Persistent Widow

Jesus told the story of a lady who had no husband. He had died and she had no one to help her. Someone had even taken her land away from her. He had no friends to help her and no money to pay someone to help her get her land back.

She had a determined plan. She would go every day to the judge and ask him for her land back.

Every day she went before the judge and asked politely for what she needed. Each time she went, she was treated rudely. The man seemed to enjoy telling her "NO". It seemed to make his selfish heart feel proud that he could tell this lady she could not have what she wanted.

She did not give up asking. Politely every day she showed up asking for her legal rights. After awhile the selfish proud man got tired of the show off game he was playing. Her gentle ways of asking made him tired of her case.

Finally he declared that she would get her land back. He announced that it was not because he was afraid of God or afraid of any man. He was just tired of her request. She wore him out. He was so tired of her asking for her land. He knew she would be back the next day again unless he gave her the request. So just because he was tired of her asking, he gave in and commanded that she be given her land back.

Jesus said this judge was not anything like God. He did not love God or he would have been kind.

Now Jesus said an amazing thing about His Father in heaven. He said that He does hear our prayers every day when we cry day and night to be delivered from cruel people and trouble in our lives. Even though it seems He will never answer, He will. God has a heart full of love. He does have to wait for certain reasons but He will repay those who have been cruel to us. He waits hoping that the cruel people will be melted by His love. He says "vengeance is Mine, I will repay."

The lady in the story is like all sinners. They have no way of being rescued from sin unless God will save them. He is very eager to help all who will turn to him for help. He is nothing like that selfish judge who enjoyed seeing that lady suffer. Satan is the adversary who has taken away our land. We are invited to plead day and night for deliverance from sin and Satan's ways.

End

Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
18:2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
18:3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
18:4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
18:5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
18:6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

More special Quotes on this story

"There was in a city," He said, "a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man; and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily." {COL 164.2}
The judge who is here pictured had no regard for right, nor pity for suffering. The widow who pressed her case before him was persistently repulsed. Again and again she came to him, only to be treated with contempt, and to be driven from the judgment seat. The judge knew that her cause was righteous, and he could have relieved her at once, but he would not. He wanted to show his arbitrary power, and it gratified him to let her ask and plead and entreat in vain. But she would not fail nor become discouraged. Notwithstanding his indifference and hardheartedness, she pressed her petition until the judge consented to attend to her case. "Though I fear not God, nor regard man," he said, "yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me." To save his reputation, to avoid giving publicity to his partial, one-sided judgment, he avenged the persevering woman. {COL 164.3}
"And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though He bear long with them? I tell you "And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily." Christ here draws a sharp contrast between the unjust judge and God. The judge yielded to the widow's request merely through selfishness, that he might be relieved of her importunity. He felt for her no pity or compassion; her misery was nothing to him. How different is the attitude of God toward those who seek Him. The appeals of the needy and distressed are considered by Him with infinite compassion. {COL 165.1}
The woman who entreated the judge for justice had lost her husband by death. Poor and friendless, she had no means of retrieving her ruined fortunes. So by sin, man lost his connection with God. Of himself he has no means of salvation. But in Christ we are brought nigh unto the Father. The elect of God are dear to His heart...

The widow's prayer, "Avenge me"--"do me justice" (R.V.)--"of mine adversary," represents the prayer of God's children. Satan is their great adversary. He is the "accuser of our brethren," who accuses them before God day and night. (Rev. 12:10.) He is continually working to misrepresent and accuse, to deceive and destroy the people of God. And it is for deliverance from the power of Satan and his agents that in this parable Christ teaches His disciples to pray. {COL 166.2}