Book Gospel of Luke Order in the Bible part 3 | Bible part New Testament Category Gospel | |
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Luke 18 is the eighteenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It records the teachings and a miracle of Jesus Christ. The book containing this chapter is anonymous but early Christian tradition uniformly affirmed that Luke composed this Gospel as well as Acts.
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This chapter can be grouped (with cross references to other parts of the Bible):
Parable of the Persistent Widow
This parable is also known as the Parable of the Unjust Judge or the Parable of the Importunate Widow appears only in one of the Canonical gospels of the New Testament, namely the Gospel of Luke. It tells about a judge (who is both atheistic and lacking compassion) who is repeatedly approached by a poor widow, seeking justice. Initially rejecting her demands, he eventually honors her request so he won't be worn out by her persistence. This parable demonstrates the importance of persistence in prayer, never giving up. It is found immediately prior to the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican (also on prayer) and is similar in to the parable of the Friend at Night.
A Blind Man Receives His Sight
Each of the three synoptic gospels tells of Jesus healing the blind near Jericho, as he passed through that town, shortly before his passion. Mark 10:46-52 tells only of a man named Bartimaeus (literally "Son of Timaeus") being present, as Jesus left Jericho, making him one of the few named people to be miraculously cured by Jesus. Matthew 20:29-34 is a similar account of two blind men being healed outside of Jericho, but gives no names. Luke 18:35-43 tells of one unnamed blind man, but seems to place the event instead as when Jesus approached Jericho.
These men together would be the second of two healings of blind men on Jesus' journey from the start of his travels from Bethsaida (in Mark 8:22-26) to Jerusalem, via Jericho. It is possible, though not certain, that Bartimaeus heard about the first healing, and so knew of Jesus' reputation.