Luke 18

 

 1 And (1) he spake also a parable unto them, to this end, that they (*) ought always to pray, and not to (a) (♣) wax faint,

 

(1) God will have us to continue in prayer, not to weary us, but to exercise us, therefore we must so strive with impatience, that long delay cause us not to break off the course of our prayers.

(*) Romans 12:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:17 .
(a) Yield to afflictions, and adversities, as they do which are out of heart.

(♣) The Greek word signifieth, not to shrink back as cowards do in war, or to give place in afflictions or dangers.

 

 2  (b) Saying, There was a judge in a certain city, which feared not God, neither reverenced man.

 

(b) He doeth not compare things that are of equal together, but the less with the greater; If a man get his right at a most unrighteous judge’s hands, much more shall the prayers of the godly prevail before God.

 

 3 And there was a widow in that city, which came unto him, saying, (*) Do me justice against my (♣) adversary.

 

(*) Or, avenge me.

(♣) Who pleadeth against me.

 

 4 And he would not of a long time; but afterward he said with himself, Though I fear not God, nor reverence man.

 

 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will do her right, lest at the last she come and (c) make me weary.

 

(c) Word for word, beat me down with her blows, and it is a metaphor taken of wrestlers, who beat their adversaries with their fists or clubs; so do they that are importunate beat the judge's ears with their crying out, even as it were with blows.

 

 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unrighteous judge saith.

 

 7 Now shall not God avenge his elect, which cry day and night unto him, yea, though (d) (*) he suffer long for them?

 

(d) Though he seem slow in revenging the injury done to his.

(*) And seem slow in revenging their wrongs.

 

 8 I tell you he will avenge them quickly; but when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

 

 9  ¶ (2) He spake also this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were just, and despised others.

 

(2) Two things especially make our prayers void and of none effect; confidence of our own righteousness, and the contempt of others, and a humble heart is contrary to both these.

 

 10 Two men went up into the Temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a Publican.

 

 11  (3) The Pharisee (*) stood and prayed thus with himself, O God, I thank thee that I am not as other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this Publican.

 

(3) Although we confess that whatsoever we have, we have it of God, yet we are despised of God, as proud and arrogant, if we put never so little trust in our own works before God.

(*) Whereby he declared his proud and disdainful heart.

 

 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that ever I possess.

 

 13 But the Publican standing (e) afar off, would not lift up so much as his (*) eyes to heaven, but smote his breast, saying, O God, be merciful to me a sinner.

 

(e) Far from the Pharisee in a lower place.

(*) These were signs of a humble and lowly heart.

 

 14 I tell you, this man departed to his house justified, (♣) rather than the other; (*) for every man that exalteth himself, shall be brought low, and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.

 

(♣) Or, and not the other.

(*) Luke 14:11; Matthew 23:12 .

 

 15  ¶ (*) (f) They brought unto him also (♣) babes that he should touch them. (4) And when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

 

(*) Matthew 19:13; Mark 10:13 .

(f) The children were tender and young, in that they were brought, which appeareth more evidently in that, they were infants, which is to be marked against them that are enemies to the baptizing of children.

(♣) The word signifieth young suckling babes which they carried in their arms.
(4) To judge or think of Christ after the reason of the flesh, is the cause of infinite corruptions.

 

 16  (5) But Jesus (g) called (*) them unto him, and said, Suffer the babes to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of (♣) such is the kingdom of God.

 

(5) The children also of the faithful are comprehended in the free covenant of God.
(g) Them that carried the children, whom the disciples drove away.

(*) He meaneth the nurses or them that bare the babes, whom the Apostles rebuked.

(♣) He comprehendeth as well them that are infants of age, as them also, which are like unto infants in simplicity and plainness.

 

 17  (6) Verily I say unto you, whosoever receiveth not the kingdom of God as (*) a babe, he shall not enter therein.

 

(6) Childlike innocency is an ornament of Christians.

(*) Signifying that they ought to lay aside all malice and pride.

 

 18  (*) Then a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what ought I to do, to inherit eternal life?

 

(*) Matthew 19:16; Mark 10:17 .

 

 19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me (*) good? None is good, save one, even God.

 

(*) Because commonly they abused this word, Jesus sheweth him that he could not confess him to be good except also he acknowledge that he was God.

 

 20 Thou knowest the commandments, (*) Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother.

 

(*) Exodus 20:14 .

 

 21 (7) And he said, All these have I kept from my youth.

 

(7) The enticement of riches carrieth away many from the right way.

 

 22 Now when Jesus heard that, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing. Sell all that ever thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come follow me.

 

 23 But when he heard those things, he was very heavy, for he was marvelously rich.

 

 24  (8) And when Jesus saw him very sorrowful, he said, With what difficulty shall they that have riches, enter into the kingdom of God!

 

(8) To be both rich and godly, is a singular gift of God.

 

 25 Surely it is easier for a (*) camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

 

(*) Or, cable rope.

 

 26 Then said they that heard it, And who then can be saved?

 

 27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men, are (*) possible with God.

 

(*) For he so governeth the hearts of his, that their riches do not blind them.

 

 28  ¶ (*) Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

 

(*) Matthew 19:27; Mark 10:28 .

 

 29  (9) And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children for the kingdom of God’s sake,

 

(9) They become the richest of all, which refuse not to be poor for Christ's sake.

 

 30 Which shall not receive (*) much more in this world, and in the world to come life everlasting.

 

(*) The little that a man hath with the grace of God, is a hundredfold better than all the abundance that one can have without him; but the chief recompense is in heaven.

 

 31  ¶ (*) (10) Then Jesus took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things shall be fulfilled to the Son of man, that are written by the Prophets.

 

(*) Matthew 20:17; Mark 10:32 .

(10) As sure and certain as persecution is, so sure is the glory which remaineth for the conquerors.

 

 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and shall be spitefully entreated, and shall be spitted on.

 

 33 And when they have scourged him, they will put him to death, but the third day he shall rise again.

 

 34 But they understood (h) none of these things, and this saying was hid from them, neither perceived they the things, which were spoken.

 

(h) Hereby we see how ignorant the disciples were.

 

 35  ¶ (*) (11) And it came to pass, that as he was come near unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside, begging.

 

(*) Matthew 20:29; Mark 10:46 .

(11) Christ sheweth by a visible miracle, that he is the light of the world.

 

 36 And when he heard the people pass by, he asked what it meant.

 

 37 And they said unto him, that Jesus of Nazareth passed by.

 

 38 Then he cried, saying, Jesus the Son of David, have mercy on me.

 

 39  (12) And they which went before, rebuked him that he should hold his peace, but he cried much more, O (*) Son of David, have mercy on me.

 

(12) The more stops and lets that Satan layeth in our way, even by them which profess Christ's Name, so much the more ought we to go forward.

(*) The people used to call the Messiah by this name, because they knew he should come of the stock of David, Psalm 132:11; Acts 2:30 .

 

 40 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be brought unto him. And when he was come near, he asked him,

 

 41 Saying, What wilt thou that I do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

 

 42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight; thy faith hath saved thee.

 

 43 Then immediately he received his sight, and followed him, (*) praising God; and all the people, when they saw this, gave praise to God.

 

(*) He was mindful of the benefit received and also the people were moved thereby to glorify God.

 

 

Steve

Home Page

http://www.genevabible.org

1599 Geneva Bible Online

Open your heart to the truth of Jesus Christ, please read the info on this link:

http://www.calvarychapel.com/?show=thegospel

 1 Corinthians 14:8

And also if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to battle?

"Let not Geneva be forgotten or despised. Religious liberty owes it most respect."   John Adams, the second president of the United States

Before, and many years after the KJV was printed, the GENEVA BIBLE was the People's Choice, but an ungodly King made it illegal to publish it any longer:  http://www.genevabible.org/Geneva.html Click on "Geneva Bible History" on my site.

Yahoo Group Owner

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Watchmen-on-the-wall/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Geneva_Bible/

http://groups.google.com/group/Geneva-Bible

Daily Scripture:

http://www.genevabible.org/ScriptureOfTheDay.html