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 to lose heart, 2 saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. 3 There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ 4 For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge *said; 7 now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over 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 Publican
9 And 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 was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, 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 lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
15 And 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 them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder 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.