On Christian Faith in Luke 18: Humility, the Creator/Creature Distinction, and a Good God
In a culture driven by data and information on the one hand, and by emotions and feelings on the other, the Christian faith becomes miscategorized far too often. Should we seek out proofs and logical reasoning of God’s existence before placing our faith in Him? Can anyone truly believe without seeing? Is faith just a feeling of hope and confidence that a distant deity and His guardian angels are watching out for me? Is a blind faith preferable to wrestling with our doubts? These questions and more are being asked by many both within and outside of the Church.
While perhaps not a black and white answer to these important questions, in Luke chapter 18 Jesus both teaches and shows us what authentic Christian faith looks like: beginning in the heart, a true believer approaches God in complete humility and recognition that He is God and they are not, what theologians call the “Creator/creature distinction”. This fundamental building block of the Christian faith must be held tight within the Church today, lest we fall into the temptations of self-righteousness and idolatry.
While recognizing this distinction between man and God, authentic Christian faith also believes God to be good, righteous, merciful, and just. This is crucial, as it assures believers that when they throw themselves at the mercy of their holy God, they will find justice and salvation.
This article will take a close look at how Jesus teaches and shows this throughout Luke 18.
Context
Luke 18 takes place within Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem (Luke 17:11), which ultimately leads to His death and resurrection. While containing six different stories/teachings, this chapter is connected by the central theme of faith, presented by Jesus in verse 8, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”1 2 Not simply leaving us to speculate, Jesus teaches what faith He is looking for on earth, primarily through the use of positive and negative examples.
Historical context is important here, as the examples Jesus used were intentionally subversive to His primary audience. In that time, the ordinary Jew looked up to the religious leaders/elite (Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, etc.) as the ideal of faith. This was helped by the leaders themselves, who propped themselves up as holy and righteous (Luke 18:11-12). These religious leaders belonged to the upper class of Jewish society, and publicly looked down upon those in the lower rungs of society. In their minds, their station was directly connected to their faithfulness to God and His law, meaning those below them must also owe their lowly standing to their seemingly poor faith. Throughout His ministry, Jesus works to undo this ideal by associating with the sinners and outcasts of society. He continues this work throughout this chapter, beginning with the “persistent widow”.
The Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8)
“And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
While the primary teaching purpose of this parable is made known by Luke, “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart” (v.1), it cannot be lost on us that Jesus uses the example of a widow. As women in this culture did not receive education and did not work to support themselves, they fully depended on family and their husbands to survive. The widow in this parable, then, is fully dependent on this judge to give her justice. Without a ruling in her favor, she may be left with nothing to live on. No wonder she is so persistent, this is a matter of life and death!
Do we recognize our position before God? Jesus teaches here that it is like a widow before a judge, only even more severe; our eternal fate is entirely in His hands. If He does not “give justice to [us] speedily” (v.8), we will surely die. We have no agency on our own, for we are fully dependent upon Him for life and breath. God created and sustains the entire world, and we as His creation can only participate in His righteousness and justice, having none of our own. We are but widows before an almighty judge.
Accordingly, we must have the persistent faith that the widow in this parable displays. We must throw ourselves at the mercy of our God, making sure to keep coming to Him day after day, crying to him day and night. The difference between our faith and the widow’s, however, is that we do not lay ourselves at the feet of an unrighteous judge. Our faith is based on the solid foundation of the Word of God which proclaims in truth that He is Good, Righteous, and Just: “And will not God give justice to his elect?” (v.7). The Lord instills in His elect a widow’s heart; a heart of humility, desperation, and dependence before the One who can save us. True Christian faith Jesus is looking for is that of a persistent widow’s. Will the Son of man find such faith in us?
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14)
“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus continues His discourse on faith through another parable. Again subverting the common notion that the religious elite were the ideal of faith, He highlights the faith of a tax collector. Tax collectors were Jews who were universally hated and thought of as faithless for betraying their people in working for the oppressive Roman government. Additionally, they often took advantage of their position by charging more than they had to in order to make a profit for themselves. Being notorious sinners, by both contextual Jewish standards and Christian standards as we know them today, what point in regards to faith is Jesus making through this parable?
First, let us take a closer look at the Pharisee in this parable. Luke prefaces this parable by revealing the intended audience: those who “trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt” (v.9). While the Pharisee is the representative figure Jesus used here, this is a description that could apply to a wide range of people; from pastors and priests to atheists, agnostics and all types of people in-between. These two characteristics are antithetical to authentic Christian faith as they reveal lack of trust and love for God and neighbor, the two greatest commandments given to us (Luke 10:27).
Putting it bluntly: you cannot have faith in God while trusting in yourself for righteousness. The Pharisee may have been obedient to the letter of the law, but he took so much pride in his own law-keeping that he failed to see the point of the law itself: to reveal how sinful/unrighteous we are compared to the One, Holy God. The Apostle Paul makes this abundantly clear in Romans 3:20: “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” The Pharisee in this story and those like him fail to grasp this truth. They accept knowledge of sin in others, but refuse to recognize their own position before God as sinners, for “You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law” (Rom. 3:23). If indeed, “No one is good except God alone” (Luke 18:19), how anyone claim to have faith in God while not trusting in Him for goodness and righteousness? Their faith, it turns out, lies in themselves and not the only one who can justify them.
The tax collector in this story is our example of true faith. He is so aware of his unrighteous standing before God that he “would not even lift up his eyes to heaven” (v.13). He shows an acute understanding of the Creator/creature distinction in recognizing that God alone is righteous and therefore can make him righteous. What separates this tax collector from others, however, is his faith. He not only recognizes and confesses his own sinfulness, but just like the widow he throws himself at the mercy of God. He knows that God, according to His goodness, will “give justice to his elect” (v.7). He knows and trusts in a righteous, merciful, and just God who will impute His righteousness to him, whereas the Pharisee believes in a god that accepts only those who come to him with a righteousness of their own. Of the two, it is the tax collector who has come to saving knowledge and faith in God.
This is also our position before God: a sinner, even the worst kind of sinner such as a tax collector. When we understand this, we understand that we have no other option than to say, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” (v.13). We have no room to look down on others, for we are sinners just like them. We must have the faith and humble heart of a repentant tax collector, for it is the one who humbles himself who God will exalt at the coming of His Kingdom.
Let the Children Come to Me (Luke 18:15-17)
“Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Although the parables stop at this point in the chapter, when examining the remaining collection of stories we find they share the same central theme of faith. Here we find that while Jesus is engaging with the crowd, they start bringing their infant children to Him just so they may be blessed by His touch. The disciples, however, see Jesus’ ministry as too important for these children and attempt to stop them. Jesus’ response to His disciples actions gives another example of the kind of faith He is looking for.
While the term and concept of “childlike faith” is not new within the Church, it can often be misunderstood. Rather than a simple blind faith, Jesus gives yet another example of our true position before God: as a child, even an infant! Like the widow and tax collector, we are fully dependent on God for life, breath, justice, and righteousness. This is so important that Jesus declares if we miss this we shall not enter the kingdom of God.
Childlike faith is not just a metaphor, for those who have been justified and redeemed by the blood of Christ “receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:5) and are “called children of God; and so we are” (1 John 3:1). While Jesus alone is the Son of God by nature, we are true sons and daughters of God by adoption. This reality adds weight to the concept of childlike faith. Not only are we helpless on our own, in dire need of God’s tender love, mercy, and care, but we also have faith and take hope in the fact that we have a true Father in Heaven. We have learned previously through Luke 18 that God is good and will give justice to His elect; how much more will He care for His own sons and daughters? A childlike faith in this sense is a much deeper faith, then, as one who recognizes God as their Father trusts that when they cry out to Him they will be comforted. This faith carries with it a far greater assurance than one based on merit and works alone. This is the faith Jesus is looking for on earth. Do you recognize your position as an infant before God? If you have received salvation from Christ, do you recognize your position as a adopted son/daughter of the all-powerful, righteous Creator?
The Rich Ruler (Luke 18:18-30)
And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
When a wealthy young ruler asks Jesus how he may enter the kingdom of God, Jesus seizes the opportunity to continue to subvert the peoples’ ideals of faith. This was a man that people expected would be welcomed by God into the kingdom: he had a long history of keeping the law and seemingly enjoyed the favor of God through his wealth. Just like the Pharisee in the earlier parable, however, although he kept the law it is revealed he too missed the point of it. His sadness in reaction to Jesus’ command to part with his possessions reveals that in his heart his love for money is greater than his love for God (the greatest commandment!). This is a live example of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). The rich ruler rejected following Jesus to instead follow wealth and comfort.
True faith has no master but God, and is willing to leave behind many and all good things required of it for the sake of His kingdom. This passage shows, however, that this too is not a work or righteousness of our own. When seeing that those such as the rich ruler, thought of as the ideal of faith, will find it impossible to receive salvation the crowd begins to despair: “Then who can be saved?” (v.26). Perhaps no more important question can be asked in this life. Who can be saved? If it is not the wealthy and righteous by human standards, what hope could the rest of us have? The hope of the Christian faith rests on Jesus’ answer in verse 27, “But he said, ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God.’” God alone has the power and authority to save the souls of mankind.
This expression of the Creator/creature distinction from the Creator Himself is a tremendous source of hope, comfort, and assurance for the Christian. Those with a true faith understand it is impossible to save themselves on the merit of their own righteousness. Accordingly, they trust not in themselves or anything other than the righteous God who is glad to bring justice to His elect. This faith then manifests itself in good works as believers leave behind everything to serve their Lord and Savior alone as “living sacrifice[s], holy and acceptable to God” (Romans 12:1).
Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time (Luke 18:31-34)
And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.
At this point, some may object and ask, “what does Jesus predicting His death have to do with faith?” The answer is everything! This conversation that at first glance may seem like a sidebar in the midst of the surrounding events is actually very appropriate because Jesus is describing to His disciples the very foundation of the Christian faith: His death and resurrection.
Thus far He has taught and shown what authentic faith looks like, here He pinpoints for His disciples what exactly is the object of their faith. The Christian faith is not ethereal, it is grounded in the objective reality that God sent His Son to be mocked and killed as a sacrifice for the sake of all who believe and confess that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9), and rose to life on the third day providing victory over sin and death “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). Because of this Good News, the widow, the tax collector, the children, and those who have left everything for the sake of the kingdom of God have great reason to hope and rejoice that they have been saved and will receive the justice and mercy they long for.
True Christian faith is founded on, and never moves away from, this Gospel. While there are other essential aspects of faith; good works, social justice, piety/righteous living, etc., the Gospel of Jesus Christ must always remain the main thing. If it is not given its rightful position at the center/core of all a belief and action, and especially if it is neglected completely, it cannot be truly called Christian faith. The faith that Jesus is looking for on earth, then, is one that sets its full hope on the Gospel of Jesus Christ for salvation and reconciliation with God. May these things not be hidden from us, and may the Lord Jesus Christ, through His Holy Spirit, give us understanding and enlightenment as were given the Apostles after the resurrection of Christ and through Pentecost.
Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar (Luke 18:35-43)
As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
The final story included in Luke 18 sees Jesus healing a blind beggar, named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus according to Mark 10:46, while passing through on the way to Jericho, and ultimately Jerusalem. Jesus uses this opportunity to provide another example of faith from yet another unexpected source. When Jesus encounters a man born blind in John 9, the disciples reveal the popular assumption of their day: “And his disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’” While it is unknown whether or not the Bartimaeus in Luke 18 was born that way, this still tells us that there was a connection in this time between spiritual health (righteousness/sin) and physical health (blindness, etc.). The crowds show this as well, as they deemed this man unworthy to approach a Rabbi of Jesus’ fame telling him to be silent.
Despite this opposition, Bartimaeus remains persistent and desperate. Although he obviously cannot see if Jesus has passed by yet and so is not sure if He can even hear him, he continues to cry out for mercy. What other hope does this man have? He is physically impaired, financially impoverished, and looked down upon by the rest of society as a sinner. More than hoping in some miracle worker, however, Bartimaeus makes an incredible profession of faith: he calls out to Jesus as the “son of David”, a title given to the Messiah (Savior) that Israel was waiting for. This was not a claim that many with him among the crowd seemed willing to make, evidenced by how many turned on Him after His arrest. Bartimaeus took a bold leap of faith, and was rewarded by Jesus in return.
No matter physical or socioeconomic status, all of humanity before God is like a blind beggar, especially spiritually. Like this man, the tax collector, and the persistent widow, we must never think ourselves above showing the same desperation for Christ’s mercy. This is truly our only option to receive salvation and redemption. Even after receiving Christ, believers must still take this posture in full dependence on God for provision, sanctification, and endurance to run the race of faith in this life until the end. The author of Hebrews encourages us in this, saying, “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1-3).
The Christian Faith
As we have seen, Jesus shows us throughout Luke 18 what faith He is looking for on earth. Through the examples of the persistent widow, tax collector, children, and blind beggar we learn that our position before God is lowly. He is the sovereign God who creates, sustains, and judges the world according to His own goodness. As Jesus shows in verse 19, it is God alone who is good, not only possessing all goodness but being goodness itself. Although humanity was created in His image, we are still distinctly different. We share in His goodness not by our own nature, but only by participation in His goodness or nature. Having no goodness or righteousness of our own, which the Pharisee and the rich ruler mistakenly took pride and put their faith in, our only hope is to throw ourselves at the mercy of God, at the feet of Jesus. Outside of this, we will find no salvation.
Yet, we can take encouragement in that Jesus lifts up the poor in spirit, as “the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (v.14). God is faithful to justify those who take courage to approach Him in humility, crying out, “Mercy!” to their heavenly Father. Reader, you can do the same today. No matter how great a sinner you are or have been, God is good, merciful, and just. Jesus took your place, sacrificing His own life to atone for your sins and offer you salvation and abundant, eternal life with Him. Cry out to Him, for He is faithful and good.
This is the core of the Christian faith. The question remains, will Jesus find this faith on earth? Will He find it in us, in you?
“What is impossible with man is possible with God” (Luke 18:27).
Unless otherwise specified, all Bible references in this paper are to the English Standard Version, Updated Version (ESV) (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2001).
Emphasis added.
