The Parable of the Persistent Widow - Luke 18:1-8
Understand It
- What was Jesus’ purpose in telling His disciples this parable? (18:1)
- How did Jesus describe the judge in the story? (18:2)
- Why was the woman in the story especially helpless? (18:3)
- What did the woman need from the judge? (18:3)
- Why did the judge finally give in to the woman’s request? (18:4-5)
- Why should we take note of how the unjust judge responded to persistence? (18:6)
- How will God’s actions differ from those of the unjust judge? (18:7)
- What can Christians expect from God? (18:7)
- What promise does this parable offer to Christians? (18:8)
- What did Jesus ask about? (18:8)
- To what kind of faith did Jesus refer at the end of this passage? (18:8)
Apply It
- What changes in your daily routine can you make that will enable you to pray more persistently?
- For what need or concern will you commit to praying persistently?
- What fellow believer could you ask to hold you accountable for praying more persistently?
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector - Luke 18:9-14
Understand It
- To whom did Jesus tell this parable? (18:9)
- Why did Jesus tell this parable? (18:9)
- Who were the two men described in the story? (18:10)
- What did the Pharisee do? (18:11)
- What motivated the Pharisee to pray? (18:11)
- How did the Pharisee pray? (18:11-12)
- Why was the Pharisee confident in his own righteousness? (18:11-12)
- Why did the tax collector stand at a distance? (18:13)
- What does the tax collector’s posture reveal about his own attitude? (18:13)
- What prompted the tax collector to pray? (18:13)
- How did the tax collector pray? (18:13)
- What difference did it make how these men prayed? (18:14)
- What does it mean that one man was justified and the other wasn’t? (18:14)
- What principle did Jesus stress? (18:14)
Apply It
- What specific steps can you take this week to cultivate a spirit of humility?
- In what area of your life do you want to combat a tendency to exalt yourself instead of Christ?
The Little Children and Jesus - Luke 18:15-17
Understand It
- Why were people bringing babies to Jesus? (18:15)
- How did the disciples respond to what the parents were doing? (18:15)
- What was it about Jesus that motivated parents to bring their children to Him? (18:15-16)
- Why did the disciples rebuke those who were bringing their babies to Jesus? (18:15)
- How did Jesus react to His disciples’ attitudes? (18:16)
- How did Jesus treat the children? (18:16)
- What did Jesus say about the children? (18:16)
- Why should we receive the kingdom of God like a child? (18:17)
- What will happen to those who do not receive the kingdom "like a little child"? (18:17)
- Get It
- What can we learn from this passage about the character of Jesus?
- How can you imitate the qualities Jesus showed in this story?
- What can we learn from the negative example of the disciples?
- What childlike qualities do we need to enter the kingdom of God?
- What can you do to cultivate your trust and dependence on the Lord?
- What does this passage reveal about how we need to change?
- What hinders us from having the childlike qualities that God wants us to have?
- How can you combat the tendency to depend on yourself rather than God?
Apply It
- What is one childlike quality that you want to cultivate this week? How?
- What is one way you can show love and compassion toward children?
The Rich Ruler - Luke 18:18-30
Understand It
- What did the ruler ask Jesus? (18:18)
- What does the wording of the ruler’s question reveal about his attitude? (18:18)
- How did Jesus respond to the ruler’s question? (18:19)
- Of what did Jesus remind the ruler? (18:20)
- What does the ruler’s response to Jesus reveal about his character? (18:21)
- What did the ruler lack? (18:22)
- Why did Jesus advise this man to sell all he had, especially when He did not require this of others? (18:22)
- How did the ruler respond to Jesus’ instructions? (18:23)
- How did the man’s wealth interfere with his eternal salvation? (18:23)
- What was the rich man’s problem? (18:24-25)
- How did Jesus’ listeners respond to Jesus’ harsh words? (18:26)
- What did Jesus reveal about how a person can inherit eternal life? (18:27)
- What did Jesus teach about sacrifice? (18:29-30)
Apply It
- What is one sacrifice God is calling you to make?
- How can you remind yourself of the benefits of following Christ each day?
Jesus Again Predicts His Death - Luke 18:31-34
Understand It
- To whom was Jesus speaking? (18:31)
- Where were the disciples and Jesus planning to go? (18:31)
- To whom was Jesus referring when He spoke of the "Son of Man"? (18:31)
- What did Jesus reveal to the disciples about the future? (18:31-32)
- Why did Jesus take the Twelve aside from the crowds to tell them about certain events? (18:31)
- How did Jesus describe what would happen? (18:32)
- To whom would the Son of Man be handed over? (18:32)
- How would the Gentiles treat the Son of Man? (18:32)
- What did Jesus predict would happen after the Son of Man was killed by the Gentiles? (18:33)
- Why did Jesus reveal details of the future to His disciples? (18:31-33)
- How did the disciples respond to Jesus’ prediction of the future? (18:34)
- What prevented the disciples from understanding what Jesus explained to them? (18:34)
Apply It
- In what way could you imitate in your personal relationships the Lord’s willingness to suffer for you?
- What do you need to do in the next few days to be more sensitive to the Lord’s instructions?
A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight - Luke 18:35-43
Understand It
- Where did this event take place? (18:35)
- What was the man by the roadside doing? (18:35)
- How did the blind man know that something unusual was happening? (18:36)
- How did the blind man know who Jesus was? (18:37-38)
- How did the blind man respond to the situation? (18:38)
- How did the crowd respond to the blind man’s actions? (18:39)
- What did the blind man do in response to the criticism of the crowd? (18:39)
- How did Jesus respond to the blind man? (18:40)
- If Jesus could see that the man was blind, why did He ask the man what he wanted? (18:41)
- Why did Jesus heal the blind man? (18:42)
- What role did the blind man’s faith play in his healing? (18:42)
- How did the blind man and the crowds respond to the miracle Jesus performed? (18:43)
Apply It
- For what do you want to praise God today?
- What can you do this week to respond more appropriately to the criticism of others?
- What steps can you take to be persistent in your prayers this week?
