Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

Luke

Luke 
Day 
Day 220

Luke 18:1-14 "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER"

Day 220 – Luke 18

Text: Luke 18:1-14

HINDRANCES TO PRAYER

Prayer is such a privilege! Prayer is that means of grace given by God to all who truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. The Apostle Paul had this to say about the privilege that we have when we have faith in Christ.

“Therefore, having been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom also we have ACCESS by faith
into this grace in which we stand,
and rejoice in hope in the glory of God.”
Romans 5:1-2

We have been justified (that is, “declared righteous”) by God because of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We have peace with God. We have access to Him by faith. We stand in this privilege, this grace, and we may indeed rejoice in hope in the glory of God! Yet, it appears that so few know how to exercise their faith in God. Hence the Lord Jesus queried, “Will He really find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8). The lack of faith is an obvious hindrance to prayer!

Another obvious hindrance to prayer is the problem of self-righteousness. Luke records this problem addressed by the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves
that they were righteous, and despised others…”
Luke 18: 9

This problem of self-righteousness was not a new problem. It was a problem that could be traced back to the days of the ancient prophets. Let’s take a look at this problem in the days of Isaiah the prophet. As Isaiah came to a close to his writing, he reviewed the state of Israel. The sins of Israel were many, but the people were not repentant in the slightest. One of the problems that contributed to this problem was their perception of themselves.

“Who say, ‘Keep to yourself,
Do not come near me,
For I am holier than you…’ “
Isaiah 65:5

Even though the Lord had warned Israel that their sins would see them ruined, nevertheless the people rejected the words of warning. They kept themselves aloof from others. They believed that they were actually holier than others! This problem was one that Jesus also had to address forthrightly!

Self-righteousness was a particular and well-known problem with the Pharisees, and hence Jesus featured them in a striking parable that He told the crowds. Self-righteousness, a reflection of the way we regard ourselves is a very real hindrance to prayer.

THE PARABLE OF THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX COLLECTOR

The parable that Jesus told was rather pointed. It may even have sounded offensive to the Pharisees, because they were directly mentioned. This was a “new” way of telling a parable. Other parables did not feature direct references to specific groups. This parable was therefore quite different! However, Jesus did not exaggerate and thus He could not be found guilty of stating things that were untrue.

If there were Pharisees around when they heard this parable, they could either become angry or they could repent from their self-righteousness. The most important thing to bear in mind is the fact that Jesus was merely stating well-known facts.

If however there were tax-collectors in the vicinity, then their hearts could be greatly encouraged indeed. Matthew the former tax-collector would be one person who must have loved this special parable Jesus told. He was not embarrassed that Jesus described the tax collector the way he did. Those who were spiritually-sensitive knew and acknowledged the fact that they were truly sinful in the sight of God.

THE SIN OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS

The sin of self-righteousness is well described. Let us take a look at the way Jesus described the self-righteous Pharisee.

“God, I thank You that I am not like other men –
extortioners, unjust, adulterers,
or even as this tax collector.
I fast twice a week;
I give tithes of all I possess…”
Luke 18:11-12

The problem is not the lifestyle that the Pharisee had described as his own. His lifestyle may indeed be described as commendable. He could not be faulted for the way he sought to live. The problem was that he became proud of himself. He saw himself as holier than others. He despised others when they failed to live in a respectable manner! Self-righteousness is actually impossible. The Pharisee was not at all conscious of any sin in his life!

The prophet Isaiah was correct when he offered this prayer to the Lord. He was a man of God who walked very closely with God in his life. He confessed the problem of sin in these words,

“You are indeed angry, for we have sinned –
In these ways we continue; and we need to be saved.
But we are all like an unclean thing,
And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags…”
Isaiah 64:5,6

Self-righteousness was the undoing of the Pharisee and not his life-style. Self-righteousness is a false perception of self. It offends a Holy God.