Read Luke 18:1-8

Jesus taught perseverance in prayer by picturing God as an unjust judge.

Why? What lessons can we learn about delayed or unanswered prayers?

The explanation for delayed or unanswered prayers may lie within me. I sigh that I don’t understand, but deep in my heart, I recognize areas uncommitted to Christ’s lordship. Such withholding hinders His action in my life. I must correct any disobedience before the answer can come.

Perhaps my motives need purifying. Why do I want this thing for which I am praying?
The answer may be delayed that more may be given. Where would the plan of redemption be if Christ’s prayer for deliverance from death had been answered (Luke 22:42)?

Another reason for delayed or unanswered prayer is that I am not the only person to be considered. My persistence in prayer may be an example to others as they watch my faith mature.

Perhaps we have a scheduling problem. If we try to squeeze the solutions to all of our pain, injustices, unanswered desires into one short human life span, we will be disappointed. Jesus taught that when people do bad things to His followers, those followers will be rewarded in heaven, not here (Matt. 5:10, 12). Even Christ in His suffering left it to His Father to deal with His persecutors (1 Peter 2:23). If we love God most of all, we must be willing to leave answers with Him.

Read Luke 17:20-37

Forewarned is forearmed, we say.

Jesus came the first time as Savior. He will come again as judge. The Pharisees asked about judgment and got a short answer. The disciples did not ask about the end of the world and got a long discourse on it anyway.

The first time Jesus came, not many persons knew about it. It was a quiet birth in a small town at the remote eastern end of the Roman Empire. When He comes again, we will need no report on the evening news.

Notice the evidence in these verses of a worldwide appearance. Some people will be asleep at night (v. 34). Women customarily ground meal in the early morning just before daylight (v. 35). Some translations of the Bible add that men will be working in the fields, obviously in daylight (v. 36). No matter which side of the earth you are on, you will know about Jesus’ return.

Is there anything wrong with the activities Jesus mentioned as being in progress when His coming interrupts the goings-on? No. Eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building are all legitimate behaviors. But notice that Jesus likens His coming to two events that happened suddenly, followed by rapid destruction, Noah’s flood, and Lot’s escape from Sodom. God’s clock is ticking. Life will continue normally to the end. But when it comes, there will be no time for looking back, much less repentance.

Read Luke 17:11-19

The first principle of faith is to do what you can.

Why didn’t these ten men run to Jesus and explain their situation? Because it was against the law to come closer. Lepers were compelled to live outside of town and cry “Unclean!” when anyone approached. But they did what they could—shouted from a distance.

Jesus didn’t shout back, “You are healed.” He told them to go see the priest. In ancient Israel, if it were proved to the priest’s satisfaction that a case of leprosy was cured, the priest carried out a purification ceremony allowing the leper to return to society (Lev. 14:1-32).

The second principle of faith is to walk forward as knowledge increases. That’s how this story becomes an acted parable of Jesus’ prior teaching that faith is like a small seed. It does not have to be big, only alive. When Jesus told the lepers to get up and go, they went. They did not hesitate, saying to each other, “We’ll get to the priest and look like fools, still full of leprosy.” It took a lot of faith, but they followed Jesus’ instruction, and were healed in the act of obedience. Faith increases by walking in the light we have.

Why did only one of them return to thank Jesus? The ingratitude of the nine is surprising. But this we know. Gratitude is always pleasing to the Lord.

Read Luke 17:1-10

Why do people stumble over God?

We have all met persons who want nothing to do with God or organized religion. Is there anything we can do to prevent such an outlook? Probably not, Jesus says. People are going to sin. But He adds, be sure you are not the cause of such unbelief. That’s a huge offense.

Thankfully, Jesus gives guidelines for avoiding being to blame for another person’s wrong approach to life. Professing Christians, He says, should be honest and up front about their beliefs. If you think someone has wronged you, tell him or her so. Don’t pout, complain, and fuss behind the supposed offender’s back. Then follows the hard part. If the person asks forgiveness, give it, over and over if necessary. Is Jesus indicating that an unforgiving spirit on the part of one of Christ’s followers might cause an unbeliever to stumble?

Hearing this, the disciples quite reasonably ask for more faith. Jesus gives two answers: First, He indicates that faith does not have to be big, only alive. Faith is seed-like, which means it has the capacity to grow. Then He tells a story about a servant who worked hard every day at his assigned duties. Christians deserve no special praise for reading the Bible regularly, or for keeping a daily prayer time. But as we cultivate these habits, silently, little by little, as a garden grows, faith increases.