That’s kind of the theme of this chapter-how much do you think you need Him? Some people think that if they throw God a bone now again He’ll be happy that someone paid attention to Him. Or they think that they are pretty self sufficient on their own, either by their great righteousness or great riches or great experience.
What the woman in this parable represents is persistent faith. Luke kind of bookends the chapter with these characters-one a fictional widow, the other a very real blind beggar-both on the fringes of society, but blessed mightily by their persistent approach to God.
Do you realize your need of God so much that you won’t let anything stop you from seeking Him? Or are you proud and a little self sufficient-does it seem a bit demeaning to you to admit how much you really need Him?
Listen to how The Message paraphrase renders this parable:
Luke 18:1-8 Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. 2 He said, "There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. 3 A widow in that city kept after him: ’My rights are being violated. Protect me!’
4 "He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, ’I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. 5 But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’d better do something and see that she gets justice - otherwise I’m going to end up beaten black and blue by her pounding.’"
6 Then the Master said, "Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? 7 So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? 8 I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?" The Message
How persistent are you in approaching God? Jesus said in Luke 11 "Knock and it will be opened to you." The Greek word there can be rendered "knock, and keep knocking."
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. NKJV
I also wonder if Jesus isn’t talking about those who cry out to God for justice. The religious leaders of the day were not leading the people to God or providing justice. But God listened to their prayers and sent Jesus. Yet when He arrived, He indeed did not find faith on the earth.
Don’t give up in your approach to God - He knows what you need before you even ask for it.
So now let’s look at the various people who approach God-some with that kind of "I’ve just got to have what He gives" to those who say "God has got to have what I have to give Him!"
Verses 9 - 14
Pharisee: doesn’t recognize own sin, thinks God is happy with him the way he is. Tax Collector: Knows he cannot draw near, cries for mercy.
Do we justify ourselves before God? Do we look around and see people that are a little more sinful (on the outside) than we are and think that we are better than they? It can happen very subtly. But it’s like someone covered with brown mud thinking they are clean while the person who is covered in black mud is the only one who is dirty.
Isaiah 64:6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. ESV
Don’t fall into the trap of comparative righteousness.
Verses 15 - 17
Children: trust, dependence. Do we empty ourselves before God?
The problem with adults is we think we know so much because we’ve been through so much. But in reality we are just as much in need of God as little children are for their very basic needs provided by adults.
Kids are often very trusting, and approach life with an innocence. They innately know they need to be taken care of. That magically wears off when they become teenagers, but that’s another topic!
Have the wears and tears of life given you a jaded opinion of God? "Oh, God can’t really help you with that-I could tell you some stories!" An adult receives with experience and control. We should have neither when it comes to approaching God.
Jesus encourages us to reach up with little hands and depend on Him innocently, and completely.
Verses 18 - 30
Rich Young Ruler: self reliant, proud, looking for self justification. Have we left all behind to come to Him?
The first thing in this story is where Jesus forces this man to begin recognizing who Jesus really is: that is, God. We cannot come to Jesus looking for a self-help guru, a genie, a business partner, or a patsy. This man represents what we worship in our society: youth, wealth, and power. These are also often the most common things that keep us from salvation.
Second, the man had his theology right, and even appeared to have external righteousness down, like the Pharisee. But what Jesus often does is go to the one thing that stands in our way. In this case it was the man’s riches, which were his real god. He was looking for self justification; Jesus was looking for a disciple.
Jesus will do that for us too. For you it may be your intellect, or your athletic prowess, or your looks, or your position. If there is anything you are not willing to give up, then you are not ready to serve the Lord Jesus. "You will have no other gods before Me." (Exodus 20:3)
There something about great wealth, though, that seems to make people blind to their need for a savior. If my worldly needs are met, then my spiritual needs must be met in the same way. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Verses 31 - 34 Jesus
Jesus: willingly lays down life for serve others. Have we laid down our lives to die with Him?
So here Luke inserts Jesus once again talking about His mission. This is apparently now the third time He has told His disciples this-and it is so plain. But they didn’t get it. I think that until we actually come to an end of ourselves, as the disciples will soon enough, and experience the death of Jesus for us, it is only then that we can truly understand what He did.
Truly here we must as Jesus said "take up our cross" and follow Him. We must die in order to live.
Verses 35 - 43
Blind beggar: Knows what he wants, and that he needs mercy, doesn’t let barriers stand in the way. Have we looked to Him for healing, asking Him to give us what we need?
There were no social services in those days, though it was a Jewish tradition to care for those less fortunate, the unfortunate truth was that many who were blind or lame were reduced to begging on the sides of the roads.
This guy must have heard about Jesus. He calls him "the son of David." It’s a title for the Messiah out of Isaiah 11:1. Once this guy recognized that it was the Messiah near him, he pulled out all the stops. He shamelessly cries out with the only thing he really has. He can’t run to Jesus, or hold on to Him, he can only cry out for mercy.
You may find too that the world around you will try to hold you back if you cry out in your need for Jesus with whatever you have. Don’t let them stop you. He really is the only answer.
I find it interesting that Jesus asks him what he wants. Wasn’t it obvious? He could have said "blast all those people who tried to stop me and all those who rejected me." He could have asked for riches. He could have demanded help from Jesus because he deserved it given his bad lot in life.
But the man realized he lacked sight. How many times should we ask the Lord to give us sight as well. Some people are blind as bats in their hearts, but they as for those things they think will bring them happiness, but lack the one thing that will set them free.
Conclusions
Things that bring our hearts closer to God:
Self righteousness
Self justification
Independence
Self determination
Things that take our hearts further from Him:
Humbleness
Dependence
Innocence
God determination
Persistence
