ALWAYS PRAY AND NOT GIVE UP

Passage: Luke 18:1-8

Key verse: 1

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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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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

Jesus always prayed, even though he was God. He even prayed on the cross. One of the difficult parts of prayer is persistence, especially when God doesn’t seem to answer. So, Jesus told his disciples a parable to pray always and to not give up. In the parable, there are two characters: a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought, and a widow who kept coming to the judge to get justice against her adversary. The judge could not endure her bothering. He granted her request.

Unlike the judge, God cares for his chosen ones. He is righteous and loves justice (Ps. 11:7). If the unjust judge answered the request of the widow, how much more will a righteous, loving God answer the prayers of his children who cry out to him day and night? But why then do God’s chosen ones give up on praying? They do so because of their lack of faith in God. Those who have faith pray persistently without giving up. When Jesus comes again, he will find men and women of faith. They are the people praying without giving up. A mark of faith is to pray persistently.

Prayer: Lord, give me the earnestness and persistence of the widow. Help me to have faith in God who cares for us and to pray without giving up.

One Word: Pray! Pray! Pray!