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The Widow And The Unjust Judge Luke 18:1-8 (NIV)
4:8), will vindicate the elect, or “chosen people who cry to Him day and night.” Yet the promise of God’s quick vindication comes with a bit of irony.
The Lord will not delay; however He seeks to find signs of faith on earth signi- fied by the persistence in prayer that is exemplified in the widow’s pursuit of jus-
tice.
Jesus reminds us that
prayer is a lifelong practice for every believer. We pray with the knowledge that God is faithful to His prom- ise to save His people when we call on Him in the midst of unjust situations.
With as many forms of injustice that remain in the world today, we must adopt
a regular practice of inter- cession and petition for God’s justice to take root within our society. We also should practice pursuing justice within our spheres of influence. Whenever and wherever we see injustice, believers can pray for God’s strength and power to de- fend those who are the most vulnerable among us.
As Jesus was journeying to Jerusalem from Galilee to carry out His divine mis- sion, He and His disciples made stops along the way in Samaria to minister to the people. Jesus performed many miracles and spoke many parables.
As He was heading to- ward Jerusalem (Luke 9:52–54), Jesus passed through Samaria, a region north of Judea whose people were notably despised by many Jews during Jesus’ day.
One village did not receive Jesus’ ministry (Luke 9:51–53), but He contin- ued to teach, heal, and exor- cise demons within Samaria.
On His way to Jerusalem, Jesus cleanses ten lepers (Luke 17:11–19), and some Pharisees ask Him about the coming of God’s kingdom (Luke 17:20– 21). After Jesus admonishes the Pharisees to recognize God’s work among them, He urges the disciples to pre- pare for the coming of God’s kingdom, although Jesus does not indicate when God will bring all things to fulfill- ment. However, there will be signs of its in-breaking (Luke 17:22-37).
Persistence Is Required (Luke 18:1-3)
1. Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
2. He said: “In a cer- tain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.
3. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my ad- versary.’
After Jesus discusses the coming of the Son of Man with His disciples (Luke 17:22–37), He tells them a parable to instruct them to persist in prayer during the present ordeal, which might include suffering for the sake of God’s reign. Jesus introduces a widow who persistently seeks justice from a judge against an un-
specified enemy. Here, the widow’s persistence serves as a model for the disciples.
The judge’s lack of inter- est toward the widow vio- lated the judicial code of conduct outlined in the Old Testament. Despite this judge’s lack of concern for God or the woman, the widow persists on coming to him to seek vindication.
Persistence Is Rewarded (Luke 18:4-5)
4. “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!’”
At first, the judge simply refused the widow’s peti- tion. After a while, the judge relents and grants the per- sistent widow judgment, not because he repented from not fearing the God of jus- tice or suddenly developed compassion for the widow. Rather, the judge grants her vindication because she continually troubles him. The judge becomes aston- ished at the widow’s persist- ence. The relentless widow “wears out” the judge by her actions. Thus, he reluctantly grants her justice.
Persistence Is Reviewed (Luke 18:6-8)
6. And the Lord said, “Listen to what the un- just judge says.
7. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep put- ting them off?
8. I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Jesus tells His disciples to heed the words of the un- just judge: if he, an unjust man, can grant the widow vindication, surely God, who is the Righteous Judge (Psalm 7:11; 2 Timothy
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