Luke 18:1-5
Luke 18:1 (KJB)
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and
not to faint;
A parable is a figure of speech which in which a moral or spiritual truth is
illustrated by analogy. Here Jesus introduces a parable that we Christians are
to be persistent in prayer and not faint. The word “faint” carries with it the
meaning of “becoming weary or despondent.” We must continue to pray even though
the situation we are in looks bleak. This parable has come at a time when maybe
God’s judgment did not fall on the unbeliever who persecutes the Christians.
Instead of fainting or becoming despondent under our circumstances, we must
always be ready to pray and stay strong in those prayers.
Luke 18:2 (KJB)
Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
Then Jesus goes on with His parable. He names a judge in the city as one who
feared not God. The term “feared not God” was a term used to describe a person
who was a reckless or unprincipled person. He not only did not regard God but he
also had no regard for people either. Most Roman magistrates were like this and
had no respect for the Jewish people. These kind of judges were pretty common
under the rule of Herod. So these people would have been familiar with that kind
of judge.
Luke 18:3 (KJB)
And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of
mine adversary.
There was a widow in that city who came to the judge and asked him to adjudicate
a matter for her. She asked to be avenged of her adversary. She wanted the judge
to punish or take revenge on her opponent. She was a desperate widow and wanted
justice. A widow was one of the lowest classes in Jewish society so she had
courage to come to a judge and ask such a thing, especially since the text
points out that her adversary was a male.
Luke 18:4 (KJB)
And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I
fear not God, nor regard man;
It seems that the judge had this case before him for quite a while and maybe he
was looking for a bribe to give her justice. Felix did this same thing to Paul.
He was hoping that Paul would give him a bribe. The widow in this parable
probably did not have any money and that is why she kept coming back to the
judge so he would render a final verdict. Then the judge probably became angry
with her persistence and then says to himself, “though I fear not God nor regard
man.”
Luke 18:5 (KJB)
Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual
coming she weary me.
This widow refused to give up so the judge decided that since she was constantly
troubling him, he was going to render the justice in her favor. The word “troubleth”
carries with it the idea of “weariness or toil as one who loses strength.” Her
persistence had paid off because he finally adjudicated the matter and found in
her favor plus she did not have to kick back any bribes. The same word “trouble”
is found in the parable of the friend at Midnight who wanted loaves of bread for
his visitors and had none to give, so he woke up his neighbor and persisted till
he got the loaves. “Trouble me not because the door is shut…” This judge was
afraid that the widow would wear him out so he gave in and did his job.