“The Just Shall Live By Faith”

New King James Version                          Written by: David Hicks

 

Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."

Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

“Articles of Faith"

An Orderly Account Of The Greatest Story Ever Told

(A Study in Luke)

Chapter 18:1-14:

In our last lesson, the Lord spoke to His disciples concerning the true nature of the coming kingdom (17:22), which included the insertion of a point of reference, His suffering and rejection (17:25). The Lord would go on to warn of false security in the face of these warnings and in this chapter the Lord will encourage His disciples concerning the need to be vigilant.

Here in the opening of this chapter, the Lord continues to address His disciples and to instruct them concerning the need to pray and not to lose heart.

Text #1:

Luke 18:1 “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,”

Even though the Lord would insert into His instruction concerning the coming kingdom, a point of reference; He likewise illustrated that the coming kingdom would resemble a flash of lightning and would appear without announcement. Because of this fact diligence would be necessary on their part and not to lose heart waiting for God's time to act. In addition, a continuous prayerful nature was also a tool in order to accomplish this confidence; praying for God's will to be done (Luke 11:2).

The Lord will now instruct by parable concerning the need to pray vigilantly concerning God's will to be done!

Text #2:

Luke 18:2-8 “saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.' 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'”
6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

Unjust Judge: The judge in this parable is announced as having an utterly abandoned character towards God . The expectation from such a man is that true justice could not be found before him.

Widow: A widow is now introduced to the story. This is not by chance, as widows represent by symbolic nature, defenselessness (see: Exodus 22:22-24; Deuteronomy 10:18; 27:19; Malachi 3:5). They also represent those whom the scribes took advantage of.

Mark 12:38-40 “Then He said to them in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, 39 the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

Hear What the Unjust Judge Said: In reality the judge in this case should not have listened or aided the helpless widow; however, because he sensed that she would persist in seeking justice, he vindicated her.

So, if an unjust judge would act on behalf of this suffering widow; wouldn't the God of true justice act on behalf of those whom cry out to Him? The answer is rhetorical! Of course He would!

What causes men to doubt that God hears their prayers is that they expect God to act in their time frame and by their standards of justice. However, Jesus by this parable is stating that it is not for us to demand God act at our request but to seek His will be done and trust that He hears our cry!

The Lord finishes His illustration with a question of concern. Would He find such who would patiently in prayer wait for the Lord's will to be done when the kingdom would come?

In the next portion of the text, the Lord is going to contrast those whom He knows will not be among the ones who will patiently seek the Lord's will and the necessary character of those who will.

Text #3:

Luke 18:9-14 “Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

This parable extols the virtue of humility and the perils of self-righteousness as characters of those who will trust God and His plans and those who will declare that God should act at their command.

Pharisee and Tax Collector: By the nature of Judaism in this day, these two individuals were as far apart as can be imagined when the average individual thought of righteous and sinful. Yet, the Lord as He has done all along dispels such perceptions by showing that righteousness is achieved apart from self proclamation and is found in the heart of those who know they must trust and seek God on His terms.

Temple: Both men would come here to pray to God (remember the opening instruction concerning praying and not losing heart). The temple was the appointed place while in Jerusalem for prayer. To it the Jew would go to pray if they were in the city; towards it, they would pray if they were far away. Men would go to the temple to pray at any time if it was important enough; however, the customary time was from about 9 AM to 3 PM (second and third day watches).

Prayed with Himself: The Pharisee demonstrates in this parable that he is only interested in himself and the things he estimates important verses humble attention to the will of God. In addition, he stands in order to draw attention to himself. In his dissertation, he is going to emphasize himself five times (“I”). His prayer then becomes a boast rather than a petition.

The fast and the tithes are things he should have done as a minimal expectation of service and devotion to God (Leviticus 36:29-30; Deuteronomy 14:22-23). They should have never become points of self elevation. This was the very attitude the Lord told His disciples they were to avoid in their seeking of additional faith (17:10).

Stood Afar Off: Now on the other side of the coin, we have the tax collector who has chosen to remain in a remote location from the majority of men. He demonstrates his humble approach to God by not feeling worthy to even look in the direction of his God. As he beat his chest (a symbolic gesture of acute grief – seen again in those who witnessed the death of the Lord; Luke 23:48), he pleaded for mercy as a sinner. He made full confession without excuse!

I Tell You: Jesus summarizes the parable by stating that the penitent unrighteous is more acceptable to God than the self righteous who make no confession of their sins!

James 4:7-10 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

Finally, as the lesson to His disciples concerning the need to pray and not lose heart reaches the climax of necessary attitude; all need to see the prerequisite to trust in God, seek His plan, humbly acknowledge His will as superior, and at the end of the day state with emphasis, “Thy will be done!”

Next: “Blessing a Child, and Counseling the Rich”