v1: Luke introduces another parable with its message, see also 12.13-16; 15.2-3; 18.9; 19.11. These are told as real stories about real people, and may have referred to real incidents.

Luke explains the Lord's reason for the parable. It pre-empts our human inclination to hurry or shorten our prayers, or to become careless, or even to neglect prayer altogether.

v2-5: The story presented the widow as the heroine. The town judge was an uncaring man. The disciples would have admired her persistence, and seen that her persistence produced fruit, and led to the judge changing his mind, and dealing with her complaint. The judge was wearied by the widow; his uncaring attitude was ultimately changed, so that she obtained her desire.

v6-8: The parable was used to encourage persistent, believing prayer; the Lord will listen to such prayer. God is better than the judge, for He is never wearied by our persistence, although He does command it.

The link with faith, since faith will produce persistence in our prayer lives. It is clearly expected that those who belong to Christ will be committed to persistent prayer. Will He find faith? The expectation is that there will be few with true faith at His coming.

v9: There were those who trusted in their own righteousness, and despised others. Jesus targeted such people in this parable. J C Ryle suggests that the sin of self-righteousness is common to all in Adam, Prov 20.6. We flatter ourselves that we are not so bad, and that we have something to offer to God. Scripture exposes our sins.

v10-13: The Pharisee;

• brought his own righteousness;
• compared himself with man; and even criticised his fellow worshipper;
• when he prayed, 'I am not like other men,' his words are ‘a sure evidence of the pride and vanity of their minds’ (Jonathan Edward’s, Religious Affections)
• depended on his works; and
• was characterised by pride.

Many Jews fasted twice a week, on a Thursday, when Moses was said to have ascended Mount Sinail and on Monday, when Moses was said to have descended. This analysis has no scriptural basis; and further indicates the common legalism and superstition prevalent amonst the Jews of Jesus' day.

The tax collector;

• brought his sinful self;
• contrasted himself with God;
• depended on God's mercy, indicating the need for a sacrifice of atonement; and
• was characterised by repentance.

v14: Jesus commended the attitude of the tax collector, since he had humbled himself. He received blessing from God.

v15-17: The Lord received all, and despised none. But He did demand a real commitment. Again, He used a real incident to present teaching to the disciples. Here, it is children who present an example for adults to follow: their simple faith and dependence on others, their comparative humility, harmlessness, and freedom from deceit. All should seek to manifest such attitudes.

v18: The 'Rich Young Ruler' asked Jesus how he might inherit eternal life. He clearly had no assurance of having such life.

v19: The challenge to accept Christ's deity; he had to recognise that "good" describes God, not man. Whitby's paraphrase is helpful here; 'Why givest thou me a title not ascribed to your reverend rabbis, nor due to any mere man? Thinkest thou there is anything in me more then human, or that the Father dwelleth in me?'

v20-21: The choice and sequence of commandments is interesting - the Lord Jesus spoke only of the latter commandments, referring to none of the first four, which emphasise our obedience to God directly. Also, the Septuagint reversed the order of the sixth and seventh commandments, which the Lord does here.

In response to the comment about the commandments, the man claimed to have kept them. No man truly taught of God would make such a statement; contrast Rom 7.14-18.

v22: The Lord Jesus knew this man's heart. He therefore challenged him about his wealth. He may have obeyed several commandments, but he failed to obey the first two, honouring his wealth before God. To fail to obey in one point made him guilty of all.

v23-25: The ruler loved his riches, and he was not prepared to forsake them for the sake of Christ. He was not prepared to leave the things of this world that he might gain a place in the next. See Prov 30.8; 1 Tim 6.9; Heb 13.5. We learn too, that some great saints of the O.T. were wealthy; Abraham and Job are so described, yet maintained integrity. Money itself will not keep us out of Heaven if our hearts are right with God.

Because he misunderstood spiritual truths, he went away full of sorrow, not full of joy. His original question was asked on his own terms.

v26-27: Jesus' comment about the camel and the eye of the needle made the disciples question whether any could be saved. Yet salvation is God's work; the impossible becomes possible.

v28: Peter was looking for Jesus' approval. The Twelve had indeed left their livelihoods to follow Him.

v29-30: Genuine personal sacrifice is rewarded "many times as much". True sacrifice is for His sake, not for the reward. The true disciple is prepared to forsake all things for His sake. No sacrifice of our can be compared with Christ's sacrifice for us.

v31: The journey to Jerusalem. This last section, up to 19.28, takes us into the city itself. See also 13.22; 17.11, where Jesus made similar predictions.

v32-34: The Lord Jesus explained, we think, clearly what was going to happen in Jerusalem. But we have the benefit of looking back over the events themselves. The disciples struggled to understand. Later (24.31) their eyes were opened.

The healing of the blind man, which follows, illustrates their attitude. They were feeding on handouts, instead of feasting at the hand of Christ.

v35-39: The healing of the blind man was the final healing before Christ's entry into Jerusalem. The man knew that his needs would be met in Christ. His statement that Jesus was the "Son of David" was a sign if his understanding of the Messiah, and of real faith. No discouragement from those around would prevent him from crying out for mercy.

v40: Jesus stood still, having compassion on the individual. So many pass by ignoring the needy. Jesus did not ignore him; He has set us the example that we should care for others.

v41-42: The request for sight was immediately answered.

v43: The man was allowed to follow Jesus. Before the journey to Jerusalem, Jesus commanded those He had healed either to tell no one, or to return to their homes. Things had now changed, since His message was a challenge to follow Him.