Luke introduces our Lord's teaching on this point with these words: "And he [Jesus] spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint." As we have seen, Jesus often spoke in parables. He especially did this when He was talking to the multitudes, who did not have ears to hear. But He always explained His similitudes to those of His disciples who came and asked for further elucidation.

The story illustrative of the truth to be presented is as follows: There was a certain judge in a given city who neither feared God nor regarded any man. There was also a poor widow in the city who came to him, laid her case before him, and requested that he plead her cause and give justice. This judge was hardhearted and not interested in human suffering. Hence, when the woman appealed to him to take her case in hand, he dismissed it very lightly. But she would not take no for an answer. She therefore came repeatedly to him, insisting that he avenge her of her adversaries. Finally, when he saw that she was determined to have him settle the case, he said to himself, "Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out by her continual coming." He decided to grant the request of the insistent woman, and this thing he did.

The Lord made the application in the following words: "Hear what the unrighteous judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his elect, that cry to him day and night, and yet he is longsuffering over them? 8 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 18:6-8). The thing which our Lord wanted to emphasize was that there is potency in persistency in a case when a person knows that he is right. There was no question about the case of this poor widow. The judge knew that she was right; but, being indifferent to human suffering, he tried to dismiss the case. But she, knowing that her case was just and that there is power in persistency, continued to appeal until she obtained her request. If such a character as this unjust judge would finally yield because of a poor widow's persistency, argued Jesus, will not God certainly avenge His elect who cry unto Him night and day? This rhetorical question demands an affirmative reply. Yes, He will indeed hear and answer the petitions of His people!

There are people who, having decided that they should pray for a certain thing, continue to bring it before the Lord. Israel did this very thing. When the people became dissatisfied with the manna which God provided, they kept insisting that the Lord give them flesh to eat. Though it was contrary to His will to do so, yet He did it because of their persistency. They lusted exceedingly and tempted God in the desert. When they did this, the Lord granted their request. "And he gave them their request. But sent leanness into their soul" (Ps. 106:16). When we get over on the other side, I feel certain that many of us will see how that people have insisted upon the Lord's doing certain things for them, but without saying, "If it be God's will." Regardless of conditions, such people insist upon His doing a certain thing for them. The Lord grants their petitions but sends leanness into their souls. There is but one scriptural way to pray, and that is by saying, "Thy will be done: not mine." Frequently, we think that a certain thing is the proper thing for us to have, but it oftentimes proves detrimental.

Let us be certain that we are absolutely surrendered to do the will of God. Then let us pray that God may guide us to see whether or not we should pray for a given thing. If He leads us, under those conditions, to pray for it, then it is proper and right that we should do so. Otherwise, it is not. Being convinced that a thing is proper, we should pray for it night and day and not faint.

The Apostle Paul, inspired by the Lord, instructed the Ephesian Christians that our warfare is against Satan and the spiritual hosts of wickedness, that are arrayed against us. We are, therefore, to take up the whole armor of God and fight in faith against the forces of evil. Read Ephesians 6:10-20, noting especially verses 17-20, which emphasize the potency of believing prayer. Prayer changes things. And let us also remember that prayer brings victory. The success of our lives as believers and the fruitfulness of our actions all depend upon our prayer life. Pray, therefore, without ceasing.

In the Lord's audience there were certain ones present "who trusted in themselves that they were righteous," and these condemned all others (18:9). There is nothing in any of us to cause us to trust in ourselves. The Apostle Paul, speaking of himself apart from the Lord, said that in his flesh there was no good thing. He believed in the fall of man. What Paul said about himself is true of every mortal. We have no strength of our own and can accomplish nothing by ourselves. Paul spoke of his being able to do all things through Christ who strengthened him. None of us can do anything that will amount to anything in the kingdom of God, apart from Christ. Our Lord on one occasion said, "Apart from me ye can do nothing." Unfortunately, all too many people today do not realize the frailty of human nature and are puffed up with pride because of family connections and inheritance. If ever one could boast of inheritance, it was Paul. But he counted all things on the human side as refuse, as garbage.

In order to teach the lesson properly, our Lord spoke a parable which runs as follows: There was a certain Pharisee and a taxgatherer who went up to the Temple to pray. The Pharisee had an exalted opinion of himself. He stood in the presence of God, and prayed within himself saying, "God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I get" (Luke 18:11,12). Note the fact that this Pharisee was praying within himself. He was listening to himself as he prayed--probably with great spiritual pride. He informed the Lord as to what a fine man he was, and how he acted and deported himself.

The taxgatherer, on the other hand, realized his own nothingness. He was indeed humble and, standing afar off, he smote upon his breast and said, "God, be thou merciful to me a sinner" (Luke 18:13). The Pharisee was spiritually poor. The taxgatherer was poor in spirit. The Pharisee was not heard by the Lord. The taxgatherer was acceptable to God, who abominates pride, but lifts up and sustains the humble and will eventually exalt them.

In verses 15-17 we have an account of certain persons who brought their little children to Jesus in order that He might touch them and pray over them. As they were doing this, the Lord's disciples began to rebuke those who were bringing their children. Jesus corrected them, saying, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for to such belongeth the kingdom of God. 17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein." It was proper and fitting for our Lord to lay His hand upon the little ones and to pray for them. Prayer always avails--that is, the prayer of the righteous. Our Lord, being righteous and holy, prayed for those children who were brought in faith by their parents to Him. When we reach eternity, we shall see that the prayers of our Lord on this occasion were the most potent factor in the determination of the lives of these children. I believe that it is proper and right for us, by faith, to bring our children to the Lord and pray that He may make His blessings rest upon these little ones. It is within the scope of the Scriptures for us, even in a public manner, as well as in private, to bring our children to the Lord Jesus and to have someone pray for them. It is indeed a beautiful sight to see a mother and father in a public service, where all the people present are in a worshipful attitude, bring their children forward to be prayed for. The minister simply prays and thanks God for the children. I feel confident that we shall see in eternity that the prayers of the people of God at such a public dedication will have been very efficient in the determining of the lives of such children.

Jesus said that to such as the little children belong the kingdom of heaven. All men were made sinners by the transgression of Adam, as we are told in Romans 5:12ff. Also all were made righteous by the one act of obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ in His death upon the cross. Thus every child is in a safe condition on account of the atonement of the Saviour. A child continues in this state until it can and does pit its will against that of God. When a child can, with intelligence and deliberation, set his will against the will of God, then he ceases to remain in the safe condition into which the death of Christ brought every mortal. When the child reaches that point and does set his will against God's, he becomes accountable for himself and is then in need of redemption through the blood of Christ. Some children develop intellectually and spiritually faster than others. There is, therefore, no definite period when a child reaches the age of accountability to God.

A certain rich man came to Jesus and asked what he would have to do in order to inherit eternal life. His conception of religion was legalistic. He thought that men are saved by their good works and deeds. By works of law no one can be saved in God's sight. After a person has done everything within his power, he can only bow his head and say that he is an unprofitable servant.

In reply to the rich ruler Jesus asked him why he called Him good, since there was no one good except God. We do not know what idea the young man had concerning God and Christ. Christ is as much God as God the Father or God the Spirit. Did this young man understand this? The record does not say. He recognized Jesus as a good teacher--as a good man and as an excellent teacher. It may be that Jesus told him that there is none good except God in order to call forth an expression of the young man's idea concerning Himself. We know, as Jesus said, except one believe that He is, he will die in his sin. A person must believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ if he is to enjoy the salvation which the Lord purchased with His own blood.

Jesus called the attention of the young ruler to the Ten Commandments, quoting certain ones. The young man stated that he had observed all of them from his youth up. In reply to this, Jesus said that he lacked one thing yet, and He added: "... Sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me" (18:22). When he heard these things, the young man became very sorrowful, for he was rich and was unwilling to give up his wealth, which was, figuratively speaking, a millstone around his neck--that which would drown him in perdition. Jesus knew what a grip the love of money had upon his heart. In love He tried to help the young man, but he was not willing to be assisted. Jesus enjoyed going to the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. They seemed to be people of some means. Yet He did not tell them to sell all that they had, the reason being that their wealth was not a millstone about their necks.

Knowing the perils of riches, Jesus declared that it was as difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven as it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. This language is to be taken at its face value. I am thoroughly aware of the explanation which has been manufactured to explain away this passage; namely, that the eye of a needle refers to a wicker gate in one of the gates of the city of Jerusalem. There is no evidence pointing in that direction. It is as easy for a camel to go through the eye of a literal needle as it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. There is no hope for a rich man unless God extends some special grace toward him, which thing He most graciously does--to counteract and break the yoke of bondage forged by riches upon the soul of the individual possessing them.

Jesus concluded His remarks concerning the rich man by promising a great reward to those who forsake houses and lands, wives and brethren, parents and children, for the kingdom of God and for the sake of winning souls to the Lord Jesus. They will enjoy the true riches throughout all eternity.

Riches are deceitful; riches have wings. A person has plenty today, but it vanishes tomorrow. Quit laying up treasures on earth. Keep on laying them up in heaven. Such are the instructions that our Lord gave.

In verses 31-34 our Lord foretold the treatment which He would receive at the hands of the leaders of the nation when He arrived at Jerusalem--they would crucify Him. In fact, about the time of the transfiguration Jesus began to tell His disciples concerning His rejection, suffering, burial, and resurrection. This is seen in Matthew 16:21-28. On the occasion of which we are studying, He foretold it. After He had arrived in Jerusalem He again foretold the same thing. And He informed us that His dying was giving His life a ransom for us (Matt. 20:28).

When our Lord arrived in Jerusalem, He received the exact treatment of which He spoke in His predictions, and which culminated in His death--and in His resurrection and ascension.