THE PERSISTENT WIDOW

Passage: Luke 18:1-8

Key verse: 1b

NIV

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.(A) 2 He said: “In a certain 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(B) against my adversary.’

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!’”(C)

6 And the Lord(D) said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out(E) to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man(F) comes,(G) will he find faith on the earth?”

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Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought (A)always to pray and not (B)lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who (C)neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, (D)‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And (E)will not God give justice to (F)his elect, (G)who cry to him day and night? (H)(I)Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them (J)speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, (K)will he find faith on earth?”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The widow and the judge (1-5)

Jesus told a parable to teach his disciples to pray and not give up. The widow in the parable wanted justice. She didn't give up, but came again and again to ask the judge for justice against her adversary. The judge did not fear God or care what people thought, but he couldn't endure the widow's persistent asking, so he granted her request. Like this woman, we should pray and not give up.

2. God and his chosen ones (6-8)

God is not an unjust judge; he loves justice and what is more, he loves his chosen ones. When we cry to him in prayer and keep on praying, he will surely answer. Why, then, don't God's people pray? Jesus says that it is a matter of faith. If we have faith, we will pray. When Jesus comes again he will look for men and women of faith.

Prayer: Lord, give me faith to pray persistently until you raise up from the young people of this land a nation of priests.

One Word: Pray and don't give up