Luke 18:1

Syriac Peshitta (NT Only)

ܐܶܡܰܪ ܠܗܽܘܢ ܕ݁ܶܝܢ ܐܳܦ݂ ܡܰܬ݂ܠܳܐ ܕ݁ܰܒ݂ܟ݂ܽܠ ܥܶܕ݁ܳܢ ܢܨܰܠܽܘܢ ܘܠܳܐ ܬ݁ܶܡܰܐܢ ܠܗܽܘܢ ܀

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

that: Luke 11:5-8, Luke 21:36, Genesis 32:9-12, Genesis 32:24-26, Job 27:8-10, Psalms 55:16, Psalms 55:17, Psalms 65:2, Psalms 86:3, *marg. Psalms 102:17, Psalms 142:5-7, Jeremiah 29:12, Romans 12:12, Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 4:2, Colossians 4:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:17

and not: Psalms 27:13, Jonah 2:7, Galatians 6:9, Hebrews 12:3-5

Reciprocal: Genesis 18:27 - I have Genesis 18:31 - General Genesis 32:26 - I will not Exodus 17:11 - General Deuteronomy 9:14 - Let me 1 Samuel 1:12 - continued praying 1 Kings 8:28 - Yet have thou 1 Kings 18:43 - Go up 2 Kings 6:33 - wait for the 2 Chronicles 6:19 - Have respect Job 15:4 - restrainest Job 27:10 - will he always Psalms 27:4 - seek Psalms 80:4 - how long Psalms 116:2 - therefore Psalms 123:2 - so our eyes Isaiah 40:31 - not faint Isaiah 62:6 - keep Daniel 6:20 - servest Joel 1:19 - to thee Matthew 6:5 - when Matthew 7:7 - and it Matthew 15:25 - came Matthew 20:31 - but they cried Matthew 26:44 - prayed Mark 10:48 - but Mark 11:24 - What Mark 14:39 - he went Luke 11:8 - because of Luke 11:10 - General Luke 18:39 - but Acts 1:14 - all Acts 10:2 - and prayed Acts 12:5 - prayer was made without ceasing Romans 1:9 - that 2 Thessalonians 3:13 - be not weary 1 Timothy 5:5 - continueth James 5:16 - The effectual Revelation 2:3 - hast not Revelation 13:10 - Here

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he spoke a parable unto them,.... To his own disciples, as the Ethiopic version reads, in order to encourage them to prayer, with perseverance in it; since such sore times of trial and affliction were coming upon the Jews, of which he had spoken in the preceding chapter; and such times more especially call for prayer; see Psalms 50:15

[to this end], that men ought always to pray. This is opposed to them, who pray not at all, or have left off prayer before God, or who pray only in distress; and suggests, that a man should pray as often as he has an opportunity; should be constant and assiduous at the throne of grace, and continue putting up his requests to God, though he does not presently return an answer:

and not to faint; by reason of afflictions, temptations, desertions, and delays in answering prayer; and prayer itself is an admirable antidote against fainting under afflictive providences: it is with the Jews an affirmative precept that a man should pray,

בכל יום, "every day" k; it was usual with them to pray three times a day; see Psalms 55:17 there is no set time fixed by Christ; men should be always praying. This is not to be understood, that a man should be always actually engaged in the work of prayer; that he should be continually either in his closet, in private devotion to God, or attending exercises of more public prayer, with the saints; for there are other religious exercises to be performed, besides prayer; and besides, there are many civil affairs of life, it is every man's indispensable duty to regard: nor does our Lord mean in the least to break in upon, or interrupt the natural and civil duties of life; but his meaning is, that a man should persevere in prayer, and not leave off, or be dejected, because he has not an immediate answer; and this is clear from the following case.

k Maimon. Hilch. Tephilla, c. 1. sect. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A parable - See the notes at Matthew 13:3.

To this end - To show this.

Always - At all times. That is, we must not neglect regular stated seasons of prayer; we must seize on occasions of remarkable providences as afflictions or signal blessings to seek God in prayer; we must “always” maintain a spirit of prayer, or be in a proper frame to lift up our hearts to God for his blessing, and we must not grow weary though our prayer seems not to be answered.

Not to faint - Not to grow weary or give over. The parable is designed to teach us that, though our prayers should long appear to be unanswered, we should persevere, and not grow weary in supplication to God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XVIII.

The parable of the importunate widow, 1-8.

Of the Pharisee and the publican, 9-14.

Infants brought to Christ, 15-17.

The ruler who wished to know how he might inherit eternal life,

18-23.

Our Lord's reflections on his case, 24-27.

What they shall receive who follow Christ, 28-30.

He foretells his approaching passion and death, 31-34.

He restores a blind man to sight at Jericho, 35-43.

NOTES ON CHAP. XVIII.

Verse Luke 18:1. Men ought always to pray — Therefore the plain meaning and moral of the parable are evident; viz. that as afflictions and desolations were coming on the land, and they should have need of much patience and continual fortitude, and the constant influence and protection of the Almighty, therefore they should be instant in prayer. It states, farther, that men should never cease praying for that the necessity of which God has given them to feel, till they receive a full answer to their prayers. No other meaning need be searched for in this parable: St. Luke, who perfectly knew his Master's meaning, has explained it as above.