And all the people - gave: praise unto God - They saw the finger of God in what was done; and they gave him that praise which was due to his name. The Pharisees either saw not, or would not acknowledge this. The common people are often better judges of the work of God than the doctors themselves. They are more simple, are not puffed up with the pride of learning, and are less liable to be warped by prejudice or self-interest. Happy are those spiritually blind persons, to whom Christ has given eyes, that they may know him: feet, that they may follow him: a tongue, that they may praise him: and a heart, that they may love him! A true conversion, which no way contradicts itself, but is followed by an edifying life, makes known the majesty and power of God in a more eminent manner than the greatest external miracles. Quesnel.

For a practical use of the principal subjects in this chapter, see the parallel places in Matthew and Mark. How shall I be justified? is a most important question, which the parable of the Pharisee and the publican most distinctly answers. A deep consciousness of sin, humiliation of heart, and taking refuge by faith in the great atonement, is the way, and the only way. Even the worst transgressors, coming thus to God, are accepted. Blessed news for penitent sinners! - for though they cannot boast of a righteousness equal to that of the scribes and Pharisees, yet they find they can, coming as the publican, be justified freely, through the blood of the cross, from all things, from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses. If this be so, how shall they escape who neglect so Great a Salvation!

he.

Psalm 30:2 O LORD my God, I cried to you, and you have healed me.

Psalm 146:8 The LORD opens the eyes of the blind: the LORD raises them that are bowed down: the LORD loves the righteous:

Isaiah 29:18,19 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness...

Isaiah 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Isaiah 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known...

Isaiah 43:8 Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.

Matthew 9:28-30 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus said to them, Believe you that I am able to do this...

Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up...

Matthew 21:14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.

John 9:5-7,39,40 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world...

Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God...

followed.

Luke 4:39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered to them.

Luke 5:26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

Luke 17:15-18 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God...

Psalm 103:1-3 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name...

Psalm 107:8,15,21,22,31,32 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!...

Isaiah 43:7,8 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yes, I have made him...

Isaiah 43:21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise.

Acts 4:21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people...

Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying...

Galatians 1:24 And they glorified God in me.

2 Thessalonians 1:10-12 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints...

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people...

July 14. "Men Ought Always to Pray" (Luke xviii. 1).
"Men ought always to pray" (Luke xviii. 1). Let this be a day of prayer. Let us see that our highest ministry and power is to deal with God for men. Let us be obedient to all the Holy Spirit's voices of prayer in us. Let us count every pressure a call to prayer. Let us cherish the spirit of unceasing prayer and abiding communion. Let us learn the meaning of the ministry of prayer. Let us reach persons this day we cannot reach in person; let us expect results that we have never dared to claim before; …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Charity of God
(Quinquagesima Sunday.) LUKE xviii. 31, 32, 33. 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. This is a solemn text, a solemn Gospel; but it is not its solemnity which I wish to speak of this morning, but this--What has it to do with the Epistle, and with …
Charles Kingsley—The Good News of God

Tit. 2:06 Thoughts for Young Men
WHEN St. Paul wrote his Epistle to Titus about his duty as a minister, he mentioned young men as a class requiring peculiar attention. After speaking of aged men and aged women, and young women, he adds this pithy advice, "Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded" (Tit. 2:6). I am going to follow the Apostle's advice. I propose to offer a few words of friendly exhortation to young men. I am growing old myself, but there are few things I remember so well as the days of my youth. I have a most …
John Charles Ryle—The Upper Room: Being a Few Truths for the Times