Luke Chapter 18

At a Glance

  • Luke 18 gathers a set of parables and encounters that center on persistent prayer, humility, and childlike trust in the Father.
  • As part of Luke’s journey toward Jerusalem, Chapter 18 sharpens eschatological and ethical dimensions of Jesus’ teaching.
  • - Persistent prayer and divine justice.
  • self-righteousness in worship.
  • - Welcoming the vulnerable as sign of the Kingdom.

Luke 18 gathers a set of parables and encounters that center on persistent prayer, humility, and childlike trust in the Father. The opening parable of the widow and the unjust judge teaches that prayer should be constant and confident; God, unlike the judge, will vindicate his elect swiftly, yet with a caveat about faithfulness in the end. The second section contrasts two prayers in the temple: the proud Pharisee and the humble publican, concluding that the tax collector’s contrite prayer is the one that ascends to righteousness. Then Jesus blesses children, modeling trust and welcoming the “least,” and warns against hindrances to the Kingdom. The chapter culminates with a troubling dialogue about wealth and discipleship: a rich ruler asks about eternal life, but Jesus challenges him to a radical reordering of priorities, including selling possessions to follow him. The man’s sorrowful departure serves as a sobering reminder that discipleship may require detaching from wealth and status in order to gain true life. Luke’s tempo in this chapter moves from exhortation to invitation, and then to the cost of following Jesus, highlighting that the Kingdom often calls for countercultural generosity and radical trust.

As part of Luke’s journey toward Jerusalem, Chapter 18 sharpens eschatological and ethical dimensions of Jesus’ teaching. The widow-parable echoes Jewish wisdom about persistence and divine justice, while the temple-prayer contrast critiques spiritual pride. The “infants” moment reaffirms God’s preference for humility and accessibility. The rich ruler episode aligns with Luke’s broader concern for wealth, social status, and the peril of trusting riches over God. The genre blends parable, direct sayings, and narrative encounters to press disciples into deeper reliance on God’s mercy and radical discipleship.

- Persistent prayer and divine justice

- Humility vs. self-righteousness in worship

- Welcoming the vulnerable as sign of the Kingdom

- The cost of discipleship: detachment from wealth

- God’s grace exceeds human effort; trust is key

- Cultivate a persistent prayer life that remains hopeful and steadfast.

- Examine pride in worship and pursue humility before God and others.

- Embrace childlike trust as a posture for spiritual growth, especially in uncertainty.

- Reevaluate wealth’s grip: consider detachment or reallocation of possessions toward vulnerable communities.

- Invite all, especially the marginalized, into your spiritual practice and community life.

- Matthew 6:25-34 (do not worry; seek the Kingdom)

- Luke 6:20-26 (blessedness of the poor)

- Luke 16:19-31 (Lazarus and the rich man)

- James 4:6-10 (humility before God)

- Mark 10:17-31 (the rich man)

- Jesus (discipleship costs and the invitation to the Kingdom)

- Paul (reorienting possessions toward gospel mission)

- A humble prayerful believer or prayer leader to model persistence

Key Themes

Persistent prayer and divine justiceHumility vs. self-righteousness in worshipWelcoming the vulnerable as sign of the KingdomThe cost of discipleship: detachment from wealth

Chapter Text

1

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2

Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

3

And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

4

And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

5

Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

6

And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

7

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

8

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

9

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

10

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11

The 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.

12

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13

And 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.

14

I 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.

15

And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

16

But 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.

17

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

18

And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

19

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

20

Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

21

And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

22

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 treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

23

And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

24

And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

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.

26

And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

27

And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

28

Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

29

And 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,

30

Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

31

Then 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.

32

For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and 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

And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

35

And 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.

37

And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

38

And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

39

And 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.

40

And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,

41

Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

42

And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

43

And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

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