The Parable Of The Persistent Widow Series

Lesson

The parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8 teaches us about persevering in prayer.

Let’s use the following outline:

1. The Duty Regarding Persevering in Prayer (18:1)

2. The Illustration for Persevering in Prayer (18:2-5)

3. The Lesson on Persevering in Prayer (18:6-8a)

4. The Question about Persevering in Prayer (18:8b)

I. The Duty Regarding Persevering in Prayer (18:1)

First, look at the duty regarding persevering in prayer.

Luke said in verse 1 that Jesus told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

As I said, this parable follows Jesus’ teaching about his second coming. Jesus instructed his disciples what to do until he returned. Jesus’ disciples ought always to pray and not lose heart. This is an interesting statement, for a number of reasons.

First, it is interesting because Jesus told his disciples the point of the parable. Most of Jesus’ parables don’t state the point of the parable. But in this parable Jesus told his disciples the point of the parable. He did so because he did not want any misunderstanding or confusion about what he was saying. Until he returns, Jesus said, his disciples ought always to pray and not lose heart.

Second, it is interesting because the word “ought” (dein) carries the idea of necessity or obligation. It is “something which should be done as the result of compulsion, whether internal (as a matter of duty) or external (law or custom).”

Third, it is interesting because the word “always” (pantote) is a call “to continued prayer, not in the sense of praying at all times, but in praying again and again.”

And fourth, it is interesting because the phrase “not lose heart” (me enkakeo) means not to be “faint” nor “weary.”

So, the duty of Jesus’ disciples is to persevere in prayer.

II. The Illustration for Persevering in Prayer (18:2-5)

Second, look at the illustration for persevering in prayer.

Having told his disciples the point of the parable, Jesus went on to tell the parable itself.

He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man” (18:2). There is some question among Bible scholars whether this judge was Jewish or a paid magistrate appointed by Herod or the Romans. Regardless, this judge was utterly corrupt. He was godless and he had no regard for people. Most likely, he was open to taking bribes and gave favors to people in authority.

Jesus continued in verse 3, “And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ ” This poor widow need not have been very old. In those days women married at age thirteen or fourteen, and some widows were quite young. She was probably facing some financial difficulty, but in a patriarchal society found it difficult to find anyone to plead her case. She had no money for a bribe, and held no position of authority. So, she took it upon herself to get justice against her adversary.