Luke 18:1-17

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

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 18:1

And he spoke a parable unto them ,.... To his own disciples, as the Ethiopic version reads, in order to encourage them to prayer, with perseverance in it; since such sore times of trial and affliction were coming upon the Jews, of which he had spoken in the preceding chapter; and such times more especially call for prayer; see Psalm 50:15 to this end , that men ought always to pray . This is opposed to them, who pray not at all, or have left off prayer before God, or who pray only in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 18:2

Saying, there was in a city a judge ,.... In every city in the land of Israel, there was a sanhedrim, or court of judicature; in Jerusalem was the great sanhedrim, consisting of seventy one; and in every city where there were an hundred and twenty men, or more, there was a lesser sanhedrim, consisting of twenty three; and in a city in which there were not an hundred and twenty men, were three judges; for there was no sanhedrim, or court of judicature, that consisted of less than three F12 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 18:3

And there was a widow in that city ,.... Poor and helpless, and none among men to counsel, direct, and assist her, and take her part: now as in the accommodation of this parable, the elect of God answer to this widow; such an one is rather pitched upon to represent the helpless, desolate, and forlorn condition they are in among men in this world, though they are espoused to one husband, Christ; and especially to signify the state and condition of God's elect among the Jews in those sad... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 18:4

And he would not for a while ,.... He would give no ear to her cries, nor take her cause in hand, nor right her wrongs, and clear her of her adversary: but afterward he said within himself ; as he was considering the matter in his own mind, and reflecting on this woman's case and the frequent application she had made to him: though I fear not God, nor regard man ; a monster in iniquity he was, to say so of himself; for though the character belongs to many, there are few that are so... read more

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