The Pharisee, having stood to himself, was praying like this, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortionists, lawbreakers, adulterers, or even as this customs official.’ Luke 18:11 This Pharisee was providing the Lord with a laundry list of his own sins. The Pharisees were a sort of racketeering group that…

Two men went up to the temple to pray, one was a Pharisee, and the other was a customs officer. Luke 18:10 Those among the Jews who had taken up the mantle of the customs official for the Romans were hated in more ways than one. Viewed as traitors, they were considered the apex of…

And He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves and treated others with contempt, convinced that they were righteous. Luke 18:9 The hight of hubris! And yet this is so common a feeling among our proud species. We are so often full of our own conceit and think others are far worse than…

I tell you that He will accommplish vengance quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes will he really find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8 This is perhaps one of the most unsettling verses in all of Scripture. Though on the one hand it is great to have assurance of God’s judgement of evil,…

Shall not God most assuredly accomplish vengace for His elect who cry out to Him day and night, and be very patient with them? Luke 18:7 This passage employs a double negative, which is allowed in Greek, and makes this question very ephatic. God will not by any means fail to do justice on behalf…

And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the corrupt judge said.’ Luke 18:6 Not only the Lord Jesus, but also Luke calls special attention to the words of this unscrupulous judge. The point is to make careful note of his thought process, and to think of that in comparison and contrast to the response given…

yet, on account of this widow continually being a bother to me, I will give her justice, so that she will not torment me by cominng to me perpetually. Luke 18:5 The construction of the wording here is quite specific. It really paints a temendous picture for us, and Jesus is the best storyteller ever.…

And he did not want to for a period of time, but after this he said to himself, ‘Although I do not fear God, and do not respect men; Luke 18:4 The inhibitions of this unjust judge were not strong. Somewhat of a wishy-washy person to begin with, it did not take him long to…

But in that city was a widow, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Get me justice from my adversary.’ Luke 18:3 This woman evidently had a suit of some kind against someone who had done wrong. She was asking the judge to do what was right, and to punish the offender. We do not…

saying, ‘There was a judge in a certain city, who did not fear God, and did not respect men.’ Luke 18:2 Jesus gives us the setup here. This judge is presented as a man who is not concerned with God’s truth, nor was he particularly afraid of any other individual. He cared only for himself,…