Luke 18

Chap. XVIII. Ver. 1—14. The parables of the unjust judge, and of the Pharisee and publican.—The object of these parables, which appear to have been delivered in continuance of the preceding discourse, is stated to be, that ‘men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” which certainly does not mean that men should be always employed in exercises of devotion, but that when they feel the want of any blessing from God, they ought never to give up praying for it, (with proper submission to the divine will,) till they obtain it. And this duty is enforced by the example of a poor widow, who applied to a judge or magistrate for justice between her and one who had injured her; and who pressed her cause upon the judge with so much perseverance, that, in the issue, she obtained judgment, though he neither regarded her nor her cause.

Now, says our Lord, if this woman prevailed with such importunity, how much more shall you | mighty, who waiteth only to be gracious, and avenging, that is, in doing justice to the opp[ressed]? Is there any inconsistency in saying, that thou bears with sinners, yet will he avenge his peop[le] rather suddenly; for it is an old proverb, that _leaden foot, but an iron hand:” that is, it a[cts] ly but it strikes suddenly. So it was with the p[unishment]; the punishment was long delayed, but struck them | bolt when it came, and no one saw it coming no faith in the many warnings which ou[received]. This seems to be the import of his question: of man cometh, shall he find faith upon th[e earth]?

The next parable represents the opposite | haughty Pharisee and a penitent publican, in the former, and to justify our Lord’s attention. The Pharisee stood by himself, careful to rece[ive] nation from any publican or sinner that He began his prayer with an affectati[on to] God that he was not like other men, an[dy] can which he saw before him; and he « ing of his abstinence and charity. ‘ assertion is in direct opposition to the sect by oyr Lord, (Matthew 23:14), and

Notes on the verses

Chap. XVIII. Ver. 3. Avenge me.—Doddridge, ‘Do me justice;” who adds, ‘‘ this is the undoubted import of the phrase.” Ver. 5. Lest…… en weary me.—The original term (by its derivation) implies, as Doddridge remarks, a blow which stuns a person, and knocks them down; i. e. ‘ lest she beats me down by her importunity.”” So Macknight. Ver. 8. Speedily.—Campbell, ‘* Suddenly.”: Ver. 14. This man went down—i. e. from the temple eas rather than the other.—Campbell, ‘* more approved than the ot er.” Ver. 15. That he would touch them.—Matthew says, “that he should put his hands on them and pray.” ‘ 4 Ver. 25. A camel.—[Some would render cable; but it may justly be doubted whether Kamelos ever have this sense; the word for a cable as the Scholiast on Aristophanes expressly affirms, being written Kamilos. This is the reading of a few MSS. but it evidently appears to be a gloss. It was a common mi[stake] of expression among the Jews. Hence Rabbi Shesheth said to Rabbi Amram,