The Parable Of The Persistent Widow

Luke 18: 1-8

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man .Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’” Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

The book of Proverbs 24:10 records this

If you falter in a time of trouble,

how small is your strength! NIV

If you fail under pressure,

your strength is too small.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Isaiah 40:31

But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint. (NKJV)

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.NIV

- When we pray we are to trust that the LORD hears our prayers

- We are to be patient in receiving from the LORD

- We are not to give up

The widow in this parable never gave up

- She continued to hope

- She did not stop going to the judge

- She refused to give up even though the judge was not quick to answer

Jesus used the word PERSISTENT

Meaning of Persistent

Continuing without change in function or structure

Continuing or inclined to persist in a course

Stubbornly determined

- The widow was stubborn and totally refused to give up.

- The widow was focused in getting a result to her request.

There is another parable that Jesus gave about persistence in prayer in Luke 11: 5-8

And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Jesus is using this two parables to encourage us not to give up on our request when praying.

James 5:16b

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much - NKJV

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective - NiV

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results - NLT

Let's remember that because of Jesus we are the righteousness of God!

So because we are the righteous our prayers has great power and produces wonderful results.

The most important thing is not to give up in our PRAYERS!

The book of 1 Thessalonians 5:17 records this about Prayer

- Pray continually NIV

- Never stop praying NLT

- Pray without ceasing ESV

- Pray constantly HCSB

- Continually be prayerful ISV

Our Lord Jesus Christ never stopped praying. He prayed prayed and prayed. Jesus was always praying and he prayed continually he is our example of praying at all times.

Hebrews 5:7 says this about Jesus

While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God.

New Living Translation (NLT)

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. NIV

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. ESV

WHAT IS PRAYER?

Is a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or a deity.