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PARABLES BY JESUS ON LEARNING TO DEPEND ON GOD IN PRAYER.

Luke 18:1-17

Q.1. What did Jesus teach about what should be our response to delays in having our prayers answered? What makes persistent praying hard today? – (Lk.18:1-8)

Jesus told this story – to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart (Lk.18:1). The widow woman in the parable was up against seemingly insurmountable odds. (i) Women were not highly regarded in the society of the day. (ii) She was a widow and had no one else to plead her case. (iii) She was dealing with a judge – who did not fear God and did not respect man (Lk.18:2). (iv) She lacked the resources for legal protection against a significant opponent. However, by her respectful persistence, she gained a positive outcome from an unrighteous judge.  By contrast, how much more will our Heavenly Father – bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? (Lk.18:7). Jesus urged us to not stop praying when delays come. However, He indicated that toward the end of the age, faith in God will become rare. People of this generation can at times achieve their goals without asking God to help. This means less people live by faith. Our faith grows stronger if we commit each day to Him, asking for His help with all we need, and with all we seek to do.

Q.2. How should we approach God in prayer according to the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector? – (Lk.18:9-14)

Jesus told another parable to those who – trusted in themselves that they were righteous and who viewed others with contempt (Lk.18:9). The Pharisee thought that his own acts of ‘righteousness’ gave him an advantage with God (Lk.18:11-12). The tax collector in the story represented those who understand that God is holy and immeasurably great … while recognizing their own utter unworthiness in God’s sight. Jesus described him as – standing some distance away, (he) was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven but was beating his breast (Lk.18:13). He knew his place and was totally humble. The prayer Jesus placed on his lips was incredibly insightful – God, be merciful (Greek ἱλάσθητί – propitious) to me, the sinner! (Lk.18:13). The LXX (Greek translation of the Old Testament) uses the word ‘propitiatory’ to describe the Mercy Seat on top of the Ark. The idea behind propitiation, is that God’s deserved look of anger against the sinner is turned into a look of love and acceptance. This brilliantly conveys what is involved every time a sinner approaches God. The tax collector knew he deserved God’s anger and rejection, as do we. However, through God’s amazing grace, His anger is turned to an acceptance we could never earn or merit. Jesus unveiled the only proper heart attitude with which we should approach God in prayer. The longer we walk with God, the more we must revisit this truth – for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled (Lk.18:14).

Q.3. Why did the disciples rebuke the mothers and their babies? How did Jesus view these little ones? – (Lk.18:15-17)

The disciples had misunderstood the heart of Jesus, when they rebuked those bringing their babies to Him (Lk.18:15). Jesus corrected His disciples and – … called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these (Lk.18:16). Ministry to women and children, was very much part of what Jesus’ kingdom was all about. He warned them – Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all (Lk.18:17 c.f. Lk.17:1-2).