The Persistent Widow Pleads Before the JudgeBible World
18:2Luke 18:2
Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
This verse describes an unjust judge in a city who had no reverence for God and no regard for what is right, for human rights or for human suffering, and it opens the parable of the importunate widow to teach that men ought always to pray and not to faint. Appointed to a position of trust to decide cases and give justice, especially to protect widows, he knew her cause was just and could have helped her at once, yet he delayed justice, treated her with contempt and let might triumph over right until his injustice became conspicuous. When he finally granted her request it was not from justice or compassion but to be relieved of her continual coming and annoyance and to save his reputation from public shame. Christ sets this judge in sharp contrast with God, who is the just Judge who loves His children, considers the appeals of the needy with infinite compassion, hears the day-and-night cries of His elect and will avenge them speedily. The lesson is persistent, steadfast prayer with prevailing faith, keeping on asking without wavering and waiting patiently when the answer is delayed, trusting God's promise and wisdom, for no sincere prayer is lost.
Parable Setting and Purpose
The verse opens the parable of the importunate widow, drawn from common life, about a judge in a city who had no fear of God and no regard for other people, given to teach that men ought always to pray and not to faint. It was given to the disciples as very precious instruction with special reference to the period just before the second coming and the perils His followers must pass through. The judge's indifference stands in decided contrast with God's care for His people, for the widow's persistence eventually moves even that judge to act, while God hears the continual cries of His elect and will bring them justice.
Joined with the parable of the friend asking for bread at midnight, it gives new force to the command to ask, seek, and knock. It strengthens wavering faith with the assurance that God will do justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will do it speedily. The widow standing before such a judge reveals the position of the people of God in this world and the trials they will be called to endure because of injustice from such men, so that as the close of this earth's history nears those who fear God and honor Him can hope for little justice from them but must expect injustice and oppression at the hand of those who regard neither God nor man.
She was a bereaved, poor, friendless and defrauded woman who sought justice again and again at his judgment seat, torn away and repulsed time after time with rough treatment and contempt for her persevering patience, yet her determination was not quenched until her perseverance gained its reward. The judge had no special concern for her and granted her plea only to escape her repeated appeals, whereas God owns the members of His church by creation and by redemption and has an interest in those who make Him their dependence and pray to Him as earnestly as she prayed to the judge. Her helplessness also illustrates humanity's condition after sin, having lost connection with God with no means of saving itself, but brought near to the Father through Christ, in contrast to a judge who acts only to rid himself of appeals while God loves His children and cherishes His church. Her persistence is joined with Elijah's as the example of remaining firm in prayer and keeping on asking the Lord for blessings without wavering. The verse also introduces the lesson that everyone who exalts himself shall be abased and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.
The Judge's Character
The judge is unjust precisely because he fears not God and regards not man, which means no reverence for God and no regard for what is right, for people's rights, or for human suffering and misery, with no pity, compassion, or care, only indifference and hard-heartedness. His lack of love for God leaves him without unselfish love for neighbor, so he disregards the rights of the helpless and lets justice be delayed. In contrast to God's care for His people, his character stands as indifferent to justice and to suffering.
He holds a position of trust appointed to decide cases and give justice, with judges especially required to protect widows, yet he disregards their special claims. He knows the widow's cause is just and righteous and could relieve her at once and restrain wrongdoing, but he fails to set right the wrongs he knows are being done and neglects those he should help. Though able to act at once, he allows might to triumph over right.
He uses his power arbitrarily and even takes satisfaction in making her plead in vain, displaying arbitrary power and selfish ambition rather than what is right. He keeps her pleading with contempt and rough treatment, tearing her away and repulsing her time after time, treating her misery as nothing. His delay of justice lets oppression continue until his injustice becomes conspicuous and many complaints are made about his course.
His heart remains cold, selfish, unmoved and unchanged, feeling no pity for her misery. When he finally grants her request it is not from justice, compassion, or desire to do right, but to be relieved of her continual coming, importunity, trouble, annoyance and inconvenience. He acts to end her appeals and to avoid public shame and publicity over his biased, partial, one-sided judgment, to save his reputation.
Self is his god, and he is separated from God, under the control of a tyrant with the spirit of disobedience working effectually in him. Appetite and passion have damaged and destroyed his powers of perception, so he decides questions where human life is in the balance according to degraded, debased and perverted feelings and sentiments. His character shows how far men can sink and how fully the lower nature is developed when they yield their powers to Satan, filled with satanic attributes, easily led into misconduct yet possessing power of defiance and resistance to any influence toward right conduct.
He openly declares his disregard for God and man, and that open declaration marks him as belonging to an openly godless and unfeeling class. That class is different from professed sons of Abraham who do no violence and do not drive the needy away, yet remain selfishly indifferent to the needs of a suffering brother. The rich man with Lazarus at his gate belongs to the latter and not the former, for he claimed to be a son of Abraham and was not violent or harsh toward the beggar, never ordering him away because his appearance was disagreeable but even allowing him to remain at the gate.
Contrast With God
Christ sets this unjust judge in sharp contrast with God, whose attitude toward those who seek Him is altogether different. The judge shows indifference and hard-heartedness, with no reverence for God and no regard for right, for people, for suffering and misery, and no pity, compassion, or care. His cold, selfish heart is unmoved by the widow's misery, and he yields to her petition only from selfishness, to be relieved of her continual coming and importunity, to save his reputation, and to avoid publicity over his partial, one-sided judgment. His indifference to the widow's suffering contrasts with God's care for the poor and for those who keep praying and patiently wait for an answer. God hears humble, contrite prayers, which teaches respect for the cause of the poor and warns those who claim to be righteous to judge fairly and show mercy.
By contrast God is the just Judge who loves His children and cherishes His church, owning them by creation and by redemption and having an interest in those who make Him their dependence and pray to Him as earnestly as she prayed to the judge, considering the appeals of the needy and distressed with infinite compassion. Unlike the judge's indifference, God hears the continual, day-and-night cries of His elect and will bring them justice and avenge His own even when He appears to delay, and will do it speedily. The widow's persistence eventually moves the unjust judge to act, but the parable teaches to keep praying and not lose heart because God cares for His people and will bring justice to His chosen ones who cry to Him continually. Together with the parable of the friend asking for bread at midnight, it gives new force to ask, seek, and knock, strengthening wavering faith with this assurance. God is the just Judge who turns away no one who comes to Him in contrition and hears even the weakest sincere prayer, and no sincere prayer is lost, so the unworthy can entrust their case to Him with confidence.
The widow's helplessness as bereaved, poor, and friendless, with no special concern from the judge, illustrates humanity's condition after sin, having lost connection with God with no means of saving itself, but brought near to the Father through Christ. As the widow found refuge in her plea, Christ is the refuge of His disciples when they face such opposition and continual temptation. Christ can give courage and perseverance even in a plea before such a judge, and He rewards the persevering faith He has inspired.
Call to Persistent Prayer
The verse teaches that men ought always to pray and not faint, holding to persistent, steadfast prayer with prevailing faith. Those who ask God for wisdom or other important things are to hold firmly to their purpose, keep bringing their needs to Him, and not grow weary while waiting for an answer. They are to keep praying and wait patiently when the answer is delayed, persevering without wavering and trusting God's promise and wisdom rather than trying to secure the result by human effort. This lesson is given with special reference to the period just before the second coming and the perils followers must pass through.
Such prayer agonizes with living, united cries and trembling faith that grasps God's strong promises until the petition is answered. It is instant, offered as soon as difficulties arise, in sincere, earnest, diligent petitions that come from a sense of need and give evidence of strong confidence in God. Believers are to wrestle with Him and supplicate day and night for the power needed to overcome, keeping on pressing their petitions and not losing faith. Prayer offered earnestly in Jesus' name and through the Holy Spirit reaches the mercy seat, and such supplication moves the heavenly Father.
Believers are to plead earnestly and confidently for God's blessing and for power to live as His children and to overcome. Though faith may be tried while waiting, God is faithful to His promise to give generously to those who hold to their purpose in asking for wisdom and other important things. Those who make no effort to call on God are left without aid, while those who plead earnestly for help receive it.
The widow in her need overcame the unjust judge through determined pleading, and believers should be like her by asking God again and again until the full answer to prayer is realized. Applied to the sick and afflicted, this means sending humble requests to God many times a day for healing power and restoration to health. Such praying is done with faith claiming restoration and saying it shall be done, weeping and praying and rejoicing together with living cries until answered.
Warning About Earthly Judges
The judge stands for the kind of earthly authority and judgment being carried out at that time and soon to be seen at Christ's trial. He has no fear of God and no regard for other people, judging unjustly, and for that reason God's people in times of trouble cannot depend much on earthly rulers or judges. Such rulers may ignore God's word and follow their own undisciplined impulses.
The widow standing before such a judge reveals the position of the people of God in this world and the trials they will be called to endure because of injustice from such men. Faithful people who obey God's commandments and take the Bible as their guide may be opposed by judges and other adversaries who do not take God's word as their guide and are driven by selfish, unconsecrated impulses when they remain loyal. As the widow found refuge in her plea, Christ is the refuge of His disciples under such opposition and continual temptation.
As the close of this earth's history nears, those who fear God and honor Him can hope for little justice from men placed in trust who fear not God and regard not man. From them they must expect injustice and oppression at their hands.
The verse pictures present-day lawyers and judges outside the faith who do not fear God, do not obey His requirements, and lack wisdom from above, deciding matters involving human life according to degraded, perverted feelings where self is god and appetite and passion have damaged right perception. It forbids taking troubles and church difficulties to them for help or settlement and forbids opening the supposed wrongdoings of fellow members to them, since depending on such unbelieving advisers shows lack of faith and dishonors God. Instead God's people should agree together about what they desire and unite in persevering prayer to God for deliverance rather than rely on them. The same description of neither fearing God nor respecting people fits religious zealots who enforce Sunday laws without regard for God or others and use authority to persecute Sabbathkeepers, and it is illustrated by employers who break their agreements and require Sabbathkeeping workers to do servile work on the Sabbath.
This verse describes an unjust judge in a city who had no reverence for God and no regard for what is right, for human rights or for human suffering, and it opens the parable of the importunate widow to teach that men ought always to pray and not to faint. Appointed to a position of trust to decide cases and give justice, especially to protect widows, he knew her cause was just and could have helped her at once, yet he delayed justice, treated her with contempt and let might triumph over right until his injustice became conspicuous. When he finally granted her request it was not from justice or compassion but to be relieved of her continual coming and annoyance and to save his reputation from public shame. Christ sets this judge in sharp contrast with God, who is the just Judge who loves His children, considers the appeals of the needy with infinite compassion, hears the day-and-night cries of His elect and will avenge them speedily. The lesson is persistent, steadfast prayer with prevailing faith, keeping on asking without wavering and waiting patiently when the answer is delayed, trusting God's promise and wisdom, for no sincere prayer is lost.
Parable Setting and Purpose
The verse opens the parable of the importunate widow, drawn from common life, about a judge in a city who had no fear of God and no regard for other people, given to teach that men ought always to pray and not to faint. It was given to the disciples as very precious instruction with special reference to the period just before the second coming and the perils His followers must pass through. The judge's indifference stands in decided contrast with God's care for His people, for the widow's persistence eventually moves even that judge to act, while God hears the continual cries of His elect and will bring them justice.
Joined with the parable of the friend asking for bread at midnight, it gives new force to the command to ask, seek, and knock. It strengthens wavering faith with the assurance that God will do justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will do it speedily. The widow standing before such a judge reveals the position of the people of God in this world and the trials they will be called to endure because of injustice from such men, so that as the close of this earth's history nears those who fear God and honor Him can hope for little justice from them but must expect injustice and oppression at the hand of those who regard neither God nor man.
She was a bereaved, poor, friendless and defrauded woman who sought justice again and again at his judgment seat, torn away and repulsed time after time with rough treatment and contempt for her persevering patience, yet her determination was not quenched until her perseverance gained its reward. The judge had no special concern for her and granted her plea only to escape her repeated appeals, whereas God owns the members of His church by creation and by redemption and has an interest in those who make Him their dependence and pray to Him as earnestly as she prayed to the judge. Her helplessness also illustrates humanity's condition after sin, having lost connection with God with no means of saving itself, but brought near to the Father through Christ, in contrast to a judge who acts only to rid himself of appeals while God loves His children and cherishes His church. Her persistence is joined with Elijah's as the example of remaining firm in prayer and keeping on asking the Lord for blessings without wavering. The verse also introduces the lesson that everyone who exalts himself shall be abased and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.
The Judge's Character
The judge is unjust precisely because he fears not God and regards not man, which means no reverence for God and no regard for what is right, for people's rights, or for human suffering and misery, with no pity, compassion, or care, only indifference and hard-heartedness. His lack of love for God leaves him without unselfish love for neighbor, so he disregards the rights of the helpless and lets justice be delayed. In contrast to God's care for His people, his character stands as indifferent to justice and to suffering.
He holds a position of trust appointed to decide cases and give justice, with judges especially required to protect widows, yet he disregards their special claims. He knows the widow's cause is just and righteous and could relieve her at once and restrain wrongdoing, but he fails to set right the wrongs he knows are being done and neglects those he should help. Though able to act at once, he allows might to triumph over right.
He uses his power arbitrarily and even takes satisfaction in making her plead in vain, displaying arbitrary power and selfish ambition rather than what is right. He keeps her pleading with contempt and rough treatment, tearing her away and repulsing her time after time, treating her misery as nothing. His delay of justice lets oppression continue until his injustice becomes conspicuous and many complaints are made about his course.
His heart remains cold, selfish, unmoved and unchanged, feeling no pity for her misery. When he finally grants her request it is not from justice, compassion, or desire to do right, but to be relieved of her continual coming, importunity, trouble, annoyance and inconvenience. He acts to end her appeals and to avoid public shame and publicity over his biased, partial, one-sided judgment, to save his reputation.
Self is his god, and he is separated from God, under the control of a tyrant with the spirit of disobedience working effectually in him. Appetite and passion have damaged and destroyed his powers of perception, so he decides questions where human life is in the balance according to degraded, debased and perverted feelings and sentiments. His character shows how far men can sink and how fully the lower nature is developed when they yield their powers to Satan, filled with satanic attributes, easily led into misconduct yet possessing power of defiance and resistance to any influence toward right conduct.
He openly declares his disregard for God and man, and that open declaration marks him as belonging to an openly godless and unfeeling class. That class is different from professed sons of Abraham who do no violence and do not drive the needy away, yet remain selfishly indifferent to the needs of a suffering brother. The rich man with Lazarus at his gate belongs to the latter and not the former, for he claimed to be a son of Abraham and was not violent or harsh toward the beggar, never ordering him away because his appearance was disagreeable but even allowing him to remain at the gate.
Contrast With God
Christ sets this unjust judge in sharp contrast with God, whose attitude toward those who seek Him is altogether different. The judge shows indifference and hard-heartedness, with no reverence for God and no regard for right, for people, for suffering and misery, and no pity, compassion, or care. His cold, selfish heart is unmoved by the widow's misery, and he yields to her petition only from selfishness, to be relieved of her continual coming and importunity, to save his reputation, and to avoid publicity over his partial, one-sided judgment. His indifference to the widow's suffering contrasts with God's care for the poor and for those who keep praying and patiently wait for an answer. God hears humble, contrite prayers, which teaches respect for the cause of the poor and warns those who claim to be righteous to judge fairly and show mercy.
By contrast God is the just Judge who loves His children and cherishes His church, owning them by creation and by redemption and having an interest in those who make Him their dependence and pray to Him as earnestly as she prayed to the judge, considering the appeals of the needy and distressed with infinite compassion. Unlike the judge's indifference, God hears the continual, day-and-night cries of His elect and will bring them justice and avenge His own even when He appears to delay, and will do it speedily. The widow's persistence eventually moves the unjust judge to act, but the parable teaches to keep praying and not lose heart because God cares for His people and will bring justice to His chosen ones who cry to Him continually. Together with the parable of the friend asking for bread at midnight, it gives new force to ask, seek, and knock, strengthening wavering faith with this assurance. God is the just Judge who turns away no one who comes to Him in contrition and hears even the weakest sincere prayer, and no sincere prayer is lost, so the unworthy can entrust their case to Him with confidence.
The widow's helplessness as bereaved, poor, and friendless, with no special concern from the judge, illustrates humanity's condition after sin, having lost connection with God with no means of saving itself, but brought near to the Father through Christ. As the widow found refuge in her plea, Christ is the refuge of His disciples when they face such opposition and continual temptation. Christ can give courage and perseverance even in a plea before such a judge, and He rewards the persevering faith He has inspired.
Call to Persistent Prayer
The verse teaches that men ought always to pray and not faint, holding to persistent, steadfast prayer with prevailing faith. Those who ask God for wisdom or other important things are to hold firmly to their purpose, keep bringing their needs to Him, and not grow weary while waiting for an answer. They are to keep praying and wait patiently when the answer is delayed, persevering without wavering and trusting God's promise and wisdom rather than trying to secure the result by human effort. This lesson is given with special reference to the period just before the second coming and the perils followers must pass through.
Such prayer agonizes with living, united cries and trembling faith that grasps God's strong promises until the petition is answered. It is instant, offered as soon as difficulties arise, in sincere, earnest, diligent petitions that come from a sense of need and give evidence of strong confidence in God. Believers are to wrestle with Him and supplicate day and night for the power needed to overcome, keeping on pressing their petitions and not losing faith. Prayer offered earnestly in Jesus' name and through the Holy Spirit reaches the mercy seat, and such supplication moves the heavenly Father.
Believers are to plead earnestly and confidently for God's blessing and for power to live as His children and to overcome. Though faith may be tried while waiting, God is faithful to His promise to give generously to those who hold to their purpose in asking for wisdom and other important things. Those who make no effort to call on God are left without aid, while those who plead earnestly for help receive it.
The widow in her need overcame the unjust judge through determined pleading, and believers should be like her by asking God again and again until the full answer to prayer is realized. Applied to the sick and afflicted, this means sending humble requests to God many times a day for healing power and restoration to health. Such praying is done with faith claiming restoration and saying it shall be done, weeping and praying and rejoicing together with living cries until answered.
Warning About Earthly Judges
The judge stands for the kind of earthly authority and judgment being carried out at that time and soon to be seen at Christ's trial. He has no fear of God and no regard for other people, judging unjustly, and for that reason God's people in times of trouble cannot depend much on earthly rulers or judges. Such rulers may ignore God's word and follow their own undisciplined impulses.
The widow standing before such a judge reveals the position of the people of God in this world and the trials they will be called to endure because of injustice from such men. Faithful people who obey God's commandments and take the Bible as their guide may be opposed by judges and other adversaries who do not take God's word as their guide and are driven by selfish, unconsecrated impulses when they remain loyal. As the widow found refuge in her plea, Christ is the refuge of His disciples under such opposition and continual temptation.
As the close of this earth's history nears, those who fear God and honor Him can hope for little justice from men placed in trust who fear not God and regard not man. From them they must expect injustice and oppression at their hands.
The verse pictures present-day lawyers and judges outside the faith who do not fear God, do not obey His requirements, and lack wisdom from above, deciding matters involving human life according to degraded, perverted feelings where self is god and appetite and passion have damaged right perception. It forbids taking troubles and church difficulties to them for help or settlement and forbids opening the supposed wrongdoings of fellow members to them, since depending on such unbelieving advisers shows lack of faith and dishonors God. Instead God's people should agree together about what they desire and unite in persevering prayer to God for deliverance rather than rely on them. The same description of neither fearing God nor respecting people fits religious zealots who enforce Sunday laws without regard for God or others and use authority to persecute Sabbathkeepers, and it is illustrated by employers who break their agreements and require Sabbathkeeping workers to do servile work on the Sabbath.