Sermon: Luke 18:1-8
Brian Fletcher
Introduction: Dad, I want to get a dog.
Getting or not getting a dog is not a matter of justice, but it is a matter of persistently and perseveringly asking your father for something that you really want.
Luke explains the point of the parable before he retells it.
The lesson of the widow and the judge is:
You should always pray and not lose heart.
There is a sense of persistent and persevering prayer that Jesus wants us to understand and apply.
But why does Jesus tell this parable at this particular time? What is the context?
In Chapter 17, the Pharisees were talking with Jesus. Remember, the Pharisees were very skeptical about Jesus. He was an enigma. He could teach from the Scriptures in an astounding way, he was able to heal people physically, and he claimed to be the Son of God, the Messiah. But how could this be since he was just a man from Nazareth whose parents they knew?
So they were constantly testing him on his theology and application of the Scriptures. In this instance, they asked him when the Kingdom of God would come.
The Pharisees largely viewed the Kingdom of God as a future, tangible, political reign of God that would be established on earth. They expected:
The restoration of Israel as a sovereign nation.
The defeat of foreign oppressors (such as the Romans).
The coming of a Messianic King from David's line to rule over Israel.
The full establishment of God's law (Torah) as the guiding principle of society.
Was Jesus going to usher in this Kingdom right now? Jesus was ushering in the Kingdom of God, but not in the way they expected.
In Luke 17:20-21, the conversation goes like this:
"Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he answered them, 'The Kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, "Look, here it is!" or "There!" for behold, the Kingdom of God is in the midst of you.'"
Jesus is explaining that the Kingdo ...
Brian Fletcher
Introduction: Dad, I want to get a dog.
Getting or not getting a dog is not a matter of justice, but it is a matter of persistently and perseveringly asking your father for something that you really want.
Luke explains the point of the parable before he retells it.
The lesson of the widow and the judge is:
You should always pray and not lose heart.
There is a sense of persistent and persevering prayer that Jesus wants us to understand and apply.
But why does Jesus tell this parable at this particular time? What is the context?
In Chapter 17, the Pharisees were talking with Jesus. Remember, the Pharisees were very skeptical about Jesus. He was an enigma. He could teach from the Scriptures in an astounding way, he was able to heal people physically, and he claimed to be the Son of God, the Messiah. But how could this be since he was just a man from Nazareth whose parents they knew?
So they were constantly testing him on his theology and application of the Scriptures. In this instance, they asked him when the Kingdom of God would come.
The Pharisees largely viewed the Kingdom of God as a future, tangible, political reign of God that would be established on earth. They expected:
The restoration of Israel as a sovereign nation.
The defeat of foreign oppressors (such as the Romans).
The coming of a Messianic King from David's line to rule over Israel.
The full establishment of God's law (Torah) as the guiding principle of society.
Was Jesus going to usher in this Kingdom right now? Jesus was ushering in the Kingdom of God, but not in the way they expected.
In Luke 17:20-21, the conversation goes like this:
"Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he answered them, 'The Kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, "Look, here it is!" or "There!" for behold, the Kingdom of God is in the midst of you.'"
Jesus is explaining that the Kingdo ...
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