2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: {Prov 29:7}
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of {give me justice against} mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge {render justice for, vindicate} his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long {is longsuffering, patiently endures} with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily {promptly (at the right time)}. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith {lit., 'the faith'} on the earth?
...shall not God avenge His own elect {chosen ones}...?
God is the Righteous Judge (Psa 9:8). There is no question that He will exercise true justice for His people (Rom 12:19-21; Heb 10:35-37). He hears their continual prayer for relief from persecution and injustice which they suffer during their earthly lifetimes (Psa 13:1,2; Jer 20:11-13).
During the present age, God 'suffers long' alongside His people, because the Righteous Judge is also longsuffering toward His enemies. Weighing the relatively brief sufferings of the saved (2Cor 4:17), against the eternal loss of their enemies, He temporarily withholds His judgment while extending mercy to all who will turn to Him. But His patience will not last forever. When the day of judgment comes, it will be executed with speed (2Pet 3:9,10; 2The 1:6-10).
Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find 'the faith' on the earth?
It is no accident that this parable immediately follows the Lord's prophetic discussion of His second coming (in Luk 17:22-37).
When Christ returns, to exercise judgment, the world's worship will be characterized by complete apostasy and blatant blasphemy. Already today, apostates are proclaiming false 'Christs' and false 'Gospels.' 2Tim 3:1-5; 4:3,4; 2Pet 2:1-3
The Lord warned us that as the end of the age approaches, evil men will wax worse and worse (2Tim 3:13; Mat 24:9-13). Eventually, the Antichrist will be allowed to prevail against the saints (Rev 13:5-8). Even then, the Lord counsels His own "always to pray, and not to faint" (v.1; cp. Rev 6:9-11; 7:13-17). He is faithful and true... and He is coming (Rev 19:11-16).
Parable of the Pharisee and the publican.
(This parable is unique to Luke's Gospel.)
Although this is commonly regarded as a parable, it may be the account of the conversion of a specific publican (eg., Luk 19:2).
9. And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, {cp. Prov 30:12; Luk 16:15; Rom 10:3} and despised others {ie., regarded others as of no value, with contempt}:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood {cp. Isa 65:5; Mat 6:5}
and prayed thus with {GK=pros, toward, unto} himself, {cp. Isa 1:15} God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, {cp. Jer 14:12} I give tithes of all that I possess. {cp. Mat 23:23,24; Rom 3:19-20,27}
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, {cp. Job 42:6} saying, God be merciful to me a sinner {lit., the sinner}. {cp. Psa 51:3,4; 1Tim 1:15}
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified {righteous (in God's eyes)} [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. {Hab 2:4; Mat 5:3-6}
God be merciful {GK=hilaskomai} to me the sinner...
This word for 'merciful' (hilaskomai) is closely related to the word for the Mercy Seat (GK=hilasterion, as in Heb 9:5). In the OT Tabernacle, on the annual Day of Atonement, the blood, of the sin sacrifice for the nation, was sprinkled upon the lid of the Ark of the Covenant (the Mercy Seat), in the Most Holy place. Above the Mercy Seat, between the golden cherubim, hovered the visible glory of God's Presence. Beneath that lid, secure within the Ark, was the Law, the Covenant between God and His people, still intact, though they had broken it. The blood, presented at the Mercy Seat, testified that the penalty for their sin had been symbolically paid upon the altar, with the death of their sin offering. The offense against God's perfect righteousness had been satisfied. Therefore, sinners covered by that sacrifice were accepted before the holy God.
In effect, the publican's prayer was: 'God, Look upon me as you look upon the Mercy Seat, where sin is put away.'
For many years, he had lived for himself, in disregard of God's Word and ways. The atoning sacrifice had been offered during those years, but he had given it little thought. Though he was a Jew, he had excluded himself from God's provision, by his own unbelief, until one day, he became convicted of his sinfulness and turned to the Lord, confessing his unworthiness, and asking that his sin be 'propitiated' (purged away by the blood shed in his behalf).
Knowing his heart, Jesus declared that the publican was righteous, not on the basis of animal sacrifice (Heb 10:4), but rather on the basis of His sacrificial death upon the cross (which was soon to be accomplished). There, Jesus Christ became the blood-sprinkled Mercy Seat, by whom believers are declared righteous. See Rom 3:19-28, where (in v.25) 'propitiation' is GK=hilasterion. Likewise, a related word {GK=hilasmos} is translated 'propitiation' in 1Joh 2:2.
Boasting in his own righteousness, the Pharisee saw no need for propitiation of his sin. Therefore, he did not receive "the righteousness of God" which is obtained through faith in Jesus Christ.
15. And they brought unto him also infants {GK=brephos, babies}, that he would touch them: but when [his] disciples saw [it], they rebuked them.
16 But Jesus called them [unto him], and said, Suffer {permit} little children {GK=paidion, young children} to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. {cp. Mat 18:3,4; 11:25; Joh 3:5}
18. And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none [is] good, save one, [that is], God.
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.
21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
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.
23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
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!
25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 And they that heard [it] said, Who then can be saved?
27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
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,
30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
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.
32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
33 And they shall scourge [him], and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. {cp. Luk 9:44,45}
35. And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, [thou] Son of David, {Isa 9:6,7: Luk 1:30-33} have mercy {GK=eleeo, have pity, show compassion} on me.
39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, {cp. v.1; Luk 11:9,10} [Thou] Son of David, have mercy on me.
40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: {Psa 33:9} thy faith hath saved thee. {cp. Luk 7:50; 8:48; 17:19}
43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw [it], gave praise unto God.