SERMON OUTLINE:
The Widow in the story:
(1) She had an opponent.
(2) She couldn’t solve her own problem.
(3) She was persistent.
(4) She had a genuine need.
(5) She got what she wanted.
The judge in the story:
(1) He didn’t fear God.
(2) He didn’t respect man.
(3) He was unrighteous.
(4) He didn’t care about the widow.
(5) He was unwilling to help at first.
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• When a night club opened on the main street of a small American town;
• The local Church held an all-night prayer meeting.
• One member asked God to burn it down.
• Within a few moments, lightning struck the club and it was burnt to the ground.
• The owner sued the church,
• While the Church denied all responsibility.
• In court the judge said, “It seems that wherever the guilt may lie;
• The night club owner believes in the power of prayer, while the church does not!”
In our passage today, we have story about a woman who prayed:
• I like the story of the mum,
• Who had been teaching her three-year old daughter, the Lord's Prayer.
• Night after night mum would say the prayer line by line,
• And the little girl would repeat it, lines by line,
• Finally, the little girl decided to go solo.
• So, it was eyes shut tight and hands clasped together and off she went.
• Mum listened with pride as she carefully spoke each word,
• Right up to the end of the prayer,
• After saying the words; "Lead us not into temptation,"
• She prayed, "but deliver us some E-mail. Amen."
• TRANSITION: In our passage today, we have story about a woman who prayed,
• And this woman is very much centre stage in this short parable.
Ill:
• ‘Para’ is not an English word, but a Greek word;
• Instead of translating it we have transliterated into the English language.
• ‘Para’ before any word always means, ‘alongside’
• e.g. Parachute is a chute alongside.
• e.g. Parallel lines are one line alongside another.
• e.g. Para-Olympics is a one event alongside another.
• TRANSITION: A parable is one everyday story;
• But alongside it there is a deeper spiritual meaning waiting to be discovered.
Note:
• Verse 1b, clearly tells us clearly the point of this parable:
• “You should always pray and not give up”
• Therefore, anything else in the parable may or may not be important,
• But this fact is all-important!
• “You should always pray and not give up”
Ill:
• Derek Redmond Finishes the Race. A Video about Determination and Love
• Derek Redmond was favoured to medal in the 400m sprint at the 1992 Olympics.
• When he tore a hamstring halfway through the race his dream died.
• But his determination to finish the race, with his father by his side,
• Became the defining moment of the Games.
• TRANSITION: A beautiful story of perseverance and a father’s loving heart.
• Download video Clip: https://vimeo.com/25249737
• TRANSITION: That is what Jesus is teaching his disciples regarding prayer;
• Never give in, never give up, keep on keeping on!
• Jesus said:
• (N.I.V.): "Pray and not give up"
• N.A.S.B.: "Pray and not lose heart,"
• K..JV.: "Pray, and not faint."
• T.L.B.: “Keep praying until the answer comes.”
• Jesus gives his disciples an inescapable choice:
• We must either pray or give up, one or the other.
• There are no other alternatives.
• We ‘pray’ – that is depend on God for daily help and strength,
• Or we ‘give up’ – that is we live life in our own strength and by our own wisdom.
• There are no other alternatives!
THE STORY OF A DEMANDING WIDOW.
• In New Testament days;
• Widows usually had a difficult time making ends meet.
• There was of course no pension schemes and no state benefits;
• A widow without children had to literally survive day-by-day;
• It was a hard existence!
Ill:
• According to the charity: Women For Women International;
• There are 245 million widows around the world,
• 115 million of whom live in poverty and neglect.
• Widows are regularly ignored by government and NGO programs,
• Unaccounted for in statistics and thus invisible.
• Without economic opportunities or prospects for livelihood,
• Younger widows are often forced to beg or engage in sex work.
• Their children are often taken out of school and subjected to child labour,
• And not given opportunities for education, thus perpetuating the cycle of poverty.
• Women For Women International website:
• https://www.womenforwomen.org/blogs/nearly-50-widows-live-poverty-we-can-change
• TRANSITION: In New Testament days;
• Widows found that life was one long difficult existence!
• Now for this widow life was to get even tougher…
(1). She had an Opponent (vs 3b).
“Grant me justice against my adversary.”
• This widow had someone who was trying to take advantage of her.
• An opponent, an adversary, a troublemaker,
• It’s likely someone was trying to cheat her out of the family property or land.
Ill:
• According to those in the know;
• If the widows deceased husband had no children,
• The estate reverted to her husband's male relatives on his father's side - his brothers,
• The widow was expected to marry one of the brothers.
• If the deceased had no brothers, then the land went to the nearest family kinsman.
• If the widow had grown up children, then things would be easier for her;
• Because they would take care of Mom.
• But a widow with small children was very vulnerable.
• She could contend for property rights with her in-laws,
• But if they didn't like her, or were opportunists, then things could be difficult.
• In some cases, a widow was allowed to manage the estate as a trustee;
• Looking after it, until her own sons became old enough to claim it.
• But that was by no means a sure thing.
• Sadly, in Bible times, because women had few legal rights.
• And a widow without and sons to stand up for her,
• Was in danger of losing everything.
Note: As you read the parable remember this is set in an Eastern context;
• For example, the Courtroom was not a fine historic building;
• But a tent that was moved from place to place, village to village, town to town,
• As the judge moved around his prearranged circuit.
It was the judge who was important, not those who came to seek his help:
• The Judge set the agenda;
• The Judge decided what cases he would consider.
• The judge would sit in his tent surrounded by his assistants.
• And although anybody could watch the proceedings from the outside,
• Only those who were approved and accepted could have their cases tried.
• So, it was not uncommon for people to bribe one of the judge’s assistants;
• So that he would call the judges attention to a particular case.
• ill: We have seen similar cases among politicians;
• Certain politicians who have taken a cash bribe,
• To raise particular questions in Parliament!
(2) She couldn’t solve her own problem (vs 3)
“And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, “Grant me justice against my adversary.””
• For this widow to get her case heard by the judge;
• She would have to overcome 4 obstacles:
OBSTACLE #1: SHE WAS A FEMALE;
• That may sound obvious, but it is important for me to emphasise it.
• Because, in this culture at this time in history, she had little standing before the Law.
• As far as the law of the land was concerned in New Testament times;
• Women were not allowed to testify in court as witnesses.
• This grouped them with Gentiles, children & teen-agers, and “undesirables”
OBSTACLE #2: SHE WAS A WIDOW.
• A Jewish widow was someone who lost her husband after her 60th birthday.
• If she were younger, Hebrew law expected her to remarry,
• It’s believed that there were very few widows in the land of Israel.
• Once again this is an important part of the scenario;
• It meant that as a widow she had no husband to stand with her in court.
• And it would appear no sons.
• The Law should have protected her (Moses gave conditions regarding widows);
• But her culture & customs overlooked those laws and made her situation very difficult.
OBSTACLE #3: SHE WAS POOR.
• Question: How do we know she was poor;
• Answer: Is in the fact that she could not pay a bribe to the judge’s assistants;
• For them to bring her case to the attention of the judge.
• Quote: “She was between a rock and a hard place”
OBSTACLE #4: SHE FACED A HARD-HEARTED JUDGE.
“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.”
• Notice how Jesus described the judge in verse 2:
• We are told up front that this judge does not care about God or about people.
• He is moved neither by fear of God nor by compassion towards others.
• In other words, he is cold, hard-hearted,
• The sort of judge you want to avoid!
So, to say this widow couldn’t solve her own problem is an understatement:
• Her opponent could use his money and his influence to win his case,
• This widow had nothing in her favour only the law,
• But if she could not get her case heard before the judge,
• Then, the law was useless!
(3). She was persistent (vs 3&5).
• Quote: C. H. Spurgeon
• “By perseverance the snail reached the ark!”
• This widow was persistent:
• Verse 3: “A widow that kept coming to him…”
• Again verse 5 says; “Because this widow keeps bothering me”.
The word translated “bothering” literally means to “poke in the eye.”
• It is very much like our expression, “In your face”
• This judge was upset because this widow was ‘constantly in his face.’
• The widow kept coming day after day, in fact every day;
• And the more the judge refused to listen to her, the more she showed up!
Ill:
• She was like an annoying fly that no matter how many windows you leave open,
• Refuses to exit and go away.
• Note it is ONLY this constant begging and nagging;
• That will make the impact and cause the judge to listen to her case and rule in her favour.
(4). She had a genuine need (vs 3).
“Grant me justice against my adversary”.
• This woman was not making up claims and hoping to get something for free!
• Her need was genuine.
Ill:
• We seem to be bomb-barded on the TV with adverts for lawyers,
• If your case isn't successful,
• Then you don't have to worry as all claims are ‘No Win No Fee!’
• As a result, fake accidents and injuries claims are abounding.
• The worst part is perpetrators are becoming more creative at pulling off these scams.
• Some stage accidents, such as, suddenly hitting the brakes,
• In hopes of the vehicle following behind will collide with their bumper,
• And the driver hit from behind can then fake his or her injuries.
• It is a scam; a fraud and it is wrong!
• TRANSITION: Note:
• This woman was not making up claims and hoping to get something for free!
• Her need was genuine.
(5). She got what she wanted (vs 4-5).
“‘For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, “Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!”’”
Ill:
• Years ago, on one sf Camps we had a helper called Richard Wiggins (Wiggsy).
• Nice guy, but not always the brightest.
• He decided to cover his suitcase,
• With, the sticky labels you find on a packet of tick-tack sweets.
• He did this put his suitcase in the luggage compartment, the coach,
• When we arrived at our destination the cases were all unloaded,
• And Wiggsy’s stickers had peeled off and were all over every piece of luggage!
• Someone has said:
• Be like a postage stamps have one attribute that most of us could emulate:
• They stick to one thing until they get there.
• TRANSITION: Not just true regarding postage stamps,
• But true for this widow,
• Whose perseverance reaped a reward.
The judge in the story:
• Note: That God is not like that crooked judge!
• So, make sure you grab hold of that truth straight away.
• Note: Parables sometimes contain comparisons,
• But they also contain contrasts as well.
• That is what Jesus does in this story.
• Jesus used the unjust judge as the antithesis…
• As someone who is the direct opposite of what God is like.
• According to verse 2 the judge was totally uncaring, cold and indifferent,
• Whereas Jesus teaches again and again that God is caring,
• God is warm and God is concerned about widows and those on the fringe of society.
AS YOU READ THE STORY THEN IT IS VERY CLEAR THIS JUDGE IS THE OPPOSITE OF GOD:
• The judge didn’t fear God (v 2&4)
• The fear of God would have prompted this judge to help a needy widow.
• If he believed that one day God will call him to account for how he treated her,
• Then you can be sure that he would have treated her well!
• The judge didn’t respect man (v 2&4)
• The thought here is the widow was unknown to him, and so he had no interest in her.
• If she had been his own mother, he would help her.
• But she was just a nobody!
• The judge was unjust (v 6)
• He was unfair to people when it suited him.
• As in the case of this widow who was an inconvenience to him.
• The judge didn’t care about the widow (v 3-4)
• He wanted the bigger more important cases to judge,
• And could not be bothered with trivial things like this widow.
• The judge was unwilling to help at first (v 4)
• When he heard the case, his first thought was, “Next!”
• And would have gladly carried on with other issues if he had been allowed to.
Note:
• This wasn't a real widow, of course,
• This wasn't a real judge,
• But Jesus' hearers had met widows like her and had experience with judges like him.
• All over the audience you could see people nodding their heads.
• They'd met people like that. The story was true-to-life.
• The principle here is pray and do not give up;
• Here is the point:
• If this nobody, this poor widow without social influence and without financial standing,
• Is able to get an uncaring judge to answer her request;
• By the simple act of obstinate perseverance.
• Then how much more should we expect the honest righteous judge (God);
• Who does care about people,
• Surely, he will answer the plea of his children’s dogged request.
ENJOY VERSE 7:
“And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?”
• Don’t rush past that little expression, “Chosen ones”
• Other translations use the term, “Elect”
• It is a reminder that you do not follow Jesus because you first chose Him,
• Long before that, long before you were born or any of your relatives were born,
• The Bible says, God chose you! (Ephesians chapter 1 verse 4)
• “He chose us in him [Christ] before the foundation of the world”
• Don’t ask me to explain it because I can’t!
• Just enjoy the fact of it!
Ill:
• I like the story of the old country bumpkin,
• Who explained the doctrine of election this way to his family,
“God votes for you, the devil votes against you, and wherever you cast your vote, you’re elected 2-1!
• TRANSITION: That might not be great theology,
• But it makes a point,
• We are God’s, ‘chosen ones.’
• Then how much more should we expect the honest righteous judge (God);
• Who does care about people,
• ‘Our Father. Who reigns in the heaven’
• Surely, he will answer the ‘honest’ plea of his children’s persistent request?
In Conclusion:
• Jesus concludes this parable with a question (vs 8)
• “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"
• The meaning in this question is:
• "Will the Son of man find that his followers have kept praying,
• Or have lost heart and given up?"
The implication in this question of Jesus is:
• Prayer and faith stand and fall together.
• If we lose heart and drift away from prayer,
• Then the Son of man will not find faith in us when he comes.
• Question: Why does Jesus want us to be persistent in prayer?
• Answer: Because prayer demonstrates faith,
• True faith is really what Jesus is after.
• With faith, prayer is a powerful force!
• Without faith, prayer becomes little more than a ritual that we perform;
Quote:
“A few snowflakes falling on your face will make it wet;
A few thousand snowflakes can bring the traffic of a busy motorway to a stand-still.”
• Jesus has told a parable of persistence, of a widow;
• Someone who was weak in the world's valuation,
• But she won a victory because she didn't give up hope,
• She doesn't give up on her desire for justice, and finally she wins the day.
Question: But what about you and me?
Answer:
• We sometimes life wears us down and we can become discouraged,
• When that happens, we can stop praying, stop hoping,
• Stop expecting God to intervene and make a difference!
• We can still be religious, church-going people,
• But people who have given up expecting an answer to our prayers,
• We pray but if we are honest, we are just going through the motions!
Remember again the question Jesus asked (vs 8):
• "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
• Jesus told this story not to shame us but to encourage us,
• Not to load us up with guilt but rather to reassure us that God is on our side!
• None of us here this morning is weaker than this widow.
• None of us is facing longer odds than she experienced.
• Yet, because of her persistence and faith,
• Even the unjust judge gave her what was hers by right.
• How much more can we as Christians, expect God to intervene on your behalf!
• How much more will God bring justice to you,
• Since you and I are his treasured, chosen child!
• Yes, we become discouraged.
• But we must not quit, we must not give up praying.
Quote: Ray Kroc, the late founder of McDonalds:
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence” he once said. “Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with great talent. Genius will not. Un-rewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not. The world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence, determination and love are omnipotent.”
Ill:
• The story is told that Winston Churchill was invited to give a speech;
• So, on October 29, 1941,
• He returned to Harrow School to speak to the teachers and pupils.
• Many of Churchill's speeches were memorable,
• And this speech is most remembered for the lines that start,
"...never give in, never give in, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense."
• TRANSITION: That is what Jesus is teaching his disciples regarding prayer;
• Never give in, never give up, keep on praying!
• Jesus said:
• (N.I.V.): "Pray and not give up"
• N.A.S.B.: "Pray and not lose heart,"
• K..JV.: "Pray, and not faint."
• T.L.B.: “Keep praying until the answer comes.”
• Jesus gives his disciples an inescapable choice:
• We must either pray or give up, one or the other.
• There are no other alternatives.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=1i5QnvmAQzqtTm9djoXEj26JMuQigKkK
