Luke 18 - Is There Really Unanswered Prayer?

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The Parable of the Persistent Widow

Jesus uses this story about the widow who never gave up on praying to teach that prayer is an act of faith. Sometimes our prayers are answered right away. Sometimes they are answered over time. Sometimes they are answered in ways we don't understand. Sometimes they are not answered at all. 

The bottom line is God always hears and answers our prayers. But the act of praying and continuing to pray is one of faith. It is as Jesus prayed in the Garden, "Thy will, not mine be done." Though we pour hearts out to God asking for what we think is right and just, we leave it in his hands. Unanswered prayer for issues like family members who are not Christian, people we love who are sick and not getting better, and for matters of grave injustice all challenge our faith. We wonder why if God loves us would he allow us to go through these trials and tribulations. 

As we enter into Holy Week, it is good to see Jesus' humanness in the garden, where He says to His Father, "Why O Why hast thou forsaken me." It is truly one of the most human things Jesus says in his 33 years on this earth. What is important about is Jesus can identify with us when we are in a season of unanswered prayer, because he has gone through it. And remember how much there was on the line. 

Let us be like the widow who persists in prayer as a sign of our faith in our God and His will being done. 

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Jesus continues to illustrate the difference between the self righteous Pharisees and unlikely people who have true faith. In this case it is a tax collector who was known for the way he cheated people out of money and took advantage of their situation. But the tax collector acknowledged his sinfulness and not subtly. He humbly came before God and cried out loudly, "Lord have mercy on me, a sinner." 

This man went away justified because of his faith in Jesus, and the Pharisee went home with nothing because he gave nothing. He failed to acknowledge his sin of pride and self righteousness, which in essence was saying he would continue being this type of person thank you very much. He didn't need Jesus for anything.

Are you more like the Pharisee or tax collector lately? Even Christians can slip into Pharisaical behavior. Symptoms of this are being highly critical and/or judgmental, and also doing the same things you criticize others for doing. I.e. Being a hypocrite. Or, are you senstiive to the Holy Spirit's promptings confessing your sin when appropriate, and doing your best to not continue in in them.

The Little Children and Jesus

This is not the first or last time Jesus uplifts children for the type of faith they have. Adults often think they are more important than children but not according to Jesus. Importantly Jesus says, "The kingdom belongs to such as these." This shows us that God's kingdom belongs to those who simply trust like children do. 

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

Jesus continues to teach on the entrance requirements for God's kingdom, as he is asked by a rich young ruler what he can do to inherit God's kingdom. Basically the ruler, who is used to get things by his own means and power, wants to know what is the price. He is a rich man and thinks everything has its price. 

What he didn't realize is that in his own case it would mean giving up his riches. It is not that Jesus had anything wrong with this man's wealth, but he knew he couldn't part with it. He knew it was more important to him than God. It was his god. He could keep the money but the price was losing his soul. 

Jesus then uses the example to teach that those who are consumed with riches will be like a camel trying to go through the eye of a needle. Commentators have tried to construe that Jesus was teaching something literal here, but I think Jesus is using this analogy figuratively to point out that you can't serve two masters. You can't serve God and money, it is impossible. You will either love the one and hate the other. It is like marriage.  A man can't have two wives and be fully devoted to one. 

What things in your life take you away from your devotion to God? How do you know when they are getting a hold of you wanting to make them your god? We don't often talk about the flipside of this that those who do humble themselves and trust in Christ alone will inherit the Kingdom of God. What an awesome thing to think that as children of God we will inherit all He has. 

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time

The fact that Jesus had to predict his death three times shows that people were pretty much in denial that this was going to happen. Jesus wanted to make it unmistakeably clear that he knew that this was going to happen and willingly allowed it to happen. No one forced it upon him. He was willingly going to lay down his life down in obedience to the Father and out of love for us. 

Also, he predicts his resurrection from the dead three days after he is crucified. Again, when he is crucified the disciples will have unmistakeable proof that He was and is the Son of God. Jesus predicted when he was going to die and how and when he was going to rise from the dead. This is bulletproof evidence that the Christian faith is historically true. 

A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight

Another outcast from society cries out to Jesus. He couldn't see Jesus but he heard him going by and was told by the crowd it was Jesus of Nazareth. The blind man responds by saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." 

Since every Jew knew that the Messiah would come from the line of David, the blind man is connecting with Jesus as the Messiah. The more they tried to shut him up, the more he cried out to the "Son of David". And his cry was for mercy, not only mercy for his physical condition but mercy for his soul. Jesus heard the man and asked the question, "What do you want me to do for you?" 

Though Jesus probably knew what the man needed he asked him. I have always remembered this phrase and think, "What if Jesus asked me what can I do for you?" What would i ask for? Would I be bold enough to ask him? Would I be willing to be as bold as the blind man was? The blind man didn't care at all about what people thought of him. He only believed Jesus could heal him and was bound and determined to make his need known. 

Where do you need to be bold in asking Jesus for what you need?