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Luke 18

Jesus exposes the limits of human righteousness and wealth while showing God’s mercy toward those who seek his help.

Jesus teaches his hearers to keep praying, then addresses people who trust their own righteousness and despise others. He welcomes children whom the disciples try to turn away. A rich ruler asks about eternal life and grows sad when Jesus tells him to give away his wealth and follow him. As they head toward Jerusalem, Jesus tells the twelve about his coming death and resurrection. Near Jericho, he restores a blind beggar’s sight, and the crowd praises God.

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1He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray and not give up,
2saying, “There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God and didn’t respect man.
3A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my adversary!’
4He wouldn’t for a while; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man,
5yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.’”
7Won’t God avenge his chosen ones who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?
8I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
9He also spoke this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others:
10“Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
11The Pharisee stood and prayed by himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men: extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’
13But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
16Jesus summoned them, saying, “Allow the little children to come to me, and don’t hinder them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these.
17Most certainly, I tell you, whoever doesn’t receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.”
18A certain ruler asked him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
19Jesus asked him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one: God.
20You know the commandments: ‘Don’t commit adultery,’ ‘Don’t murder,’ ‘Don’t steal,’ ‘Don’t give false testimony,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”
21He said, “I have observed all these things from my youth up.”
22When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
23But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.
24Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!
25For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”
27But he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
28Peter said, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”
29He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for God’s Kingdom’s sake,
30who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life.”
31He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.
32For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on.
33They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again.”
34They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn’t understand the things that were said.
35As he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.
36Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.
37They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
38He cried out, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!”
39Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!”
40Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him,
41“What do you want me to do?” He said, “Lord, that I may see again.”
42Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.”
43Immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God.
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
Luke 18:1Luke states the purpose of the widow’s parable before telling it: persistent prayer when giving up seems easier.
Luke 18:14Jesus declares the tax collector justified, overturning the assumption that a record of religious achievement secures God’s favor.
Luke 18:7Jesus moves from the unjust judge to God’s care for his chosen ones, grounding persistent prayer in God’s justice.
Where this chapter reaches

Matthew and Mark share the accounts of children coming to Jesus, the rich man’s question, and Jesus foretelling his death and resurrection. Romans shares the theme of justification apart from human boasting, while Isaiah connects through the themes of suffering and restored sight.

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Notice

After reading the whole chapter

How does the contrast between the judge and God shape your understanding of persistent prayer?

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What do you notice about the tax collector’s prayer beside the Pharisee’s account of his own goodness?

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Questions people ask about Luke 18

What does the parable of the persistent widow mean in Luke 18?

Luke states its purpose in verse 1: to keep praying and avoid giving up. The unjust judge acts because the widow keeps coming. Jesus contrasts that judge with God, who hears his chosen ones and will bring justice. The closing question ties persistent prayer to faith while awaiting the Son of Man.

Why was the tax collector justified instead of the Pharisee?

Jesus addresses people who trust their own righteousness and despise others. The Pharisee’s prayer displays both attitudes. The tax collector admits his sin and asks for mercy. Jesus says he goes home justified, meaning accepted as righteous before God, and concludes that God humbles those who exalt themselves.

Does Luke 18 mean Christians must sell everything?

Jesus gives that command to the rich ruler, whose sorrow reveals the hold his wealth has on him. The passage does not issue the same command to every hearer. It does warn that riches hinder entry into God’s Kingdom and places salvation within God’s power, beyond human ability.

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What the Bible says about patience →What the Bible says about guilt →

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).