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 18:42 mean?

Explanation

"Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee" (Luke 18:42 KJV) is a statement made by Jesus Christ in response to a miracle he performed on a blind man.

In this verse, Jesus acknowledges the man’s faith as the catalyst for his healing. The literal meaning of the verse is clear: Jesus restores the man’s sight in response to his belief.

However, there is a deeper spiritual implication in that Jesus attributes the man's cure not simply to divine power, but to the man's personal faith. This interaction highlights the importance of faith in the process of healing and salvation within Christian theology.

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Historical Context

The event narrated in Luke 18:42 took place during Jesus’ ministry in ancient Judea.

The passage forms part of the travel narrative where Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, encountering various people in need.

During this time, disabilities like blindness were common and those suffering from such ailments were often marginalized in society.

Miraculous healings were also seen as a sign of divine favor and messianic activity, aligning with Jewish expectations of God's intervention in the world through the promised Messiah.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse has been interpreted from various perspectives:

Protestant theologians might emphasize 'sola fide', or faith alone, as the mechanism of salvation, pointing out that the man's faith was key, not any work or merit on his part.
Catholic interpretations might stress the importance of verbal confession and act of faith as part of the healing process, highlighting personal interaction and the instigating of Jesus' mercy.
Orthodox Christians may discern a sacramental tone in the physical healing that points to spiritual realities, with physical sight representing enlightenment and the ability to see divine truth.

All interpretations, however, agree on the centrality of faith in relation to Jesus' healing ministry and the spiritual salvation He offers.

Practical Applications

The verse underscores faith as a vital component of one's spiritual journey.

In practical terms, believers are encouraged to trust in Jesus for both physical and spiritual needs.

It also provides comfort for those seeking divine intervention, reinforcing that trust in Jesus can lead to remarkable transformations in one's life.

Additionally, it calls Christians to be compassionate and responsive to those in need, just as Jesus was.

Cross-References

Mark 10:52 - "And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.

And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way."

Matthew 9:29 - "Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you."
Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of Luke 18:42 include:

"Receive" (ἀνάβλεψον) which implies not just the act of gaining sight but an upward or restored vision.
"Thy faith" (ἡ πίστις σου) connotes possession and the personal nature of this faith, not faith in a general sense but the blind man's own belief.
"Hath saved thee" (σέσωκέν σε) speaks not only to physical healing but also to salvation, with the Greek root 'sōzō' often used in the New Testament to denote spiritual or eternal salvation.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient cultures, miraculous healings were often credited to various gods and supernatural forces. In Greco-Roman mythology, Asclepius was known for his healing powers. The Jewish tradition also includes stories of prophets performing miracles.

However, in Christian interpretation, Jesus' miracles are unique in that they signify the in-breaking of God's kingdom and the messianic age, and they are intrinsically linked to faith.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific point of view, the healing of blindness as described would be considered miraculous, as there are no documented instances of instantaneous recovery of sight without medical intervention.

This event transcends the laws of nature as understood by current medical science.

Nonetheless, studies in psychosomatic medicine suggest that mental states, such as faith, can have significant effects on physical well-being, albeit not to the instantaneous extent described in Luke 18:42.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and theologians provide insight into this verse:

John Calvin sees it as evidence of the necessity and power of faith for salvation.
Matthew Henry believes this healing signifies Christ's willingness to hear and respond to genuine faith.
The Pulpit Commentary discusses the public profession of faith represented here, pointing out the lesson that faith should be openly declared.
William Barclay emphasizes the beauty of Jesus' caring response to a man who had been socially invisible due to his disability, and how faith in Christ can restore individuals to full community life.

Luke 18

Luke 18

What does Luke 18:42 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 18:42 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?