Luke 18:9-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 18:1-14

The Lord speaks the two parables on prayer — the importunate widow, and the Pharisee and publican. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 18:1-14

Lessons in prayer. Our Lord, in the two parables composing the present passage, gives the disciples encouragement to pray. The one brings out the need of perseverance and importunity in prayer; the other brings out the spirit of self-abasement which should be cultivated in prayer. They are thus linked together as twin lessons in the art of prayer. I. LET US NOTICE THE NEEDFUL IMPORTUNITY OF GOD 'S ELECT AS ILLUSTRATED BY THE IMPORTUNATE WIDOW . ( Luke... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 18:9

And he spake this parable . With this parable, "the Pharisee and the publican,'' St. Luke concludes his memories of the last journeyings toward Jerusalem. The incidents which directly follow took place close to Jerusalem; and here St. Luke's narrative rejoins that of SS . Matthew and Mark. No note of time or place assists us in defining exactly the period when the Master spoke this teaching; some time, however, in these last journeyings, that is, in the closing months of the public... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 18:9-14

The Pharisee and the publican. The lesson as to prayer is continued. The parable which follows exhibits the spirit and conditions of effectual prayer. Mark the two features of the audience specially addressed. He speaks to certain He spoke in the previous parable of "God's own elect." Now, the Pharisees accounted themselves the elect of God. They were puffed up by this confidence. They regarded themselves as the righteous, who kept the Law, beth oral and written. And, indeed, they were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 18:9-14

The Pharisee and the publican. The scene indicated by our Lord's opening sentences is easily realized. We readily picture to our minds the place and the two persons in whom we are interested—the haughty Pharisee and the humble-minded publican. We readily imagine their demeanor as they enter, their posture as they pray, their reception as they pass through the courts going and returning. But we ask how and why was it that the Pharisee was rejected and the publican accepted. And in reply we... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 18:10

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican . This parable constitutes an important chapter in Jesus' apology or defence—if we may dare use the word—for loving the sinful, for consorting with publicans and sinners. It tells men, in very simple language, how they are saved; not by works of righteousness which they have done, but of grace; in other words, by God's free mercy. Jewish religious society in the time of our Lord, as represented by the great... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 18:11

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are . How closely drawn from the life is this picture of a Pharisee will be seen by a comparison of the prayer here with the prayer of a rabbi contained in the Talmud. When Rabbi Nechounia Ben Hakana left his school, he used to say, "I thank thee, O Eternal, my God, for having given me part with those who attend this school instead of running through the shops. I rise early like them, but it is to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 18:12

I fast twice in the week . There was no such precept in the Law of Moses. There only a single fast-day in the year was enjoined, the Day of Atonement (Le Luke 16:29 ). By the time of Zechariah the prophet (viii. 19) the one fast-day had grown into four. But this fasting twice every week was a burthensome observance imposed in the later oral Law. Thursday and Monday were the appointed fasting-days, because tradition related how, on those days, Moses ascended and descended from Sinai.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 18:13

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! Utterly sad and heart-broken, the publican neither recounts nor thinks of good kind deeds done, or special sins committed; no thoughts came into that poor heart, such as, "I have done some fair deeds; I am not altogether vile and sinful." He felt that with him evil so far overbalanced good that he could make no plea for himself, and yet... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 18:14

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 . And the publican was right; there was mercy even for him, all sin-stained though he was. The words with which the Lord closes his teaching are full of comfort. That prayer he tells us was heard and granted. The "I tell you" of Jesus here means, as Stier well puts it, "I tell you, for I know, I have seen, I have... read more

Group of Brands