Luke 18
Man is not sufficient for himself. Man should always pray, not faint.
In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and regarded not man. A widow came before him and said, "Avenge me of mine adversary." Delaying, he finally said within himself, I do not fear God nor regard man, but with this widow troubling me, she shall be avenged, because I do not want her to keep troubling me.
The Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge saith." God shall avenge His elect for their importunity (troublesome insistence). He will speedily avenge them. "When the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?" Everyone, except those who have believed the gospel of the kingdom, will be idolatrous.
The Pharisee and the Publican
This parable is for those who trust in themselves that they are righteous and despise others.
"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess."
"And the tax-gatherer, standing afar off, would not lift up even his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, O God, have compassion on me, the sinner" (JND). This man, not the Pharisee, was justified. One who exalts himself shall be humbled; one who humbles himself shall be exalted.
Children
When infants were brought to Jesus to touch Him, the disciples rebuked them. Jesus called the disciples to Him and said, "Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." If one receives not the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter in.
A Rich Ruler
A ruler asked Jesus, saying, "Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? none is good, save one, that is, God." The Lord said, Do you know the commandments? He said that he had kept them from his youth. Jesus said, "Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow Me." He went away sorrowful, for he was very rich.
Anything in our lives that hinders following Jesus must go. Jesus told His disciples that for a camel to go through a needle's eye would be easier than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. They said, "Who then can be saved?" He said that all things are possible with God. Peter tells Jesus that they had left all to follow Him. Jesus said that they would receive manifold more in the present time, and then life everlasting.
While going to Jerusalem with the twelve, He said, "All things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished." Jesus would be delivered to the Gentiles and be mocked and spit on. They would scourge Him before putting Him to death. He would rise on the third day. The disciples did not understand these things, though He had often spoken of them to them.
The Blind Man Near Jericho
The blind man inquired of the crowd and was told that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. He cried, "Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." Standing still, Jesus commanded that he should be brought. He asked him what he wanted Him to do and the blind man said, "Lord, that I may receive my sight." And Jesus said to him, "Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee." He received his sight immediately and glorified God, while all of the people praised God.
We have in the gospels many accounts of grace toward Israel. Yet there seems to be very little response on the people's part. After the nation really discovers its blindness, it will turn to the Lord (Hos. 3:3-53And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee. 4For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: 5Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days. (Hosea 3:3‑5); Isa. 32:33And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken. (Isaiah 32:3)).