Matthew Henry Commentary Luke 18
Matthew Henry Commentary
Luke 18
Matthew Henry Commentary
Luke 18
"And he spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, and regarded not man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came oft unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out by her continual coming. And the Lord said, Hear what the unrighteous judge saith. And shall not God avenge his elect, that cry to him day and night, and [yet] he is longsuffering over them? I say unto you, that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" — Luke 18:1-8 (ASV)
All God's people are praying people. Here, earnest steadiness in prayer for spiritual mercies is taught. The widow's earnestness prevailed even with the unjust judge: she might fear that it would set him more against her, but our earnest prayer is pleasing to our God. Even to the end, there will still be ground for the same complaint of weakness of faith.
"And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I get. But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner. I say unto you, This man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." — Luke 18:9-14 (ASV)
This parable was to convince some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others. God sees with what disposition and design we come to him in holy ordinances. What the Pharisee said shows that he trusted in himself that he was righteous. We may suppose he was free from gross and scandalous sins.
All this was very well and commendable. Miserable is the condition of those who come short of the righteousness of this Pharisee, yet he was not accepted; and why not? He went up to the temple to pray but was full of himself and his own goodness; the favor and grace of God he did not think worth asking. Let us beware of presenting proud devotions to the Lord and of despising others.
The publican's address to God was full of humility, and of repentance for sin, and desire toward God. His prayer was short but to the purpose: God be merciful to me a sinner. Blessed be God, that we have this short prayer on record as an answered prayer; and that we are sure that he who prayed it went to his house justified; for so shall we be, if we pray it as he did, through Jesus Christ. He confessed himself a sinner by nature, by practice, guilty before God.
He had no reliance except on the mercy of God; on that alone he relied. And God's glory is to resist the proud and give grace to the humble. Justification is of God in Christ; therefore the self-condemned, and not the self-righteous, are justified before God.
"And they were bringing unto him also their babes, that he should touch them: but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, saying, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for to such belongeth the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein." — Luke 18:15-17 (ASV)
No one is too little or too young to be brought to Christ, who knows how to show kindness to those who are not capable of doing service for Him. It is the mind of Christ that little children should be brought to Him. The promise is to us and to our seed; therefore, He will bid them welcome to Him with us. And we must receive His kingdom as children, not by purchase, and must call it our Father's gift.
"And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, [even] God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor thy father and mother. And he said, All these things have I observed from my youth up. And when Jesus heard it, he said unto him, One thing thou lackest yet: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. But when he heard these things, he became exceeding sorrowful; for he was very rich. And Jesus seeing him said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle`s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they that heard it said, Then who can be saved? But he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. And Peter said, Lo, we have left our own, and followed thee. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or wife, or brethren, or parents, or children, for the kingdom of God`s sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this time, and in the world to come eternal life." — Luke 18:18-30 (ASV)
Many have a great deal in them that is very commendable, yet they perish for lack of one thing. Thus, this ruler could not bear Christ's terms, which would separate him from his estate. Many who are reluctant to leave Christ, yet do leave him.
After a long struggle between their convictions and their corruptions, their corruptions prevail. They are very sorry that they cannot serve both; but if one must be forsaken, it will be their God, not their worldly gain. Their boasted obedience will be found to be mere outward show; the love of the world in some form or other lies at the root.
People are inclined to speak too much of what they have left and lost, of what they have done and suffered for Christ, as Peter did. But we should rather be ashamed that there has been any regret or difficulty in doing so.
"And he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets shall be accomplished unto the Son of man. For he shall be delivered up unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and shamefully treated, and spit upon: and they shall scourge and kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things; and this saying was hid from them, and they perceived not the things that were said." — Luke 18:31-34 (ASV)
The Spirit of Christ, in the Old Testament prophets, testified beforehand to his sufferings and the glory that would follow (1 Peter 1:11). The disciples' prejudices were so strong that they would not understand these things literally. They were so intent on the prophecies that spoke of Christ's glory that they overlooked those that spoke of his sufferings.
People make mistakes because they read their Bibles by halves and are only interested in the smooth things. We are as reluctant to learn the proper lessons from the sufferings, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ as the disciples were regarding what he told them about those events; and for the same reason: self-love and a desire for worldly objects close our understanding.
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