THE PARABLE OF THE PERSISTENT WIDOW AND THE UNJUST JUDGE – LUKE 18:1-8

INTRODUCTION

Prayer is communication between man and God. It means contact with, communion with, and fellowship with God. It is not simply asking God for things.

▪︎ It is the privilege of all to pray (Luke 18:3, 11, 13, 18, 38). To Christians, there should be a right understanding of, and a regular engaging in, the privilege of prayer. This is the focus of the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge.

There are two characters in this parable:

1. An Unjust Judge

To be unjust means not based on, or behaving according to what is morally right.

▪︎ It is to be improper, dishonest, unfair or biased. It speaks of treating someone badly in a way that they do not deserve.

Why Is The Judge Described As Unjust?

In Jewish Community, a judge is expected to be impartial, to judge righteously and to recognize that judgement ultimately belongs to God. Look up Deut.1:16-17. This particular judge was not so.

▪︎ The judge is also described as having no fear of God and no compassion for the people under his jurisdiction (Lk. 18:2). It can easily be said of him as unfit.

2. A Needy Widow

According to Jewish law, widows deserve special protection under the justice system. Check Deut. 10:18; 24:17, 19-21; James 1:27.

▪︎ This particular widow was ignored by the judge. Nevertheless, she refused to give up. Eventually, the judge granted her the justice she was seeking. Not because the judge pitied her but because he wanted to free himself from being continuously troubled and disturbed by the widow (Lk. 18:4-5).

Reflection: (a) Why are cases pursued up to the Supreme Court?

(b) It is often said that “the judiciary (courts) is the last hope of the common man.” Why? How true is this in Nigeria?

MEANING OF THE PARABLE OF THE PERSISTENT WIDOW

In this parable, our Lord Jesus Christ stresses the great importance of prayer and of praying. He emphasised that, 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 (Lk. 18:7-8a).

▪︎ We only need to be persistent in asking and have faith that God will eventually answer, no matter how long it takes. He is never late but always on time. See Hab. 2:3.

LESSONS FROM THE PARABLE OF THE PERSISTENT WIDOW AND THE UNJUST JUDGE

1. We do not always get immediate results when we pray.

▪︎ Our definition of swift justice is not the same as the Lord’s. Check Is. 55:8-9.

▪︎ God answers according to His will and not our selfish desires (James 4:3).

▪︎ But in all, we can fully count on Him to answer when, where, and how He chooses (1Jn. 5:14-15). Compare Hab. 2:3.

2. Effective prayer requires tenacity and faithfulness.

▪︎ Tenacity is the quality of being determined. It speaks of persistence.

▪︎ A genuine disciple must learn that prayer never gives up and is based on absolute trust and faith in God. See Matt. 7:7-8.

3. The widow continued to go to the judge because she believed that he will eventually grant her request.

▪︎ Persistence in prayer also hangs on faith. Look up Heb. 11:1, 6; 10:23; Is. 55:11.

4. Like the persistent widow, we are needy, dependent sinners who trust in our gracious, loving and merciful God alone to supply what we need. Check Is. 59:1-2. Compare Exd. 33:19; Rom. 9:14-15.

5. Faithful, never-ceasing, persistent prayer is the permanent calling of every disciple of Christ who is committed to living a fulfilled life.

It is an obligation (Lk. 18:1; 1Thes. 5:17).

▪︎ Our new life in Christ can only be maintained by  prayer (Matt. 26:41).

▪︎ Only as we pray can our lives be what God wants them to be, can we know the secret of victory over sin and the power of the Enemy, and can our christian service be what it ought to be. Look up Jer. 33:3.

▪︎ In His Word, God has given us many great and precious promises (2Pt.1:4), a blank cheque book signed with the name of Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:13; 16:23), and with a Bank of Heaven that has limitless resources (Phil. 4:19). Only by prayer can we cash these cheques and obtain the promises (Phil. 4:6).

▪︎ Prayer is the key that locks and unlocks all doors.

6. The unjust judge lacks the fear of God and couldn’t do good.

▪︎ Where no fear of God is, wisdom is lacking and no good is to be expected (Pro. 9:10). But the power of importunity (i.e. the quality of repeatedly asking for something) can change the narrative (Lk. 18:4-5)

7. There are people in the world that are God’s people, His elect (Lk. 18:7).

▪︎ They meet with a great deal of trouble and opposition in this world but they have assurance of victory over all their adversaries (Lk. 18:8a). See Jn. 16:33.

Reflection: Who are the elect of God. Look up Is. 45:4; Deut. 7:6-8; 1Pt. 2:9-10.

…to be continued