Luke 18:1-14

22-25 Compare Luk_5:35; Mat_24:23-27; Mar_13:21-23; Joh_13:33.

25 Compare Luk_9:22.

26-27 Compare Mat_24:37-39; Gen. 7.

26 The unexpected suddenness of the coming of the Son of Mankind is further enforced by a comparison with the days of Noah. It will be a day of fancied security and swift destruction. Most of the divine processes are a gradual growth and changes are introduced slowly. The present economy of grace was brought in by installments during a considerable period of time, from Paul's call to his imprisonment. But God's judgments are always swift and sudden. Now that it is evident that the kingdom will not be established as a result of His proclamation, but will be introduced by judgment, its coming takes on the characteristics of the previous judgments of the irreverent.

28 Compare Gen_19:16; Gen_19:24-25.

30 Compare 2Th_1:6-10.

31-33 Compare Mat_24:15-18; Mar_13:14-16 Gen_19:26.

31 Oriental houses usually have an outside stair to the roof, so that, in great haste, it is not necessary to go into the house to get down from the fiat roof.

32 The soul is distinct from the life, for we can hardly say that one who is destroying his life is causing it to live. It is those who shrink from suffering who seek to preserve their souls, and thus forfeit the joys of the kingdom.

34-36 Compare Mat_24:40-41; 1Th_4:17.

37 Elsewhere the nations are represented as wild beasts. Here they are like birds of prey gathering about Israel in her last extremity.

37 Compare Mat_24:28; Job_39:30.

1 This parable follows most naturally from the foregoing prophecy concerning the coming of the Son of Mankind, for then it is that the saints in Israel clamor for vengeance, as figured in the souls under the altar (Rev_6:9-11). Indeed, it is the importunity of the blood of the martyrs which brings on the judgments of the sixth seal. We, too, are told to pray without intermission (1Th_5:17). But a prayer for vengeance is utterly foreign to the spirit of grace which is ours in Christ Jesus. We call quite understand that God should need much urging and continued importunity before He visits their adversaries with vengeance. That is His strange work. It is not in direct accord with His heart. But there is a question whether such urgency is necessary for Him to answer those of our prayers which are in accord with His will. Above all, let us not make this parable an excuse for senseless repetition or stubbornness in petitioning for that which is contrary to God's present attitude of grace. The closing words of the parable emphasize its close connection with the judgments which attend the coming of the Son of Mankind.

Compare 2Th_1:6-7.

9 This Pharisee is intensely typical of those self-righteous ones, who imagine that God is pleased with their sham religion. Self is the center and the circumference of all their worship. Though so fully pleased with themselves, they are the most pitiable of men, blind to their sins, dead to their own corruption. The traitorous tax gatherer, on the other hand, showed a spiritual intelligence seldom seen during our Lord's ministry, as is indicated by his use of the word propitiate. From where he stood he could doubtless see the smoke of the sacrifice ascending to God, and he grasped the great truth of propitiation, that, sinner though he was, he could approach and obtain favor of God on the ground of sacrifice. Thus did the Saviour call their attention once again to the sacrifice He was about to offer so that He may become the great Propitiatory or meeting place of God and man.

13 Compare Psa_40:12; Psa_51:1-3; Jer_31:18-19.

14 Compare Rom_3:19-26.