#1413 Luke 18 Part 1 Keep It Coming

 

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Luke 18: 1-8 ESV

Luke 18: 1-8

…16Rejoice at all times. 17Pray without ceasing. 18Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.… 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

And He told them a parable to the effect - Some of the parables Jesus explains afterwards, but in this one He gives us the moral or lesson right up front. This is very reminiscent of Luke 11, where a friend in need, knocks on the door of a household, where everything is shut up for the night and the children are in bed. The moral of that was the man's impudence, seeming audacity in his persistence. Remember though, He uses the word friend, and in that word is not the invitation to abuse, yet there is the invitation to ask even when it may seem an inconvenience. When one of my friends opens with, "I hate to ask you this, but", I know it is going to involve, at the very least, some momentary loss of comfort or I may end up doing something that I don't particularly enjoy, but he is my friend so I am honored that he feels comfortable enough to ask, and I will go with him. 

5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Luke 11: 5-9

That they ought always to pray and not lose heart - This is the gist, the moral of the story. The story adds extra emphasis, it reinstates and causes the one who wants to understand to further contemplate this subject of prayer. Even when you don't feel it, do it. Even when others mock the very idea, as I have often heard, even Christians say, "we don't need your prayers, we need action", and I would suggest to you that it is better to pray before you act, and not be bullied into a knee jerk decision. Daniel was told not to pray to his God, and at the price of being thrown into a lion's den. It's somewhat ironic that people who don't believe in my God, or even claim that there is no God, would take offense at whether a person prays or not. In Daniel's case, the jealousy of other officials prompted them to come up with this law against prayer. The world always wants to cut you off from the truth of Scripture, or contact with the God of Scripture, but Daniel did not compromise. He believed in the God he prayed to, and he held what that God said above the mandates and even punishments that men could deliver.

10Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God.… Daniel 6: 10-11

A judge who neither feared God nor respected man - So coming to this judge and saying look here, this is what the Bible says about this, "thou shalt not steal", and this person has stolen from me. The fact that God said it would mean nothing to this judge who was ignorant of God. He is a materialist, and though the rules of men may even say, don't steal, this man does not respect other people either. What a terrible judge, in order for him to do justice, someone will have to force him or make it worth his while. He has the title but not the heart. When God directed Moses to put men over the people, the most important qualifications were related to character. You want leaders who will be honest, not respecters of persons, but rather blind to wealth and desirous of giving justice whether the person is rich or poor. Those who rule are to do so in such a way that provides a quiet and peaceful existence for those who do right.

…21Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you. 23If you follow this advice and God so directs you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace.”… Exodus 18: 21-23

…16He took up the cause of the poor and needy, and so it went well with him. Is this not what it means to know Me?” declares the LORD. 17“But your eyes and heart are set on nothing except your own dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood, on practicing extortion and oppression.” 18Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: “They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’ They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’… Jeremiah 22: 16-18

…16Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil! 17Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.” 18“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.… Isaiah 1: 16-18

Vs. 5 Because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice - Not because justice was his middle name, not because he wanted to do his job correctly, remember, he doesn't fear God or regard men, least of all some poor widow who can't give him any kick backs. She's a nobody, it won't help his career, and in his mind there is no higher authority that he will have to answer to. Knowing that he is a man like this, most wouldn't even bother, but look at this widow, she is not an influencer on social media, or a dignitary from another country, yet she is able to get this unjust and lazy fellow to do his job. We often figure, what's the point, why bother? Well, someone should speak up, someone should care enough for this judge to tell him how bad he is at his job and give him the opportunity to do the right thing for once. Sometimes everyone will tell you that you are wasting your time, but stand up for the truth anyway, for righteousness sake, say something. 

46Next, they came to Jericho. And as Jesus and His disciples were leaving Jericho with a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting beside the road. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48Many people admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”… Mark 10: 46-48

7. And will not God give justice to His elect - This started out with they ought always to pray and not lose heart. God is inviting us to petition Him, unlike the unjust judge who doesn't want to be bothered. God wants us to talk to Him, and the lack of prayer is like spiritual anemia. We are taught to pray without ceasing, to be constantly in communication with God, and this grows us into a conscious reality of such a great and ongoing audience. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, and so let our prayers be instructed by His word. Prayer causes the faith that is already planted within us to grow. If God is inviting you to something, then there is no greater invitation that a man can receive. That is as high up as you can take any matter. 

9And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld. 10And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You avenge our blood and judge those who dwell upon the earth?” 11Then each of them was given a white robe and told to rest a little while longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers, were killed, just as they had been killed.… Revelation 6: 9-11

19Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, where all who had ships on the sea were enriched by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been destroyed.” 20Rejoice over her, O heaven, O saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced for you His judgment against her. 21Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be cast down, never to be seen again.… Revelation 18: 19-21

He will give justice to them speedily - Make sure when you ask for justice that your expectations aren't greater than what you want to receive for yourself. It is a hypocrite who wants others to be judged for the very same crimes he commits and goes unpunished for. Also, know that justice is coming, it is part of God's eternal identity. He cannot and will not tarnish His own name. 

…2Then the LORD answered me: “Write down this vision and clearly inscribe it on tablets, so that a herald may run with it. 3For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay. 4Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright—but the righteous will live by faith—… Habakkuk 2: 2-4

…35So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward. 36 You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. 37For, “In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.… Hebrews 10: 35-37

16Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness. 17I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed.” 18I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts.”… Ecclesiastes 3: 16-18

…24What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there? 25Far be it from You to do such a thing— to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” 26So the LORD replied, “If I find fifty righteous ones within the city of Sodom, on their account I will spare the whole place.”… Genesis 18: 24-26

When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth - We know that it will be like in the days of Noah, and only eight were saved from all of humanity at that time. It is safe to assume that there will be few with faith when Jesus comes back as the righteous judge of all the earth, yet we know from the Scriptures that there will be a remnant of Israel that will repent at that time. 

MacArthur assumes you may be asking "How do you know this is a Second Coming section?" Lk 18:8 is the key for at the end of the verse Jesus asks "when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" Will He find this kind of persevering faith? Will He find this kind of persevering prayer? Will He find this kind of enduring confidence? This is definitely eschatological praying. We don't know when the events that are the Second Coming will begin. We don't know when the day of the Lord is going to come, but 2,000 years have passed by. Believers have been waiting and suffering at the hand of sinners. And sin escalates while evil men grow worse and worse. We see the pollution inside and outside Christendom. False teachers abound. And followers of Christ continue to endeavor to endure and remain true and faithful, trusting in the Word of God. We have been promised that He will come. We believe that He will come. And here He says, "Keep praying for that event." He will come but part of the means of His coming is our prayer life. Prayer moves God to accomplish His work and therefore having accomplished His work, bringing it to its great culmination in His Second Coming. He will come. He promises He will come. He will be faithful to His elect. He will bring judgment to the ungodly. He will vindicate the saints. He will exalt Himself. He will establish His throne on earth. He will reign in a kingdom on earth and after that He will establish the new heaven and the new earth. And that is what we are to pray for relentlessly. This takes us back to Matthew 6:10 and Luke 11:2. "When you pray, pray like this: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, Thy kingdom come.’" This is kingdom praying. This is praying for the kingdom to come, for the Lord to punish the ungodly, reclaim the earth, mete out righteous judgment, vindicate His elect, establish His glory on the earth, vanquish Satan, take His throne, and establish the glorious fulfillment of all His promises. So again I say: The key to the parable hangs at the front door. We know what this story is about. We are to be living our lives saying, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." (Luke 18:1-8 - Persistent Prayer for the Lord's Return)

Darrell Bock on will He find faith - When Jesus returns, will He find faith on earth—that is, will people persevere in looking for His return?

…38Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39For I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’” Matthew 23: 38-39

10Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son. 11On that day the wailing in Jerusalem will be as great as the wailing of Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.… Zechariah 12: 10-11