The Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge
Luke 18:1-8 · Berean Standard Bible
Jesus told this parable to show his disciples that they should always pray and not give up. A widow keeps coming to an unjust judge asking for justice, and her persistence eventually wins him over. Jesus draws the contrast: if even an uncaring judge responds to persistence, how much more will God bring about justice for his chosen ones who cry out to him. The parable ends with a searching question about whether the Son of Man will find faith on the earth.
1Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:
2“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men.
3And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’
4For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men,
5yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Otherwise, she will wear me out with her perpetual requests.’”
6And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge.
7Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them?
8I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”
Read the wider context: Luke 18.
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