Day 62 – Thursday, March 27, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Luke 18

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Parable of the Woman and the Judge

1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, ² saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. ³ Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ ⁴ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, ⁵ yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”

⁶ Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. ⁷ And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? ⁸ I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” 

(Luke 18:1–8, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Men ought to pray always. That’s what Jesus said. And then He explained.
• If a woman sought for justice from an unjust judge, he would refuse her calls until she absolutely wore him out asking. Then he would grant her request. If he, even though he did not regard man, would hear her and answer her request, surely the Lord will answer His children speedily.
• But will He find faith on earth when He comes again?

Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹ Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ ¹³ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise 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, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” 

(Luke 18:9–14, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• In another parable, Jesus shows the truth to those who were proud.
• A Pharisee and a sinner (tax collector) went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee prayed eloquently and told the Lord how good he was. The sinner simply beat his chest and confessed and repented of his sins.
• Jesus said that only the sinner would be justified.
• “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Christ Blesses the Children

Matt. 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16

¹⁵ Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. ¹⁶ But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. ¹⁷ Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 

(Luke 18:15–17, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus also held up the example of little children as being pleasing to God because of their simple faith.
• Keep it simple: believe that the Lord is God and that He loves you. Accept Him and be saved!

Rich Young Ruler

Matt. 19:16-26; Mark 10:17-27

¹⁸ Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

¹⁹ So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 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 things I have kept from my youth.”

²² So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

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

²⁴ And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He 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 And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷ But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Luke 18:18–27, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• As in Matthew 19 and Mark 10, Jesus is approached by a rich young ruler who sought to know the way to eternal life.
• Jesus told him to keep the commandments. He replied that he had from birth.
• He then told him to sell all his goods and give to the poor.
• He because sorrowful, for He had great riches. He did not follow Jesus.
• Jesus then told His disciples that it was extremely hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. They asked who could be saved. He replied, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

Christ Will Reward Sacrifice

Matt. 19:27-29; Mark 10:28-30

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

²⁹ So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, ³⁰ who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Luke 18:28–30, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Peter noted that they had left all to follow Christ.
• Jesus reiterated and assured him that their sacrifices would not go unnoticed. They would have many times over what they gave up in this life, and eternal life after this life is over.

Christ Foretells His Death and Resurrection

Matt. 20:17-19; Mark 10:32-34

³¹ Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. ³² For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. ³³ They will scourge Him and kill Him. And 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 the things which were spoken. (Luke 18:31–34, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus told the disciples again here that we would be delivered to the Romans, tortured, then killed.
• But, on the third day He would rise again.
• What a hopeful promise!

Christ Heals Bartimaeus

Matt. 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52

³⁵ Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. ³⁶ And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. ³⁷ So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. ³⁸ And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

³⁹ Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁰ So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, ⁴¹ saying, “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 made you well.” 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 18:35–43, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus again, in Luke, comes upon blind Bartimaeus.
• He cries out to Jesus as He passed by.
• When Jesus asked what he wanted, the blind man said that he would have his sight restored.
• Jesus gave him his request, and he could see again.
• He and the crowds glorified God.
• The moral of all these stories involves prayer, humility, sacrifice, persistence, obedience, and faith. Let Jesus find these in you when He comes.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.