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Sunday School Special : Lesson 22

Text: Luke 18
23 August 2020

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 23 AUGUST 2020

Text: Luke 18

Subject: Parables about Prayer

ANOTHER SET OF DOUBLE PARABLES

1. The Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8)

2. The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14)

TEACHING ABOUT PRAYER

1. Prayer

a) A privilege
b) A means of communion with God
i) Praise
ii) Petition
iii) Probe
c) It is a spiritual discipline
Few have cultivated it well
d) Man ought always to pray and not to lose heart (Luke 18:1)

2. Problems encountered

a) On the one hand
i) We lose heart too easily
ii) We despair
iii) We do not pray as we ought
iv) Faith is lacking
v) Our relationship with God is also wanting
b) On the other hand
i) We become self-righteous
ii) We take pride in ourselves
iii) We despise others

FEATURES OF THE PARABLE OF THE PERSISTENT WIDOW

1. The Judge of a city

a) He did not fear God
b) He did not regard man (Luke 18:2)

2. The Widow

a) She came to the judge
b) She sought justice from her adversary (Luke 18:3)

3. The Judge 

a) He did not attend to her request
b) Not for a while
c) He said to himself
i) I do not fear God
ii) I do not regard man
iii) This widow troubles me
iv) Her continual coming will weary me
v) I will avenge her (Luke 18:4-5)

TEACHING POINTS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

1. Hear what the unjust Judge said

a) He will respond
b) Lest he is worn out by the persistent widow

2. In direct contrast to the Unjust Judge

a) Shall God not avenge His own elect
b) His elect cry out to Him day and night (Luke 18:7)
c) Assurance
i) God will avenge them speedilyLuke 18:8a
ii) Because they are God’s elect

3. The poignant question

“When the Son of Man comes
Will He really find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8b

4. The Lord’s concern

a) General prayerlessness was found
b) The lack of a strong faith was widespread
c) The lack of a vibrant relationship with God was sadly all too real

FEATURES OF THE PARABLE OF THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX COLLECTOR

1. The Pharisee (Luke 18:10-12)

a) He stood and prayed
b) Contents of his prayer to God
i) God, I thank You that I am not like other men
ii) Extortioners, unjust, adulterers
iii) Or even as this tax collector
iv) I fast twice a week
v) I give tithes of all that I possess

2. The Tax Collector (Luke 18:13)

a) Standing afar off
b) He would not raise his eyes to heaven
c) He beats his breast 
d) He said
“God, be merciful to me a sinner!”

TEACHING POINTS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST (Luke 18:14)

1. I tell you

a) This man (the tax collector)
b) He went down to his house justified rather than the other

2. Principle: Exaltation of self

“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled”

3. Principle: Humbling of self

“And he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

SUMMARY OF LESSONS ON PRAYER

1. Man ought always to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1)

2. Will the Lord find faith? (Luke 18:8b)

3. He who humbles himself will be exalted (Luke 18:14)