Luke Part 3 Week 4

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 18:4-5 

⁴ “The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, ⁵ but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’” 

Jesus continued telling His disciples about the judge who did not fear God or care about people. A widow was coming to him because she wanted justice in a dispute she was having. She had come to him repeatedly and this passage reveals he finally gave in because of her persistence. He was being worn out and driven crazy because of her relentless requests.  

REFLECT 

Is there a request you have prayed for over a period of years? Is it for something you think is in the will of God or something that would most please you? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about the commands the apostle Paul gave believers in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. How does one do this without being discouraged? Notice what is specifically mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 as being God’s will. All this is possible only by believing Romans 8:28. 

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 18:6-8 

⁶ Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. ⁷ Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? ⁸ I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” 

Jesus contrasted the unjust judge with the loving heavenly Father. If a partial earthly judge would do such a thing, consider how much more a devoted heavenly Father would do for His children. In this passage, Jesus referred to Himself as “the Son of Man” and wondered how many people He will find who have faith in Him when He returns. 

REFLECT 

Notice Jesus did not refer to His people as just occasionally praying but crying out to Him day and night.  

RESPOND 

When you were asked to read 1 Thessalonians 5:17 in yesterday’s message, did your friend wonder how one could “Never stop praying,” or as some render the verse, “Pray without ceasing”? In the first century, the Greek word translated in this verse was used of an incessant or frequent cough. Followers of Jesus are to be praying at frequent intervals. 

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 18:9-10 

⁹ Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: ¹⁰ “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.” 

Notice to whom Jesus told this story: “to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else.” His story contrasted a self-righteous Pharisee with a despised tax collector. In society, and especially by the Pharisees, the tax collector was considered the worst kind of human being. Notice, however, that both men were going to the temple to pray. 

REFLECT 

It will be seen in this story of Jesus that just because people pray that does not make them right with God. 

RESPOND 

Consider that God hears everyone’s prayer. The prayer of an ordained minister is no more important to God than that of a new believer who is unsure about what words to use. Even for mature believers, the need is to rely on what is said in Romans 8:26-27.  

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 18:11-12 

¹¹ “The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! ¹² I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’” 

The Pharisee thought his good works made him right with God. He was doing what society—and even some Christians—think is needed to be right with God. Religion does not save anyone; it is a relationship with Jesus that does. Religion is a person’s endeavor to reach up to God; Christianity is about God reaching down to mankind through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

REFLECT 

Do you realize that good works should follow one’s decision to trust in Jesus, but they are not the means of becoming right with God? 

RESPOND 

Share with a friend the passage in Ephesians 2:8-10. Notice that good works follow the message that no one can earn salvation by good works.  

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 18:13-14 

¹³ “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 

The humble tax collector was praying that God would be “propitious” or “satisfied” for his sin. The Pharisees were arrogant but they would be humbled. The tax collector was humble so he would be exalted. The tax collector knew his need of God’s forgiveness; the Pharisees did not.  

REFLECT 

It means well if a person prays what is referred as the “sinner’s prayer,” but does that prayer need to be prayed today? 

RESPOND 

Some even today believe in the necessity of praying the “sinner’s prayer.” The tax collector was praying for God to be merciful to him. The Greek word translated “merciful” is related to the same word in 1 John 2:2 that tells about Jesus being the “sacrifice that atones” or the “propitiation” (pronounced like “initiation”), for our sins. The tax collector was praying before Jesus went to the cross. Today the good news can be announced that God has been satisfied for one’s sin because of the death of His Son and what is needed is for the person to trust in Jesus as his Savior.