1
Jesus told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

2
He said: “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect anyone.

3
And in that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

4
For a while he refused. But afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I do not fear God and do not respect anyone,

5
yet because this widow keeps troubling me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not keep coming and wear me out.'”

6
And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says!

7
And will not God grant justice to His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them?

8
I tell you, He will grant them justice quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

9
And to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt, Jesus told this parable:

10
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector;

12
I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all that I get.’

13
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

14
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

15
Now they were bringing even their infants to Him, that He might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

16
But Jesus called them to Him, saying, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

17
Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child shall not enter it.”

18
And a ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19
Jesus answered, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.

20
You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and your mother.”

21
And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.”

22
When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack: sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow Me.”

23
But when he heard these words, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

24
Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!

25
For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26
Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”

27
But He said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”

28
Then Peter said, “See, we have left all we had and followed You.”

29
And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,

30
who will not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

31
Then Jesus took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

32
For He will be handed over to the nations who do not know God, and will be mocked, insulted, and spit upon,

33
and they will scourge Him and kill Him, and on the third day He will rise again.”

34
But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know what was meant.

35
As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside and begging.

36
When he heard the crowd passing by, he asked, “What is this?”

37
They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

38
Then he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39
Those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that the man be brought to Him. And when he came near, Jesus asked him:

41
“What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight!”

42
Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has saved you!”

43
And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

📖 Luke 18 – Prayer, Humility, Faith, and Commitment to Follow Jesus

🧾 Summary of Luke 18

This chapter presents four parables and important events that teach about persistent prayer, humility, faith like that of a little child, sacrifice in following Christ, and miraculous healing.

1. The Parable of the Unjust Judge and the Persistent Widow (verses 1–8)

• A widow kept asking for justice from a corrupt judge.
• The judge finally granted her request, not because he feared God, but because the widow would not stop pressing him.
• Then Jesus said:

“Will not God bring justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night?”

👉 Meaning:
God is not like the corrupt judge. He hears and acts quickly for His children who pray with persistence. Perseverance in prayer is a sign of faith.

2. The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (verses 9–14)

• A Pharisee prayed proudly, comparing himself with sinners.
• A tax collector only beat his breast and said:

“God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

• Jesus said:

“This man went down to his house justified by God, rather than the other.”

👉 Meaning:
Humility and true repentance bring justification before God, not spiritual pride or outward ritual.

3. Jesus Blesses Little Children (verses 15–17)

• The disciples rebuked those who brought little children to Jesus.
• But Jesus said:

“Let the children come to Me… for of such is the kingdom of God.”

👉 Meaning:
The kingdom of God belongs to those who believe with a heart that is pure, sincere, and simple like children.

4. The Rich Man Who Found It Hard to Enter the Kingdom of God (verses 18–30)

• A young ruler asked how to obtain eternal life.
• Jesus told him to sell his possessions and follow Him, but the man was sad because he was very rich.
• Jesus said:

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

👉 Meaning:
Attachment to worldly wealth can completely hinder one from following Christ.
Sacrifice for Jesus will be repaid many times over in this life and in eternal life.

5. Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection (verses 31–34)

• Jesus foretold His suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection.
• Yet the disciples did not yet understand what He meant.

6. The Healing of the Blind Man in Jericho (verses 35–43)

• A blind beggar by the roadside cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
• Jesus asked what he wanted, and the man answered, “That I may see.”
• Jesus healed him because of the man’s faith.

👉 Meaning:
Persistent and humble faith will receive an answer from the Lord.

📘 Main Teachings of Luke 18

1. Persistent prayer is not in vain – God hears and acts.
2. Humility is more precious before the Lord than outward piety.
3. The kingdom of God receives those with a childlike heart.
4. Following Jesus requires renouncing possessions and worldly attachment.
5. Faith that believes and cries out to Jesus brings miracles.

✨ Spiritual Meaning of Luke 18

• God seeks a humble heart that leans fully on Him.
• Do not lose heart in prayer, because the Lord acts at the right time.
• Following Jesus requires sacrifice, but it promises eternal reward.
• Faith must be joined with childlike trust and the longing of a blind man who wants to see.
• It is not your greatness, but your faith and humility that bring you before the Lord.