Luke 18

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,

Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:

And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.

And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,

Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

What does Luke 18:28 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 18:28 appears in a conversation between Jesus and the apostle Peter.

It follows the story of the rich young ruler who was unwilling to give up his possessions to follow Jesus (Luke 18:18-27).

In this context, Peter is essentially contrasting the group of disciples with the rich young ruler, pointing out that they have left everything to follow Jesus.

Literally, Peter is highlighting the sacrifices that he and the other disciples have made for the sake of the Gospel.

At a deeper level, this verse touches upon the theme of sacrificial discipleship and the choices involved in committing one's life to Jesus.

It brings to the fore the question of what true commitment looks like and the personal cost that sometimes comes with following Christ.

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Historical Context

Luke 18:28 was written by Luke, who is believed to have been a companion of Paul the Apostle. The Gospel of Luke is thought to have been written around AD 60-80.

This verse is set in the context of Jesus' itinerant ministry in Judea and the surrounding regions.

At that time, following a religious teacher meant literally leaving one's family, job, and possessions to learn from and support the rabbi.

For the disciples, following Jesus would have entailed significant personal and economic sacrifices.

Additionally, such commitment could lead to being ostracized from the traditional Jewish religious communities.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Luke 18:28 underscores the concept of complete surrender to God's will.

This verse illustrates the Christian belief in the value of giving up earthly attachments for the sake of eternal rewards.

The verse is also related to the theme of discipleship and the cost involved in choosing to follow Jesus.

Different theological viewpoints might emphasize various aspects of this verse:

Protestant Perspective: This could be seen as affirming the need for personal sacrifice in discipleship, where faith is demonstrated by actions.
Catholic Perspective: The verse may be understood in the context of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, espoused particularly by religious orders.
Orthodox Perspective: Similar to Catholicism, there might be an emphasis on the ascetic dimension of Christian life, where giving up material possessions is a part of spiritual growth.

Practical Applications

Practically, this verse challenges individuals to consider what they may need to surrender in order to follow Jesus more fully. This could involve material sacrifices, but it might also mean giving up comfort, status, or personal ambitions.

The verse encourages believers to trust that whatever they give up for the sake of the Gospel, they will be rewarded by God in this life and the next (as Jesus goes on to explain in Luke 18:29-30).

It is also a reminder to prioritize spiritual commitments over worldly attachments.

Cross-References

Matthew 19:27 - "Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?"
Mark 10:28 - "Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee."
Luke 9:23 - "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."
Luke 18:22-23 - "Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me."
Matthew 16:24 - "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

Language Study

In the original Greek, the word for "left" used in this verse is ἀφίημι (aphiēmi), which can mean to send away, to let go, to disregard, or to leave behind.

It is a strong verb that conveys the idea of abandoning or giving up something.

The Greek word for "all" is πάντα (panta), denoting the totality of what was left behind. This gives a sense of the complete sacrifice the disciples made.

The words emphasize the totality and decisiveness of the disciples' actions to follow Jesus.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the cultural context of ancient Judaism and Greco-Roman society, leaving one's family and livelihood was significant, as family and social status were central to identity.

Comparatively, in other ancient myths, followers often leave behind much to be with a deity or hero, signifying loyalty and devotion.

Regarding religious interpretations, Buddhism also places an emphasis on renunciation, where leaving worldly attachments is a central practice for monks.

Hinduism also has the concept of sannyasa, where one renounces worldly and material desires to achieve spiritual liberation.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, modern psychology might examine the implications of leaving everything to follow a leader as a significant life change with potential stress and adaptation requirements.

Neuroscience could study brain changes due to shifts in lifestyle and values as one moves from materialism towards spiritual pursuits.

Additionally, social sciences might look at the impact of such a decision on an individual's social networks and support systems.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators have offered various interpretations of Luke 18:28.

William Barclay notes the contrast between the rich ruler who could not give up his wealth and the disciples' willingness to forsake all.

John Calvin comments on the disciples' renunciation as evidence of their faith and regeneration.

Matthew Henry sees Peter's declaration as arising from a mixture of self-satisfaction and desire for assurance of their reward.

Interpretations of this verse focus on themes such as sacrifice, the cost of discipleship, and the promise of eternal life, highlighting the complexity and depth of this brief but significant exchange between Jesus and Peter.

Luke 18

Luke 18

What does Luke 18:28 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 18:28 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?