Luke 18 reminds me of asking my dad for money as a kid. There was not much conversation, I just hoped he was in a good mood. Generally, I heard some grumbling from behind the newspaper about thinking he was a money tree. Eventually I just stopped asking. Today’s chapter looks at approaching God in prayer. First, Jesus taught a parable about “a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought”. A widow kept coming to him with a plea, “Grant me justice against my adversary”. The judge refused for a long time, but she persisted. Finally the judge said, “because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice”. Jesus added, “Listen to what the unjust judge says”. In other words, if an uncaring, corrupt judge eventually responded, “will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night?” Some of us think of prayer as awkwardly bringing a list of wants to a grumpy administrator, but God knows our requests before we ask. Why should we spend time in prayer then? Prayer is a time of fellowship with God. His wisdom is revealed by His Spirit and in His written Word. Jesus adds, “He will see that they get justice”. To be clear, justice is not about “just us”. As we spend time in God’s Word, we learn to trust in His authority. “Gimme” faith is easily disappointed, but “show me” faith grows. Jesus asked, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” Friend, is your prayer time lacking a relationship?
The next parable reveals much about our attitude in prayer. We read, “some who were confident of their own righteousness… looked down on everyone else”. This seems to describe many today, and few recognize it in themselves. “Two men went up to the temple to pray”. One had all the credentials and outward appearance of success. He was a religious Pharisee. The other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector”. In contrast, the other man prayed, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner”. Friend, are you too proud to ask for God’s mercy?
The chapter closes with intentional extremes. First, Jesus told those closest to Him, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them”. There is little hesitation in children when they have trust. Next we read of a man asking Jesus “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus did not mention faith as was usually the case. I have no doubt that His answer is specific to this man. Jesus told him, “You know the commandments”, listing: don’t cheat, don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t lie, honor your parents. The man said, “These I have kept since I was a boy”. Let’s be clear, being good does not earn a place in eternity. Jesus then told this man to “Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven”. Perhaps the one commandment this man did not follow was the first, “You shall have no other gods before Me”. The love of money is a problem for some, but we can make almost anything our personal idol. The disciples asked “Who then can be saved?” Please listen to the answer, “What is impossible with man is possible with God”. The chapter ends with the boldest prayer of all. We read that a blind beggar cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! …Lord, I want to see”. Many of us do not want to see our own shortcomings. We look away from our sin and we look away from needs with tunnel vision. God desires that you would come to Him with boldness and delight. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you” (Ephesians 1:18). My friend, are you bold enough to ask God to help you see?