Luke
Chapter 18
Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge
Jesus told them a parable to illustrate that they should pray constantly and not lose heart.
He said:
“In a certain town, there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about people.
In the same town, there was a widow who kept coming to him, saying, ‘Defend my rights against my adversary!’
For a while, he refused, but finally he thought, ‘Even though I neither fear God nor care about people,
this widow damages my reputation, so I will see that she gets justice; then she will stop coming and wear me out.”
And Jesus said:
“Listen to what the evil judge says.
Will God not do justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night, even if he delays in answering?
I tell you, he will quickly do justice for them. But, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Jesus shared another parable to some people who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on others:
“Two men went up to the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee stood by himself and said: ‘
I thank you, God, that I am not like other people, grasping, crooked, adulterous, or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all my income to the temple.’
In the meantime, the tax collector, standing far away, would not even lift his eyes to heaven but beat his chest, saying:
‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’
I tell you, when this man returned to his house, he had been reconciled with God, but not the other. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be lifted up.”
People even brought little children to Jesus so he could touch them, but when the disciples saw this, they rebuked those people.
So Jesus called the children to him and said:
“Let the children come to me and don’t stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.”
An official asked Jesus, “Good master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not kill; do not steal; do not falsely accuse; honor your father and your mother.”
And the man said, “I have kept all these commandments from my youth.”
Then Jesus answered, “There is still one thing you lack. Sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in Heaven. And then come, follow me!”
When he heard these words, the man became sad, because he was very rich.
Jesus, noticing this, said, “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
The bystanders asked, “Who then can be saved?”
And Jesus replied, “What is impossible for human beings is possible for God.”
Then Peter said, “We left everything we had and followed you.”
Jesus replied, “Truly, I tell you, whoever has left home or wife, or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
will receive much more in this present time, and eternal life in the age to come.”
Jesus then took the Twelve aside and told them, “Now we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything the Prophets have written about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.
He will be delivered to the foreign powers. People will mock him, insult him, and spit on him.
After they have scourged him, they will kill him, but he will be raised on the third day.”
The apostles couldn’t understand this; the meaning of these words remained a mystery to them, and they did not grasp what he said.
When Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging.
When he heard the crowd passing by, he asked what was happening
and they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
Then he cried out:
“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
The people in front of him scolded him, saying:
“Be quiet!” but he shouted even louder:
“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Jesus stopped and ordered the blind man to be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him:
“What do you want me to do for you?”
The man said:
“Lord, that I may see!”
Jesus replied:
“Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.”
Immediately, the blind man was able to see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. All those who were there also praised God.
Commentaries
Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge.
The widow symbolizes those who are excluded from society, who, over time and battered by injustice, come to believe that no one will listen to their cause. Jesus’ message is that the excluded, like the widow, should be convinced otherwise; that is, they should feel and accept that the first person interested in their cause is God himself. With the support of that God, who defies injustice and oppression (cf. Ex 3:7-9), they must persist in their fight for justice.
Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.
This parable is addressed to “some who considered themselves righteous and despised others” (9), because they kept the law and felt entitled to demand a kind of ‘payment’ from God in their prayers. However, Jesus exposes the falsehood of this attitude and declares the tax collector justified, recognizing his complete dependence on God and his need for God’s love and mercy.
Blesses the Children.
The tenderness, simplicity, and lack of prejudice that define children inspire Jesus to create a model or blueprint for everyone who wants to be part of the kingdom. The new reality established by the kingdom excludes no one; instead, it prioritizes those who are excluded and marginalized in this world.
The Rich Young Man.
The new relationships formed since the inauguration of the kingdom of God require a clear and definite stance on what each person considers to be his personal security. The man who questions Jesus, although he knows how to be a good man, lacks the most essential thing: prioritizing God’s justice, which begins with detachment from wealth. Only then can he become sensitive to others’ needs.
Third Announcement of the Passion and Resurrection.
The closer Jesus gets to Jerusalem, the more hostility from the religious leaders grows, and the more likely a violent ending at the hands of his enemies in the Holy City becomes. The Twelve do not understand anything; they will have to wait until Jesus, already risen, returns and explains everything to them.
The Healing of the Blind Beggar.
Luke highlights in this passage that the Twelve did not understand what Jesus revealed about his final destiny. In contrast, he shares the story of a blind man who, despite his own blindness and the external barriers that prevent him from approaching Jesus, recognizes the true identity of the Master. The blind man identifies him as the Messiah (Son of David), then calls him Lord, and finally gives glory to God and follows him. Luke uses this story to show that, even with all five senses intact, a person is not always able to know and choose Jesus truly.