Jesus spoke a parable saying, "men ought to pray and not lose heart":
There was an unjust judge (an anomaly!) who did not fear God or man, and a woman asked him to help her get justice from her enemy. But it was only after her persistence that he agreed to avenge her. Therefore, Jesus asked: "...shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"
Jesus then spoke another parable (to the self-righteous who trusted in themselves and hated others):
A Pharisee and tax collector went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee stood, praying within himself, thanking God that he was not a sinner like the tax collector, and the tax collector would not even raise his eyes, beating his chest, saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner." Jesus said the tax collector was justified, not the Pharisee,
for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Then people brought their infants and children to Jesus that He may touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. Therefore, Jesus called the children to Himself and said, "Let the children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God...whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."
Next a rich young ruler addressed Him as Good Teacher and asked how to inherit eternal life. First Jesus brought to his attention that he called Him good when only God is good. Then He asked Him if He obeyed the commandments. The ruler said He did. Jesus told him He needed to do one thing: sell all he had and give to the poor, and then he will be rewarded in heaven, and follow Him. But the ruler became sorrowful because he did not want to part with his riches.
Jesus said, "How hard it is for those who have riches 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 man to enter the kingdom..." The disciples asked, "Who then can be saved?" And Jesus replied,
The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
Peter pointed out that they had left all and followed Him, and Jesus told him those who have will receive many times more on earth and in eternal life.
Jesus again told His disciples that they will go to Jerusalem and that all the things written concerning Him will be accomplished. He will be delivered to the Gentiles and be mocked, insulted, spit upon, scourged and killed.
And the third day He will rise again.
But they still did not understand because these things were still hidden from them.
Finally, Jesus healed the blind man, Bartimaeus, who cried out to Him, "Son of David, have mercy on me." When Jesus asked him what he wanted, he said to receive his sight. Jesus told him his faith had made him well, and He immediately received his sight and glorified God.
COMMENTARY
The parable of the unjust judge and the persistent woman is not a parable on the persistency of prayer. The Lord told this parable to demonstrate a contrast an unjust judge and a loving God.
First of all, parable means two things: para means beside and ballo means to throw. Jesus used parables to tell a story to demonstrate either a contrast or a comparison. This parable is a contrast.
The woman had to persist in her pleading with this judge because he was a selfish, arrogant jerk. But God is a loving God and His people do not need to beg Him to get His attention. He's listening. We just need to go to Him. He will hear us! Immediately! Instantly!
The parable of the two men praying, the Pharisee and the tax collector, demonstrated that God heard the prayer of the humble publican because He sought God's mercy. All he had to do was come to God and ask for mercy, and God heard him. But God did not hear the Pharisee who patted himself on the back and lifted himself up. The Pharisee had access to the mercy seat in the temple, but the tax collector did not; however, Jesus Christ was on His way to become the mercy seat for him.
ABOUT CHILDREN
Children naturally would be drawn to Jesus. While they have a fallen nature, they are not aware of their accountability, yet. A child is more likely to choose the only option that is given to him: to know Christ. When they grow up, they will exercise their own will -- or try to. Therefore, while they are still young, point them to Christ!
THE RICH YOUNG RULER
Here is the parable of the rich young ruler again, who called Jesus good because He knew God was good. (connection?) Jesus pointed out to the young man all of the commandments that covered the relationship he had with other men, which the young man said he had met. However, what he lacked was a relationship with God. His wealth was his stumbling block, his god, and he was not willing to sacrifice it in order to serve the Lord. For someone else, his stumbling block may be something else. We all served other gods before we followed Christ. It is impossible for man to enter the kingdom of heaven by any means; but with God, only He can regenerate man.
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