Wednesday, September 25, 2024
The Parables of Jesus Series
Tonight’s Study – Session 35: The Parable of the Persistent Widow
Introduction: The Parable of the Persistent Widow is a part of a series of illustrative lessons Jesus used to teach His disciples about prayer. This parable is introduced as a lesson meant to show the disciples “that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,” (verse 1). The Parable of the Persistent Widow is set in an unnamed town.
The Parable of the Persistent Widow found only in the Gospel of Luke.
Let us Look at the Passage where the Parable is Found
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?” (Luke 18:1-8)
A Verse by Verse Look at this Parable.
Verse 1
-always…pray – A common theme in Paul’s epistles. He reiterated to his readers what Jesus taught about prayer.
A Few Examples from Paul
Romans 1:9 – For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,
Romans 12:12 – rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.
Ephesians 6:18 – praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
1 Thessalonians 5:17 – pray without ceasing.
Verse 2
The Parable of the Persistent Widow is set in an unnamed town and over that town presides an unjust Judge. This judge has no fear of God and no compassion for the people under his jurisdiction. This parable has also been rightly titled “The Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge.” In the Jewish community, a judge was expected to be impartial, to judge righteously, and to recognize that judgment belongs to God (Deuteronomy 1:16-17*). Thus, the judge in this story is incompetent and unqualified for the job. Justice was not being served.
*“Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him. You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence, for the judgment is God’s. (Deuteronomy 1:16-17)
Verse 3
A needy widow repeatedly comes before the judge to plead her case. According to Jewish law, widows deserve special protection under the justice system.
He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. (Deuteronomy 10:18)
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)
The unjust judge ignores her. Nevertheless, she refuses to give up.
Verses 4 and 5
Eventually, the judge, though he did not fear God nor regard man, will get her justice.
weary me (v.5) – What the judge would not do out of compassion for the widow or reverence for God, he would do out of sheer frustration with her incessant pleading.
Verses 6 and 7
-Hear what the unjust judge said – Jesus is telling His disciples to listen to the point of the story, namely that God, who always does right and is filled with compassion for believers who suffer, will certainly respond to His beloved ones who cry for His help. If an uncaring, unfit, ungodly judge answers with justice in the end, how much more will a loving and holy Father give what is right to His children?
Verse 8
-speedily – God may delay long, but He does so for good reason and when He acts, His vengeance is swift. Our definition of “swift” justice is different from the Lord’s definition. The parable of the persistent widow demonstrates that effective prayer requires tenacity and faithfulness.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16b)
A genuine disciple must learn that prayer never gives up and is based on the Lord answering when, where, and how He chooses. God expects us to keep on asking, seeking, knocking, and praying until the answers come.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
(Matthew 7:7–8)
Disciples of Jesus are people of persistent faith.
-will He really find faith on the earth? – This suggests that when Jesus returns, true faith will be comparably rare. The period before His return will be marked by persecution, apostasy, and unbelief.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:9-13,24)
Conclusion: Faithful, never-ceasing, persistent prayer is the permanent calling of every true disciple of Christ. We are to dedicate ourselves to living for the Kingdom of God. Like the persistent widow, we are needy, dependent sinners who trust in our gracious, loving, merciful, and prayer hearing, prayer answering God alone to supply our every need.
Next Week, Session 36 – The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector