Parables Of Persistent Widow, Pharisee And Publican Series

Samaria, Galilee

Luke 18:1-14

(Luke 18:1) And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.

Jesus has just finished speaking to His disciples on the subject of the last days and telling them that He would return, and that His return would come suddenly, without any warning. He said the last days, that is, the days before the Son of man returns, would be like the days of Noah that they would be difficult days—days that would not be conducive to faith. So now He talks to them about a life of faith in a world that is lacking faith. That is the reason His words are so essential to us now. We are living at a time, as He indicated, when men’s hearts are failing them due to fear. What we have in this parable is a vital passage on prayer in the times we live in. Notice that He says He spoke a parable to them for this purpose that men should always pray and not faint.

He gives two alternatives to any man who is living in difficult times. You and I will have to do one or the other. You will have to make up your mind which you are going to do. Men in difficult times will either faint or they will pray. Either there will be days of fear or days of faith.

During World War II, when the bombing was so intense on the city of London, a sign appeared in front of one of the churches in London that read, “If your knees knock together, kneel on them!” That is almost the same thing Jesus said, “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”

It is the same thought that Paul put a little differently in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” This doesn’t mean that you are going to an all-day or an all-night prayer meeting. Prayer is an attitude of the life we live. It is more of an attitude of life than an action of the lips. Remember, Paul said in his letter to the Romans, “…the Spirit Itself makes intersession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26). That is, they cannot be put into our words. And many times, we do not have the words to pray, but we are praying nonetheless. And it is the entire life that is behind the words that are spoken that makes the prayer effective.

(Luke 18:2-3) 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.

This judge was anti-God and anti-people. He did whatever he pleased, never asking himself, “What does God want me to do?” or “What do people in general approve or disapprove?” He was nothing but a hateful egotist. He is a judge without any love for justice. And as for sympathy and satisfaction for the oppressed, because in his capacity as judge, he might be able to help them, he didn’t know what symphony was. Tender feelings were completely foreign to him. This dishonest judge represented corrupted power, for he neither feared God nor sought justice for the people. The widow represented complete helplessness, for she had no money to bribe him with and no one powerful enough to intervene on her behalf.

The Scripture teaches with respect to widows, how God protects them, how He urges people to be kind to them, blessing those who bless them and punishing those who hurt them. Widows were often among the most vulnerable people in Jewish society, and apparently this one had no other family member to help plead her case. The wicked, arrogant, unjust judge was probably a Gentile official.

The judge and widow are living in the same city. This lead to a confrontation. This woman had been unjustly treated. Someone may have deprived her of the little she had, or may have prevented her from obtaining what she was rightfully entitled to. So she went to the judge hoping that he would give her back whatever she was deprived of. And she may have wanted punishment for her opponent, but the emphasis is on the urgent request of the destitute widow to get whatever she had been deprived of.

(Luke 18:4-5) 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.

He despised the woman and her cause and clearly considered her a nuisance. Evidentially the judge knew that the widow’s claim was just. But she probably was not able to bribe him and had little or no influence in the city. However, her persistence is what finally toppled him. So he said to himself, “I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.” Was he afraid, perhaps, that the widow would become so furious that she would take a swing at him and give him a black eye. Well probably not. But at any rate, the widow’s request was finally granted and she received whatever was due her.