This week, we would be concluding the series, The Parables of Jesus as we consider the parables of Jesus from the book of Luke.
Parables of Jesus From the Book of Luke
- The Good Samaritan Luke 10:29-37
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Explanation of the Parable
The parable of the Good Samaritan has a very clear message which is to Love our neighbor as ourself.” Jesus is questioned about the greatest commandment before sharing the Samaritan’s story. He replied, “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength the second is:Love your neighbor as yourself .
The Good Samaritan Parable serves as an example of how to “love our neighbors as ourselves.” Our neighborly love is put to the test when others need it, like the man on the street. Jesus commands us to help those in need, not to be like the Priest and the Levite who disregarded their neighbor.
- The Friend at Midnight (Luke 11:5-13)
Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Explanation of the Parable
Jesus immediately shared the parable of the neighbor who was in need of bread for a visitor after instructing the disciples how to recite the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:5-10). The lesson He is teaching through this parable is to be persistent in prayer. The disciples had just asked Him to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1). Jesus uses two parables to illustrate this point, the second of which is the parable of the tenacious widow and the unjust judge found in Luke 18:1–8. The same idea is reaffirmed by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
According to Jesus, we should keep asking (Matthew 7:7), and we will receive whatever we request if it is in God’s will. The Lord’s Prayer, which contains the adage “Your will be done,” was just taught to the disciples (Luke 11:2). After putting everything together, we can see that we should be persistent in pleading with God to intervene in our lives and grant our requests in accordance with His perfect timing and will while remaining confident that He will.
The advantages of persistent prayer and faith in God are numerous. As we interact with God, we become aware of His goodness. We eagerly participate in God’s plans by submitting our lives and wills to Him. And we confidently and boldly approach Him, knowing that He will grant us His friendship and love.
- The Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21)
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Explanation of the Parable
Verse 15 in this parable holds the key to its interpretation (and later summarized in verse 21). Take care and avoid all forms of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions, according to Luke 12:15. This is what Jesus tells the man who requested that He mediate their dispute with their brother. In the past, the firstborn child was assured of receiving a double inheritance. The brother who addressed Jesus was most likely not the firstborn and was requesting an equal share of the inheritance. Jesus addresses the root of their conflict—covetousness—rather than stepping in to mediate it. Jesus cautions this individual, as well as everyone in the vicinity, that our lives should not be about gathering wealth. Life is so much more than the “abundance of possessions.”
Jesus continues by telling the man the Rich Fool Parable. God blessed this person materially, and his land “produced abundantly” (verse 16). The man continued to receive blessings from God, but instead of using them to advance God’s purposes, he was only concerned with managing them and building up his growing fortune. So the man starts planning an early retirement and replaces the existing barns with bigger ones. He was unaware that this was his final night on earth. “So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.
The Parable of the Rich Fool therefore has two points. First, we are not to spend our lives pursuing and acquiring wealth. In the parable, an intriguing point is made. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be? God asks the man in the story. This is similar to the sentiment found in Ecclesiastes 2:18, where the author writes, “I hated all my toil which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who shall come after me.” People who are completely focused on amassing wealth are constantly exhibiting it. What happens to all of that money after they pass away? Others who didn’t work for it are given what was left over, and won’t appreciate it. Furthermore, if money is your master, that means God is not (Matthew 6:24).
The second lesson of the Rich Fool parable is that God has not blessed us with the ability to keep our wealth to ourselves. We are fortunate to be able to improve the lives of others and to advance God’s kingdom. According to the Bible, we are not to set our hearts on our increasing wealth (Psalm 62:10). The Bible also claims that there is a person who freely gives and becomes even richer (Proverbs 11:24). Last but not least, the Bible instructs us to give God the first fruits of our increase (Proverbs 3:9–10). It is obvious what the point is: if we honor God with what He has given us, He will bless us with more so that we can honor Him with more.
A passage in 2 Corinthians nicely summarizes this (2 Corinthians 9:6–15). In that passage, Paul says, “And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may abound in every good work, having all contentment in all things at all times.” God blesses us so that we can “abound in every good work” and be a blessing in the lives of others. So, if God has blessed you with material wealth, “do not set your heart on it,” but rather “be rich toward God.” That is the message of the Rich Fool’s Parable.
- The Barren Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9)
Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
Explanation of the Parable
The three characters in the story all have clear symbolic meanings. The vineyard owner represents God, who rightfully expects to see fruit on His tree and rightfully decides to destroy it when He does not find any. The gardener, or vineyard keeper, who looks after the trees, watering and fertilizing them to bring them to their full fruitfulness, represents Jesus, who feeds His people and provides them with living water. The tree itself represents both the nation of Israel and the individual.
As the story progresses, we see the vineyard owner express his dissatisfaction with the fruitless tree. He’s been looking for fruit from this tree for three years and hasn’t found any. The three-year period is significant because John the Baptist and Jesus had been preaching the message of repentance throughout Israel for three years. However, the fruits of repentance did not appear. Because the ax had already been laid at the root of the tree, John the Baptist warned the people about the coming of the Messiah and told them to bear fruits fit for repentance (Luke 3:8-9).
But the idea that they needed to repent offended the Jews, and they rejected their Messiah because He demanded repentance from them. After all, they had God’s revelation, prophets, Scriptures, covenants, and adoption (Romans 9:4-5). They had everything, but they were already an apostate. They had abandoned the true faith and the true and living God in favor of a works-righteousness system that was an abomination to God. He was perfectly justified in tearing down the fruitless tree as the vineyard owner. The Lord’s ax was already poised over the tree’s root, ready to fall.
However, the gardener is pleading for a little more time here. There were still a few months before the crucifixion, and more miracles were to come, particularly the incredible miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead, which would astound many and possibly cause the Jews to repent. As it turned out, Israel as a whole did not believe, but individuals did (John 12:10-11). The compassionate gardener pleads with the gracious Lord of the Vineyard for more time to water and fertilize the fruitless tree, and the gracious Lord of the Vineyard responds with patience.
- The Invited Guests (Luke 14:7-14)
When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Explanation of the Parable
The statement that inspired the parable is crucial. The man in verse 15 who looks forward to dining in the Messianic kingdom most likely believed that the kingdom would be limited to Jews. As the following explanation demonstrates, the parable Jesus tells is intended to refute that notion:
The speaker at the table suggested that the master of the house is God, and the great banquet is the kingdom. The invited guests represent the Jewish people. The kingdom had been prepared for them, but when Jesus arrived, preaching that “the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17), He was rejected. “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (John 1:11).
The excuses for not attending the banquet are laughable. No one buys land without first inspecting it, and the same can be said for purchasing oxen. What exactly would prevent a newlywed couple from attending a social event? The parable’s three excuses all reveal insincerity on the part of those invited. According to the interpretation, the Jews of Jesus’ day had no valid reason to reject Jesus’ message; in fact, they had every reason to accept Him as their Messiah.
It is significant that the invitation is extended to society’s maimed and oppressed. These were the people who the Pharisees considered “unclean” and cursed by God (cf. John 9:1-2, 34). However, Jesus taught that the kingdom was available to even those who were considered “unclean” (cf. Acts 10). His association with tax collectors and sinners drew condemnation from the Pharisees, but it demonstrated the extent of God’s grace (Matthew 9:10-11). The fact that the master sends the servant far and wide to persuade everyone to come indicates that the offer of salvation would be extended to Gentiles and “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). “Rejoice with his people, O Gentiles!” (Romans 15:10).
The master is not content with a partially full banquet hall; he desires that every seat at the table be filled. “God is more willing to save sinners than sinners are to be saved.”
Those who ignored the banquet invitation chose their own punishment—they missed out. The master honors their decision by making it permanent: they will no longer “taste of my banquet.” So it will be with God’s judgment on those who choose to reject Christ: they will be confirmed in their decision, and they will never taste the joys of heaven.
“The tragedy of Jewish rejection of Christ has opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles,” the basic message of the Parable of the Great Banquet could be stated. All who come to Christ in faith will receive the blessings of the kingdom.”
The acceptance of Gentiles fulfills Hosea 2:23, “I will say to those who are called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people,’ and they will say, ‘You are my God.'” “God does not wish for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9), and “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
- The Lost Coin ( Luke 15:8-10)
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Explanation of the Parable
The Pharisees saw themselves as God’s chosen people, while the “sinners” were rejected. With one clear message, Jesus uses the Pharisees’ prejudices against them while encouraging sinners. This is the message: God cares deeply about us (“and when he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders,” v. 5). God has a joyful love for people who are lost (in sin) and then found (repent). Jesus makes it clear that the Pharisees, who thought they were close to God, were actually far away, and that God was looking for sinners and tax collectors. This message is repeated in 18:9-14.
There, Jesus teaches on prayer attitudes, but the problem he addresses is the same as in chapter 15. “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God,” Jesus says in 18:14. “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
- The Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-32
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Explanation of the Parable
The parable’s main character, the forgiving father, whose character remains consistent throughout the story, is a representation of God. In telling the story, Jesus identifies with God in His compassionate attitude toward the lost. The younger son represents the lost (the tax collectors and sinners of that day, according to Luke 15:1), while the elder brother represents the righteous (the Pharisees and teachers of the law of that day, Luke 15:2). The main theme of this parable appears to be the restoration of a believer into fellowship with the Father, rather than the conversion of the sinner, as in the previous two parables of Luke 15.
The owner in the first two parables went out to look for what was lost (Luke 15:1-10), whereas in this story, the father eagerly awaits his son’s return. Through the three parables, we see a progression from one in a hundred (Luke 15:1–7) to one in ten (Luke 15:8–10) to one in one (Luke 15:11–32), demonstrating God’s love for each individual and His personal attention to all humanity. The graciousness of the father overshadows the sinfulness of the son in this story, as it is the memory of the father’s goodness that brings the prodigal son to repentance (Romans 2:4).
We’ll start unraveling the meaning of this parable in verse 12, when the younger son asks his father for his share of his father’s estate, which would have been half of what his older brother would have received; in other words, 1/3 for the younger, 2/3 for the older (Deuteronomy 21:17). Though it was perfectly legal for him to ask, it was not a loving thing to do because it implied that he wished his father had died. Instead of reprimanding his son, the father patiently grants his request.
This is an illustration of God allowing a sinner to go his own way (Deuteronomy 30:19). We all have this foolish desire to be independent, which is at the root of the sinner’s persistence in sin (Genesis 3:6; Romans 1:28). A sinful state is a separation and separation from God (Romans 1:21). A sinful state is also one of constant dissatisfaction. “Beware!” says Luke 12:15. Keep an eye out for all forms of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” This son discovered the hard way that covetousness leads to dissatisfaction and disappointment in life. He also discovered that the most valuable things in life are those that cannot be bought or replaced.
He travels to a distant country, according to verse 13. His previous actions indicate that he had already made that journey in his heart, and the physical departure was a manifestation of his willful disobedience to all the goodness his father had provided (Proverbs 27:19; Matthew 6:21; 12:34). In the process, he wastes everything his father has worked for on selfish, shallow fulfillment, and loses everything. His financial disaster is followed by a natural disaster, a famine, for which he failed to plan (Genesis 41:33-36). At this point, he sells himself into physical slavery to a Gentile and is forced to feed pigs, a job that the Jewish people despise (Leviticus 11:7; Deuteronomy 14:8; Isaiah 65:4;66:17). Needless to say, he must have been desperate at the time to willingly accept such a heinous position. What an irony that his choices had led him to a position where he had no choice but to work, and for a stranger, doing the very things he refused to do for his father. To top it all off, he was apparently paid so little that he craved pig food. Just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse, he couldn’t find mercy among the people. Apparently, when his wealth vanished, so did his friends. “No one gave him anything,” the text clearly states (vs. 16). Even these filthy animals seemed to be doing better than he was at this point. This is a depiction of the lost sinner or rebellious Christian who has returned to a life of slavery to sin (2 Peter 2:19-21). It depicts what sin does in a person’s life when he rejects the Father’s will (Hebrews 12:1; Acts 8:23). “Sin always promises more than it delivers, takes you further than you wanted to go, and leaves you worse off than when you started.” Sin promises freedom but results in slavery (John 8:34).
The son begins to consider his situation and realizes that even his father’s servants had it better than him. His traumatic experiences allow him to see his father in a new light and give him hope (Psalm 147:11; Isaiah 40:30-31; Romans 8:24-25; 1 Timothy 4:10). This is a reflection of the sinner when he or she realizes the destitute state of his or her life as a result of sin. It is the realization that there is no hope apart from God (Ephesians 2:12; 2 Timothy 2:25-26). This is when a repentant sinner “comes to his senses” and longs to reclaim the fellowship with God that Adam lost when he sinned (Genesis 3:8).
The son devises a strategy. Though at first glance it may appear that he is not truly repentant, but rather motivated by his hunger, a closer examination of the text reveals new insights. He is willing to give up his rights as his father’s son and become his father’s servant. We can only speculate, but he may have been willing to repay what he had lost (Luke 19:8; Leviticus 6:4-5).
Regardless of the motivation, it demonstrates genuine humility and repentance, based not on what he said but on what he was willing to do and eventually did (Acts 26:20). He realizes he has no right to a blessing upon his return to his father’s household, nor does he have anything to offer in repentance for his previous actions other than a life of service. With that, he is ready to prostrate himself at his father’s feet and beg forgiveness and mercy. This is precisely what conversion entails: freeing oneself from a life of slavery to sin through confession to the Father and faith in Jesus Christ, and becoming a slave to righteousness by offering one’s body as a living sacrifice (1 John 1:9; Romans 12:1).
Jesus depicts the father as waiting for his son, perhaps searching the distant road on a daily basis, hoping for his appearance. The father notices him while he is still a long distance away. The father’s compassion assumes that he is aware of his son’s plight, possibly through reports sent home. It was not customary for men to run at the time, but the father does so to greet his son (vs.20). Why would he defy convention for this rebellious child who had wronged him? The obvious answer is that he loved him and wanted to show him how much he cared by restoring the relationship. When the father reaches his son, not only does he throw his arms around him, but he also greets him with a kiss of love (1 Peter 5:14).
He is so overjoyed at his son’s return that he doesn’t even allow him to finish his confession. He also does not question or lecture him; instead, he unconditionally forgives him and welcomes him back into the fold. The father running to his son, kissing him on the cheek, and ordering the celebration is a picture of how our Heavenly Father feels about repentant sinners. God adores us and patiently waits for us to repent so that He can show us His great mercy, because He does not want anyone to perish or escape as if by fire (Ephesians 2:1-10; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Corinthians 3:15).
- The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Explanation of the Parable
Luke 16:19-31 tells the story of a very wealthy man who lived a life of extreme luxury. However, outside the gate of this rich man’s house lay an extremely poor man named Lazarus, who hoped only to “eat what fell from the rich man’s table” (v. 21). The rich man was completely unconcerned about Lazarus’ plight, showing him no love, sympathy, or compassion. They both died eventually. The rich man went to hell, while Lazarus went to heaven.The rich man asked “Father Abraham” in heaven to send Lazarus to cool his tongue with a drop of water to relieve his “agony in this fire.” The rich man also requested that Abraham send Lazarus back to earth to warn his brothers to repent and not join him in hell. Both requests were turned down. Abraham told the rich man that if his brothers did not believe in Scripture, they would not believe a messenger from heaven.
Because two of the characters are named, it is unclear whether this is a true, real-life account or a parable. But, parable or not, there is much to be learned from this passage:
First and foremost, Jesus teaches here that both heaven and hell are real, literal places. Unfortunately, many preachers avoid uncomfortable topics like hell. Some even teach “universalism,” which holds that everyone goes to heaven. Nonetheless, Christ, Paul, Peter, John, Jude, and the writer of Hebrews all spoke extensively about hell. Every person who has ever lived will spend eternity in either heaven or hell, according to the Bible. Many people today, like the rich man in the story, are complacent in their belief that all is well with their soul, and many will hear our Savior tell them otherwise when they die (Matthew 7:23).
This story also shows that once we cross the eternal horizon, we are done. There are no more opportunities. The transition to our eternal state occurs when we die (2 Corinthians 5:8; Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23). When believers die, they enter the conscious fellowship and joys of heaven right away. Unbelievers who die are immediately immersed in the conscious pain, suffering, and torment of hell. It’s worth noting that the rich man did not request that his brothers pray for his release from some purgatorial middle ground, thereby hastening his journey to heaven. He was certain he was in hell, and he knew why.That is why his requests were limited to being consoled and having a warning sent to his brothers. He realized there was no way out. He was eternally separated from God, and Abraham made it clear that he would never be relieved of his pain, suffering, or sorrow. Those who perish in hell will vividly recall missed opportunities and their rejection of the gospel.
The rich man, like many today who believe in the “prosperity gospel,” mistook his material wealth for evidence of God’s love and blessing. Similarly, he believed that God cursed the poor and destitute, such as Lazarus. “You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence,” the apostle James exhorted. You gorged yourselves on the day of slaughter” (James 5:5). Not only do riches not get you into heaven, but they can also separate you from God in ways that few other things can. The wealthy are deceitful (Mark 4:19). It is not impossible for the very wealthy to enter heaven (many biblical heroes were wealthy), but Scripture makes it clear that it is extremely difficult. Matthew 19:23–24; Mark 10:23–25; Luke 18:24–25
True Christians will not be oblivious to the plight of the poor, as the rich man in this story was. God cares about the poor and is offended when His children ignore them (Proverbs 17:5; 22:9, 22-23; 29:7; 31:8-9). In fact, those who show mercy to the poor are personally ministering to Christ (Matthew 25:35-40). The fruit that Christians bear identifies them. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts will undoubtedly influence how we live and what we do.
Abraham’s words in verses 29 and 31 about “Moses and the Prophets” (Scripture) confirm that understanding God’s revealed Word has the power to convert unbelief into faith (Hebrews 4:12; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23). Furthermore, knowing Scripture allows us to recognize that God’s children, like Lazarus, can suffer while on earth—suffering is one of the many tragic consequences of living in a sinful and fallen world.
According to the Bible, our earthly lives are a “mist that appears for a short time and then vanishes” (James 4:14). Our time on Earth is extremely brief. Perhaps the most important lesson to take away from this story is that when death knocks, there is only one thing that matters: our relationship with Jesus Christ. “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul?” Mark 8:36; Matthew 16:26). Only in Christ do we find eternal life. “God has given us eternal life, which is found in His Son.” Whoever has the Son of God has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11-12). The truth is, if we wish to live apart from God during our time on earth, He will grant us our wish for eternity as well. As one pastor aptly said, “If you board the train of unbelief, you will have to take it all the way to its destination.”
- The Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8)
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Explanation of the Parable
The parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8) is one of several parables Jesus Christ used to teach His disciples about prayer. Luke introduces this lesson as a parable intended to teach the disciples “to always pray and never give up.”
The story of the widow and the judge takes place in an unnamed town. An unjust judge presides over that town, with no fear of God and no compassion for the people under his jurisdiction. In the Jewish community, a judge was expected to be impartial, to render just judgments, and to recognize that final authority rests with God (Deuteronomy 1:16–17). As a result, the judge in this story is inept and unqualified for the job. No justice was being served.
A needy widow appears before the judge on numerous occasions to plead her case. Widows, according to Jewish law, are entitled to special legal protection (Deuteronomy 10:18; 24:17–21; James 1:27). However, this unjust judge ignores her. Despite this, she refuses to give up.
“I don’t fear God or care about people,” the judge eventually admits to himself, “but this woman is driving me insane.” I’m going to see that she gets justice because her constant requests are exhausting me!” (NLT: Luke 18:4-5) The widow receives the justice she sought. Then Jesus explains His point: if an uncaring, unfit, and ungodly judge ultimately delivers justice, how much more will a loving and holy Father do the same for His children?
When we pray, we do not always see immediate results. Our understanding of swift justice differs from the Lord’s. The parable of the persistent widow demonstrates how tenacity and faithfulness are required for effective prayer. A true disciple must learn that prayer never fails and is founded on complete trust and faith in God. We can rely on the Lord to respond when, where, and how He sees fit. God expects us to keep asking, seeking, knocking, and praying until we receive an answer. Disciples of Jesus are people who have steadfast faith.
The parable of the persistent widow and unjust judge is similar to another lesson in Jesus’ teachings on prayer, the parable of the persistent neighbor (Luke 11:5-10). While both parables emphasize the importance of perseverance in prayer, the story of the widow and the judge adds the message of perseverance in prayer.
At the end of the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge, Jesus gives a final test on the subject. “But how many will the Son of Man find on the earth who have faith?” he asks. (NLT: Luke 18:8) Continuous devotion to prayer, as Paul emphasizes in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, should be a way of life. When the Lord returns, He wants to know if there are any faithful prayer warriors left on the earth. Will we be among God’s people praying, “Your Kingdom come, your will be done” (Matthew 6:10) at Christ’s second coming?
Faithful, never-ending, persistent prayer is the constant calling of every true disciple of Christ who is committed to living for God’s Kingdom. We, like the persistent widow, are needy, dependent sinners who rely solely on our gracious, loving, and merciful God to meet our needs.
- The Pharisee and The Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14)
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Explanation of the Parable
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in the Temple (Luke 18:9-14) is a spiritual treasure trove. In fact, it contains the very essence of Jesus Christ’s gospel. According to verse 9, Jesus told this parable to those who “believed in themselves that they were righteous and despised others.” Jesus frequently addressed the issue of righteousness, pleading with His audience to recognize their utter inability to be righteous enough to enter the kingdom of heaven. This understanding was critical if they were to comprehend His mission on earth, which was to save sinners—those who knew they couldn’t save themselves.
The Pharisees, on the other hand, believed that their own goodness was so powerful that it could never fail to make them acceptable to God. They strictly followed the ceremonies and traditions of the law, making a public display of their religiosity in front of other men, many of whom they despised as being beneath them. The Pharisee in the story is the epitome of self-justification. His prayer contains no elements of confession. He does not seek forgiveness for his transgressions, possibly because he believes he has nothing to confess. There is also no mention of God’s praise or thanksgiving. His prayer is entirely focused on him.Even the thanks he does offer are intended to exalt himself and elevate himself above those he despises. With his heart condition, he might as well have stayed at home instead of going to the temple to pray. God does not hear such “prayer.”
Unlike the Pharisee, who stands boldly in the temple reciting his self-congratulatory prayers, the tax collector stood “afar off” or “at a distance,” possibly in an outer room, but certainly far from the Pharisee, who would have been offended by this man’s proximity. Tax collectors were hated and treated as outcasts in Israel because of their association with the despised Romans. This man’s posture indicated his unworthiness in the eyes of God. The burden of his guilt and shame weighed heavily on him, and the load he carried had become unbearable. He couldn’t even lift his eyes to heaven. Overcome by his sins, he beats his breast in sorrow and repentance, pleading with God for mercy.His prayer is exactly what God is looking for, and his attitude is exactly what God wants from all who come to Him.
The tax collector personifies what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Being poor in spirit means admitting that we have nothing to offer God in exchange for our sin. We come to God as destitute, despised, bankrupt, pitiful, and desperate beggars. The tax collector recognizes his sinful state and seeks the only thing that can bring him closer to God.
“Have mercy on me,” he begs, and we know from the end of the parable that God heard and answered his plea for mercy. In verse 14, Jesus says that the tax collector was justified (made righteous) because he humbled himself before God, admitting that no amount of works could save him from his sin and that only God’s mercy could.
If we truly repent of our sin, we can be assured of God’s unending love and forgiveness in Christ. He has promised in His word to accept, love, and resurrect us through His Son (Colossians 2:13). No amount of good works, church attendance, tithes, community service, neighborly love, or anything else we do will remove the blot of sin and allow us to stand before a holy God on our own. That is why God sent Jesus to be crucified. His death is the only “work” capable of purifying us and making us acceptable to God.
Furthermore, we must avoid making the mistake of comparing ourselves to others and gaining confidence from the results of that comparison. In fact, Jesus warns us against this attitude right at the start of the parable. We naturally despise others when we try to justify ourselves by comparing ourselves to them. God is our standard of comparison, and we all fall short of His glory.
We have come to the end of the series, The Parable of Jesus. We believe that the Lord has ministered to you through these parables of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God Bless You.