The Parable Of The Persistent Widow Series

Scripture

I read a story when I was a student at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago, IL. You will be appalled by the story I am about to relate to you. Appalled, that is, if you have any kind of social conscience.

A poor black, living on Chicago’s South Side, sought to have her apartment properly heated during the frigid winter months. Despite city law on the matter, her unscrupulous landlord refused. The woman was a widow, desperately poor, and ignorant of the legal system; but she took her case to court on her own behalf. Justice, she declared, ought to be done. It was her ill fortune, however, to appear repeatedly before the same judge who, as it turned out, was an atheist and a bigot. The only principle by which he lived was, as he put it, that “blacks should be kept in their place.” The possibilities of a ruling favorable to the widow were, therefore, bleak. They became even bleaker as she realized she lacked the indispensable ingredient necessary for favorable rulings in cases like these – namely, a satisfactory bribe. Nevertheless, she persisted.

At first, the judge did not so much as even look up from reading the novel on his lap before dismissing her. But then he began to notice her. Just another black, he thought, stupid enough to think she could get justice. Then her persistence made him self-conscious. This turned to guilt and anger. Finally, raging and embarrassed, he granted her petition and enforced the law. Here was a massive victory over “the system” – at least as it functioned in his corrupted courtroom.

In telling you this story I have not, of course, been quite honest. For this never really happened in Chicago (at least, as far as I know!), nor is it even my “story.” It is a story I have borrowed from David F. Wells , who in turn borrowed it from Jesus in a parable he told in Luke 18:1-8 to illustrate persevering in prayer.

Let’s read the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8:

1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:1-8)

Introduction

Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. He was most likely in the final few weeks of his life before his crucifixion. While traveling to Jerusalem Jesus taught many important truths that he wanted his disciples to understand and apply to their lives.

The context of the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8) is the previous pericope, which we studied last time. The previous pericope had Jesus answering the Pharisees’ question about when the kingdom of God would come (17:20). Jesus told them that the kingdom of God was in their midst (17:21). He was the king and his presence indicated that the kingdom of God was “now” here. He is the king, and he rules and reigns in the hearts and lives of his disciples spiritually.

Then Jesus immediately went on to tell his disciples that the kingdom of God was “not yet” here (17:22-37). By that he meant that the establishment of his kingdom physically would only take place when he returned again. Jesus’ second coming would consummate his kingdom on earth.

But what should Jesus’ disciples do until he comes back again? That was the reason for the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8. Norval Geldenhuys elaborates:

In 17:20-37 the Savior emphasized the fact that no one will be able to determine in advance the time of His second coming. He now teaches in this parable that when His coming is apparently slow in taking place believers are not to become discouraged, but should persist in prayer, knowing that He will indeed come at the right time and will answer their supplication by destroying the powers of evil and by causing His chosen ones to triumph. The parable has, however, also a more general meaning, namely, that the faithful should persevere in prayer with regard to all other matters when the answer is not immediately granted.