In The Word
Read: Luke 18:1-17
Parables on Prayer
18 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not become discouraged, 2 saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect any person.3 Now there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my opponent.’ 4 For a while he was unwilling; but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect any person, 5 yet because this widow is bothering me, I will give her justice; otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge *said; 7 now, will God not bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night, and will He delay long for them? 8 I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 Now He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and began praying this in regard to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other one; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
15 Now they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them.16 But Jesus called for the little ones, saying, “Allow the children to come to Me, and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Jesus told two parables that teach us two important qualities of prayer. The first parable is about a widow who needed legal protection, which teaches us about being passionately persistent in prayer. She appealed to the judge repeatedly, but for a time he was unwilling to satisfy her request. But because of her persistence, the judge eventually met her request. Yeshua said that our Father is not like that wicked judge because He is willing to hear our prayers and answer them. You may have a big need in your life. How long are you willing to passionately pray to see God move on your behalf? Do not give up in prayer but “cry to Him day and night” (Luke 18:7) and trust in His perfect timing.
Contrastingly, in the second parable, two men prayed to God, which teaches us about coming before God in humility. The first man bragged to God about his righteous acts and promoted himself above other people who were sinners; maybe he thought his good deeds would compel God to listen to him. The second man was a tax collector, a despised profession because they would use their power to overtax people. He would not look up to heaven and ask God for mercy because he was a sinner. Yeshua said that God approved the second man because he was humble. When we approach God in prayer, we should do so humbly because only Yeshua’s redeeming power makes us good.