Luke 18

v1-8: God's people are praying people.  We are to "communicate with him both continually and on particular occasions... both according to discipline and in emergencies," and we must never become tired of praying.  This parable teaches us to persevere in prayer for both ourselves and for the church.

v9-14: We can be sure that if we pray, like this tax collector, through Jesus Christ, "God, be merciful to me a sinner";  if we acknowledge that we are sinners "by nature and by practice, and guilty before God" and depend "on nothing except the mercy of God," God will forgive our sin and be reconciled to us.

v15-17: "Children are so welcome to Christ that those adults who have within them the clearest disposition and attitude of children are the most welcome to him."

v18-30: If this rich young ruler really knew what it meant to keep the law and what he was truly like, he would have said the complete opposite to what he did, "All these have I broken from my youth up, in thought, word, and deed."

v31-34: Christ's sufferings and death fulfil the Scriptures.  They are proof that the Scriptures are God's Word, because what they foretold about the Messiah, were fulfilled in Him.

v35-43: Here we have a "picture of the human race that Christ came to heal and save... they are both poor and blind." Those who turn to Christ and cry out for mercy, will find Him to be a merciful king who will have mercy on them.