Jesus was a masterful teacher. He often used stories, known as parables, to convey concepts and lessons in a way that his audience could relate to and apply to their lives. Some parables have multiple levels of meaning depending on the listener’s level of understanding of God and His plan for mankind. Luke 18:1-8 is an example of one such parable. It has the additional advantage of Jesus providing an introduction to the parable where he clarifies the intent of the lesson, and some additional afterword comments in which Jesus reinforces his meaning.

Luke 17:22 begins with the words, “And he said unto the disciples.” The remaining verses of Luke 17 continue the discussion between Jesus and his disciples into Luke 18. Luke 18:1 indicates that Jesus “spake a parable unto them.” Considering the context of the previous versions, it is likely that the lesson of the forthcoming parable was intended primarily for Jesus’ disciples. Others who may have been listening to the conversation may have also received a blessing from the lesson, even if they did not understand its full meaning.

Luke 18:1 specifies that the parable’s lesson regards the persistence of prayer as a demonstration of faith. In the parable, a widow repeatedly petitions a judge for justice regarding a wrong that was done to her. During Jesus’ time, widows were among the most powerless of individuals, and very, if not completely, reliant on representatives such the judges for justice. Although no reason is given why, the judge does not immediately respond to the widow’s pleas. Eventually, however, because of the widow’s persistence, the judge takes action on the widow’s behalf (Luke 18:5). In Luke 18:6-7, Jesus makes the point that if even an unjust judge will eventually act on persistent pleas, if only to gain a measure of personal peace, God’s followers who have committed their lives to Him can have even more assurance that God will hear and answer their persistent prayers according to His will, even if the answer seems long in coming.

In Luke 18:8, Jesus adds a profound ending thought to his parable. At both his first and second advents, Jesus was/is looking for hearts and minds that are in harmony with God. As humans, we cannot see or touch God. Although humans have a sense of the passing of time, we do not have the capacity to understand God’s scale. Events may seem long in coming, even delayed, from our perspective, but in God’s planning happen exactly on time. Faith bridges the gap between God’s nature and ways and mankind’s capacity for understanding. Faith is both belief and actions upon that belief despite not having tangible evidence to base one’s actions upon (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is an essential quality in those who seek to please God. 

A persistence in prayer reflects a character that has faith in God, in His wisdom, and in His love. During his first advent, Jesus understood that the Jewish people had waited for centuries for their Messiah. Some had given up waiting, while others had built up incorrect expectations and thus didn’t recognize him. Jesus gathered those who demonstrated a persistence in their beliefs despite the declarations of the religious leadership that Jesus was not the awaited Messiah. From this perspective, during Jesus’ first advent, “when the son of man [Jesus] came” he searched for faith on the earth, and although he found it in the hearts of some, others missed out on his calling due to a lack of faith.

Jesus’ words also have a broader application for the present time. Many centuries have passed between Jesus’ death and resurrection and today. Although not understood by the majority of the world, Jesus has invisibly returned (“when the son of man cometh,” but from a different perspective). Throughout the intervening centuries, God’s faithful followers have looked forward to Jesus’ return and prayed for the fulfillment of God’s promises of His just and perfect kingdom to be established (Matthew 6:10). Many have lived and died without seeing the fulfillment of their prayers, but that doesn’t stop God’s ardent followers from continuing to pray. Persistent, heartfelt, continuous prayer despite what seems like, to our minds, a long, even delayed wait (Habakkuk 2:3) displays our confidence in God and His promises. It is the substance of things hoped for. It is the conviction of things not seen. In applying Jesus’ words of Luke 18:8 to our present day, the importance of demonstrating our faith through persistent prayer now, finally, during the time of our Lord’s second presence, becomes clear.

Matthew 24:46: “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he hath come shall find so doing.”

Additional Resources:
Christian Questions Podcast
Episode #845: “How Should We Be Praying?”
The importunate widow plus the Judge and the Pharisee/ Tax Collector
CQ Rewind Show Notes

Episode #1194: “Could Jesus Return Without You Knowing?”
Revealing the three scripturally-progressive phases of Jesus’ return
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes