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The Parable of the Persistent Widow
In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, “Grant me justice against my adversary.”
For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, “Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming.” -- Luke 18:2-5
Also known as the parable of the unjust judge, the central point of this parable is to urge and to teach the importance of earnest and persistent prayer, the exercise of prayer being central to Christianity.
The eventual success of the widow in gaining justice even from an uncaring judge is intended to give up hope in having our own prayers answered by a loving God.
Listen to what the unjust judge says. 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? 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? -- Luke 18:6-8
The character of the judge to whom she appealed
- Unprincipled
- Did not fear God
- No self respect
The character of the widow
- Without rank
- Without influence
- Without wealth
- Persistent
- Determined
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