(I wondered about all the things we repeatedly go to the Lord with. Maybe we want a car, home, new job or such and I wondered if such requests were also including in this teaching. I tend to not think so. As we see here, her request was for justice and "that" request was what was honored. She was not begging for new shoes so her requests were not for stuff. She begged for justice and that is what she received.)
Jesus taught, surely they could expect God to give justice to His chosen people who continually cried out to Him (I believe He is referring to the Jews who cried out for justice while under Roman rule) for justice just as the woman. She never gave up pleading for justice and even received justice from an uncaring, godless judge. How much more could they expect from a caring and loving God? Persistence, in both cases, is an expression of faith that justice will someday be given. The woman kept going to the judge filled with faith expecting justice. The people of His time also cried out for justice and their persistence would be an expression of their faith.
Even we at this time want justice and Jesus closed this teaching with this thought. (vs8) "I tell you, He will grant justice to them quickly! (those who have faith). But when the Son of Man returns, how many will He find on this earth who have faith?" (At time of Jesus return, how many will He find who have cried out in faith for justice such as this?)
Jesus presented the teaching of a Pharisee and a tax collector. The Pharisee publicly seen as a righteous and religious man and a tax collector seen as a sinner and one who cheated and stole from the people. They both came to the temple to pray. The Pharisee thanked God he was not a sinner like everyone else, for he did all the right things. He didn't cheat, he didn't sin, he didn't commit adultery and certainly wasn't like the tax collector. He even fasted twice a week and gave a tenth of his income. On the other hand, the tax collector could not even lift his eyes toward heaven while he prayed. He beat his chest in sorrow asking God to be merciful, admitting he was a sinner. Jesus teaching was this, (vs14) "I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
Whenever I see teachings such as this, they take me back to Romans 12:3. " Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better that you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us." Sometimes, because of our religious practices and place in the church, we can be tempted to think we are better than those around us. We may be critical of those who sit home on Sundays while we "sacrifice" our time and go to church. We may appear to be righteous to ourselves and others when compared to those who don't even attend or serve. While they may sit home, their hearts may be better aligned with this story and they may be more righteous than we.
Jesus was teaching in verse 17; "I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it." How would a child act? What is a child's relationship with his/her father like?
A child would look to their father for everything. For protection, needs, care, love, compassion forgiveness, instruction, help and so on. A child would love, respect, treasure and be submissive to their father. (To name a few but you get the idea) We must come to our Father with hearts as those of a child. Our Father must be everything to us and be the one we recognize as the giver of all goods things. We must rest in our Father and allow Him to guide and direct our lives while loving Him and revering Him. (Also, to name a few but you get the idea)
A man asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him he must obey the commandments. The man answered He had done that since he was young. Jesus then told him to sell all he had and give the money to the poor and that doing such he would have treasure in heaven. Then he should leave home and follow Him. The man became sad for he was very rich. (To me, this was not a matter of doing an act but a matter of the heart. All must have a heart that is in tune with Christ in such a way that they would be willing to give all they had to help others. This was Christ's example for He gave all He had, even His life, to help mankind.) Jesus commented on how very hard it is for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.
Those who heard this encounter with the rich man asked then who in the world could be saved. (vs27) "He replied, "what is impossible for people is possible with God." Salvation at the hand of man or by any act of man is impossible. Salvation is only possible only by, with and through God.
Jesus again spoke to the disciples of His death. He told them all the predictions of the prophets would soon come true. He would be turned over to the Romans who will mock, treat Him shamefully, spit on Him, flog Him, whip Him and kill Him but on the third day He would rise again. The disciples didn't understand any of what Jesus told them nor the significance of His words for understanding was hidden from them. ( I had wondered about this. If understanding was hidden from them, who hid it? Would God have kept them in the dark? Living in an evil world and being human, I think the evil one may have been the one who robbed them of any understanding. He was keeping them blinded by the thoughts that Jesus would destroy the Romans and return them to a life of freedom, just as the rest of the people believed. They all believed in a savior that would overthrow Roma and set them free. None of them could any thought that Jesus would die and not destroy Rome.
As Jesus continued to Jerusalem, a bling beggar in the crowd, cried out to Him. Even though people told him to shut up, he cried out. Finally, Jesus had the man brought to Him and asked him what he wanted. The beggar told Jesus he wanted to see. Jesus said, "All right, recieve your sight! Your faith has healed you." Instantly theman was healed znd he fiollowed Jesus praising God. And all who witnessed this, praised God too.
Such teachings touch my heart and cause me to reflect on me and my relationship to Christ and my recognition of all the good things in my life because of Christ's love for me. Do I praise Him for all He does and has done? Am i at all like the blind beggar in my gratitude? Sadly, no I am not. I take far too many things for granted. Far too many things pass me by with little or no recognition of the Giver. Does my recognition and praise of God cause others who see what He is doing in my life? Does my praise cause others to also praise God? Again, Sadly, no. This is a great lesson regarding our relationship with God and about our hearts, Are our hearts filled with praise and gratitude? A point to ponder.