Luke 18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 18

In this chapter we have, I. The parable of the importunate widow, designed to teach us fervency in prayer, Luke 18:1-8. II. The parable of the Pharisee and publican, designed to teach us humility, and humiliation for sin, in prayer, Luke 18:9-14. III. Christ's favour to little children that were brought to him, Luke 18:15-17. IV. The trial of a rich man that had a mind to follow Christ, whether he loved better Christ or his riches; his coming short upon that trial; and Christ's discourse with... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 18:1-8

This parable has its key hanging at the door; the drift and design of it are prefixed. Christ spoke it with this intent, to teach us that men ought always to pray and not to faint, Luke 18:1. It supposes that all God's people are praying people; all God's children keep up both a constant and an occasional correspondence with him, send to him statedly, and upon every emergency. It is our privilege and honour that we may pray. It is our duty; we ought to pray, we sin if we neglect it. It is to... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 18:9-14

The scope of this parable likewise is prefixed to it, and we are told (Luke 18:9) who they were whom it was levelled at, and for whom it was calculated. He designed it for the conviction of some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. They were such as had, 1. A great conceit of themselves, and of their own goodness; they thought themselves as holy as they needed to be, and holier than all their neighbours, and such as might serve for examples to them all. But... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 18:15-17

This passage of story we had both in Matthew and Mark; it very fitly follows here after the story of the publican, as a confirmation of the truth which was to be illustrated by that parable, that those shall be accepted with God, and honoured, who humble themselves, and for them Christ has blessings in store, the choicest and best of blessings. Observe here, 1. Those who are themselves blessed in Christ should desire to have their children also blessed in him, and should hereby testify the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 18:18-30

In these verses we have, I. Christ's discourse with a ruler, that had a good mind to be directed by him in the way to heaven. In which we may observe, 1. It is a blessed sight to see persons of distinction in the world distinguish themselves from others of their rank by their concern about their souls and another life. Luke takes notice of it that he was a ruler. Few of the rulers had any esteem for Christ, but here was one that had; whether a church or state ruler does not appear, but he was... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 18:31-34

Here is, I. The notice Christ gave to his disciples of his sufferings and death approaching, and of the glorious issue of them, which he himself had a perfect sight and foreknowledge of, and thought it necessary to give them warning of, that it might be the less surprise and terror to them. Two things here are which we had not in the other evangelists:?1. The sufferings of Christ are here spoken of as the fulfilling of the scriptures, with which consideration Christ reconciled himself to them,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 18:35-43

Christ came not only to bring light to a dark world, and so to set before us the objects we are to have in view, but also to give sight to blind souls, and by healing the organ to enable them to view those objects. As a token of this, he cured many of their bodily blindness: we have now an account of one to whom he gave sight near Jericho. Mark gives us an account of one, and names him, whom he cured as he went out of Jericho, Mark 10:46. Matthew speaks of two whom he cured as they departed... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 18:1-8

18:1-8 Jesus spoke a parable to them to show that it is necessary always to pray and not to lose heart. "There was a judge," he said, "in a town who neither feared God nor respected man. There was a widow in the same town who kept coming to him and saying, 'Vindicate me against my adversary.' For some time he refused. But afterwards he said to himself, 'Even though I neither fear God nor respect man, because she bothers me, I will vindicate this widow, lest by her constant coming she exhausts... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 18:9-14

18:9-14 Jesus spoke this parable to some who were self-confidently sure that they were righteous and who despised others. "Two men went up to the Temple to pray. The one was a Pharisee, the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'O God, I thank thee that I am not as the rest of men, thieves, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I give a tenth of all that I get.' The tax-collector stood afar off, and would not lift even his... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 18:15-17

18:15-17 People were bringing even their babies to Jesus that he might touch them. When the disciples saw it they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him saying, "Let the little children come to me, and don't stop them, for of such is the kingdom of God. This is the truth I tell you--whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall not enter into it." It was the custom for mothers to bring their children to some distinguished Rabbi on their first birthday that he... read more

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