Parable of the Persistent Widow

By Rick Bayer, February 20, 2022

Luke 18:1-8

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

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 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!’”

6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out 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 comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Widow: strive for v. 3

Judge: Big man with v. 2, 5

Yet because this widow produces fatigue to me, I will avenge her, lest in the end, coming, she give me a blow under the eyes.

  1. 5 Smith Literal Translation

Adversary: man. v. 3

The poor are the ones who tell us what the world is and what service the church must offer the world. Oscar Romero

God: a to those who come and ask. v. 7-8

The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them Exodus 3:7-8a NIV

Questions for Discipleship Group and/or personal study:

Opener:

  • What worked best for you when you were a kid when you were trying to negotiate with your parents?

Go to the Source:

  • Read Luke 18:1-8.
  • What do believe is the one main point Jesus is making in this parable?
  • What prevents you from ‘giving up’ on prayer (v. 1)? How can the Christian doctrine of adoption help you persevere knowing you are God’s child?
  • What does faith (or ‘faithfulness’) in v. 8 look like for you?

Live it out:

  • What is the one area of justice that you are or want to be praying and working towards? How can your group help you?