Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Luke 18

Luk 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

parable

Parables (N.T.). Luk 17:1-8, 9-14; Luk 19:11-27. (Mat 5:13-16; Luk 21:29-31).

Luk 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

shall not God avenge

Rev 6:10.

Luk 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Son of man [See also Luk 18:31.]

Scofield Matthew 8:20, note.

cometh

Christ (Second Advent). Luk 21:25-28. (Deu 30:3; Acts 1:9-11.)

faith

The reference is not to personal faith, but to belief in the whole body of revealed truth. (Cf. Rom 1:5; 1Co 16:13; 2Co 13:5; Col 1:23; 2:7; Tit 1:13; Jde 1:3. See Apostasy [below]; Scofield 2 Timothy 3:1, note.)

Apostasy. 2Th 2:1-12. (Luk 18:8; 2Ti 3:1.)

Luk 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

righteous

Scofield Romans 10:3, note.

Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

prayed

Bible prayers (N.T.). Luk 18:13. (Mat 6:9; Rev 22:20.)

Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

saying

Bible prayers (N.T.). Luk 23:34. (Mat 6:9; Rev 22:20.)

merciful

i.e. propitiated.

Greek hilaskomai, used in the Septuagint and N.T. in connection with the mercy-seat (Exo 25:17-18, 21; Heb 9:5). As an instructed Jew, the publican is thinking, not of mere mercy, but of the blood-sprinkled mercy seat. (Scofield Leviticus 16:5, note; "Propitiation," Scofield Romans 3:25, note). His prayer might be paraphrased, "Be toward me as thou are when thou lookest upon the atoning blood." The Bible knows nothing of divine forgiveness apart from sacrifice (see Scofield Matthew 26:28, note).

sinner

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

justified

Justification. Luk 18:10-14; Act 13:39. (Luk 18:14; Rom 3:28).

Luk 18:15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

they brought unto him also infants

Mat 19:13; Mar 10:13.

Luk 18:16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

of such is the kingdom of God

Mat 18:3; 1Pe 2:2.

Luk 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

receive the kingdom of God as a little child

Psa 131:2.

Luk 18:18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

what shall I do to inherit eternal life

Luk 10:25, 37; Mat 19:16; Mar 10:17; Rom 6:22-23; 1Jo 5:11, 13.

Luk 18:19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

none is good, save one

Psa 86:5; Psa 119:68.

Luk 18:20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

the commandments

Exo 20:12, 16.

Luk 18:21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

All these have I kept

Gal 3:24; Phl 3:6.

Luk 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Yet lackest thou one thing

Rev 6:10.

Luk 18:23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

he was very sorrowful

Eze 33:31; Mat 6:24; 13:22; Eph 5:5.

Luk 18:24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

How hardly shall they that have riches

Psa 62:10; Mar 10:24; 1Ti 6:9-10.

Luk 18:26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

saved

Scofield Romans 1:16, note.

Luk 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

are possible with God

Gen 18:14; Job 42:2.

Luk 18:28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

we have left all

Phl 3:8.

Luk 18:29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,

no man that hath left

1Co 2:9-10.

Luk 18:30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

manifold more

Jhn 16:33; Phl 4:7.

world

i.e. age.

Luk 18:31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

all things that are written by the prophets

Psa 22:1-31; Isa 53:1-12.

Luk 18:32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:

delivered unto the Gentiles

Luk 23:1; Mat 17:22.

Luk 18:35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

as he was come nigh unto Jericho

Mat 20:29; Mar 10:46.

blind man

Scofield Matthew 20:30, note.

Luk 18:39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

he cried so much the more

Jer 29:13; Luk 18:1; Col 4:2.

Luk 18:42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

saved

Scofield Romans 1:16, note.

Luk 18:43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

immediately he received his sight

Miracles (N.T.). Luk 18:35-43; Luk 22:50-51. (Mat 8:2-3; Act 28:8-9.)