The persistent widow
Luke 18:1-8 The Parable of the persistent widow
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.
Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.'
And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' "
Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?
I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:1-8 NKJV)
INTRODUCTION
Gaano ba tayo ka persistent? (Sigasig)
- never give up
- dont quit
- never surrender
1. Evidently the element of persistence in prayer was very important to
Jesus...
b. As the first verse reads: "Then He spoke a parable to them, that
men always ought to pray and not lose heart..."
Example: life in Singapore is so busy and cannot find time for God
[Are we persistent in our prayers? Do we appreciate the value of such
persistence? Or have we lost heart and don't pray as we ought? Let's
see what we can glean from the parable of "The Persistent Widow"...]
what is our attitude towards prayer?
- do we just pray when we need something from God?
- do we pray even in good times and bad times?
- do we have doubts in our prayers
- prayes with doubt is faithless
I. THE PARABLE ITSELF
A. THE CHARACTER OF THE JUDGE - Lk 18:2
1. One who did not fear God nor regard man
2. An unjust judge, for which this parable is sometimes known as
"The Unjust Judge"
B. THE DISTRESS OF THE WIDOW - Lk 18:3
1. She has some adversary who has wronged her
2. She seeks the aid of the judge to avenge her (katarungan)
C. THE DIFFICULTY SHE FACED - Lk 18:4a
1. The judge would not help her at first (dead ma)
2. Repeated attempts seem to fall on deaf ears
D. AT LAST THE JUDGE HEEDS HER COMPLAINT - Lk 18:4b-5
1. Not out of any sense for what was right in the sight of God or
man
2. But only to avoid being wearied by her constant appeals
[Unlike many of the parables, we are not left on our own to determine
the point of this parable. Jesus Himself makes it clear as we
consider...]
II. THE PARABLE APPLIED
A. HEAR WHAT THE UNJUST JUDGE SAID...
1. He was moved by the persistence of the widow
2. Even when he was not moved by reverence for God or regard for
man
B. SHALL NOT GOD AVENGE HIS OWN ELECT?
1. This is an argument from the lesser to the greater
a. If an unjust judge will heed a persistence widow...
b. ...how much more will a Just God heed His chosen people!
2. Our assurance is even stronger when we note the following
contrasts:
The Widow God's People
a. A stranger a. His elect, 1 Pe 2:9-10
b. Only one b. We are many
c. At a distance c. We can come boldly, He 4:15-16
d. An unjust judge d. A righteous Father
e. On her own e. God is for us, Ro 8:31-32
f. Pleads her own case f. We have an Advocate, Ro 8:34
g. No promise of an answer g. Promise given, Lk 18:8a
h. Access limited h. Access unlimited (can pray to God anytime)
i. Asking provoked judge i. Asking delights God
3. If persistence paid off for the widow, how much more for God's
elect who pray?
C. GOD WILL AVENGE HIS ELECT!
1. He may bear long with the prayers of His persecuted people...
- Lk 18:7b
a. For example, cf. Re 6:9-10
b. His longsuffering may be to give the persecutors time to
repent - 2 Pe 3:9
2. But when His vengeance comes, it will come swiftly!
a. There is a Day coming in which God will take vengeance
- cf. 2 Th 1:7-9
b. And when it comes, there will be "sudden destruction" with
no way of escape - cf. 1 Th 5:1-3
D. BUT WILL THERE BE FAITH ON THE EARTH WHEN HE COMES?
1. The Lord will come, avenging His elect
2. But His delay may prompt some to lose faith (implying lack of
prayer is indicative of a lack of faith!)
3. The Lord's concern over this matter is what prompts this
parable!
a. That men always ought to pray
b. That men not lose heart
CONCLUSION :
1. Have you begun to lose heart? Has your faith weakened?
a. The state of your "prayer life" reveals the true condition of
your faith!
b. If you do not pray "always" (cf. "without ceasing" 1 Th 5:17),
your faith is waning!
2. But the Lord has given us reason to believe in the power of prayer
in this parable...
a. Especially when we are persecuted for the cause of Christ
b. For we do not serve an unjust judge, but a God who has made us
His elect people!
Prayer is simply talking to God our Father. Persist in talking to God until this life comes to an end, when we will all stand before the Judge and there will be justice. This life is like a marathon and to be a Christian is to run through to the end. Persistence plus patience equals perseverance.
May this parable of "The Persistent Widow", along with "The Friend At
Midnight", encourage us never to lose heart and stop praying!
Sent from my iPad
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