"Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1). Why? --Because God's people are prone to spiritual weariness, and they need His grace to endure. Christ, therefore, directs them to the means most essential to their well-being. He encourages them to always pray.

Hear the parable. "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'" (Luke 18:2-5). As in all of His parables, Christ used terminology from human experience to convey spiritual meaning. Let us meditate on the concepts in His illustration.

We are first introduced to a judge. He was a judge in a certain city, indicating his authority and rightful place of jurisdiction. In this sense, the judge pictures God, who rules over heaven and earth and who bears all authority in judgment. But we are also told that the judge was unjust, one who did not fear God nor regard man. The cause for his condition is not given, nor is it relevant to the parable. Although he had authority, he was not moved to properly exercise it on behalf of his subjects. In this sense, the judge is intended to be a contrast to God, who is perfectly just and compassionate. The judge is set forth to teach us the nature of God's character by demonstrating a clear example of its opposite. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Gen 18:25).

Next, we are introduced to a widow. She lived in the same city as the judge, meaning that she was under his jurisdiction and care. As one of his subjects, she depended upon him for justice. She represents the people of God, who dwell in the sphere of God's rule and who look to Him for deliverance. It is noteworthy that Christ, in this context, chose to depict His people by the imagery of a widow. His purpose was to portray them as helpless. They are made of dust, yet they face a multitude of troubles in the world. Like the widow who has lost her husband, they are weak, without the aid of an earthly deliverer, and they must completely depend upon their judge.

We then see an injustice. The widow was wronged by an adversary and in need of deliverance. The wrong represents the sufferings that God's people endure and for which they need His aid. It is evident that God has chosen to allow suffering in this world, and His people, rather than being exempted from this decree, are subject to it. They face adversaries without number, enemies both material and spiritual. The trials and injustices they endure are sometimes great, for they live in a world that is under the sway of the evil one (1 John 5:19).

Therefore, we see the widow's supplication. She needed the judge to come to her rescue. He was her only means of effectual legal protection, and for this reason she besought him. Her supplications represent the prayers of the people of God. They are called to beseech Him for their every need. To whom else would they go? Is it not from Him alone that all blessings come? Notice also that the widow's supplications were continual. They were made so of necessity because the judge was not responsive to her pleas. The widow's continual coming to the judge signifies persistence in prayer. Though for different reasons, God, like the judge, may delay deliverance; and just as the widow needed to persist with the judge, so God's people must persist in prayer to Him.

We finally see the widow's vindication. The judge would not avenge the widow for a while, but he eventually granted her request. He did so not because he was righteous but to avoid being worn out by her continual coming. He saw that her persistence was unwavering and that his continual rejection only fueled her pleas. The judge here again represents God both by similarity and by contrast: by similarity because God, like the judge, will respond to the persistence of His people; by contrast because God, unlike the judge, will speedily deliver His people when the time is right; and His actions toward them will be driven by love, mercy, and justice. Christ said in conclusion to the parable, "Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily" (Luke 18:6-8). Christ's argument is from the lesser to the infinitely greater: If even the unjust judge delivers, how much more the God who is perfect in justice and who loves His people? He calls them His elect--those whom He chose from the foundation of the world and for whom He sent His Son to the cross. For Him to disregard their cries would be to deny Himself. Dear believer, do not take lightly this gift of God to you! He allows you to come to Him day and night! The judge of all the earth gives you His listening and caring ear!

But someone may ask, "Why, then, does God not always bring immediate deliverance for His people? Why does He sometimes seem to not deliver at all?" The answer lies only in the infinite wisdom and omniscience of God. We know that He does not afflict His loved ones willingly, and He has a purpose for all that happens in His world. When He seems to wait long, He has a cause, and He will use it to makes us more earnest in our desires, more fervent in our prayers, and more appreciative of His blessings. He often waits to be gracious so that He will magnify the greatness of His deliverance of His people. And even if deliverance does not come in this time, it will surely come in eternity. So when our own estimation of circumstances and timing would tempt us to ascribe forgetfulness to God, let us remember the admonition of Peter: "Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet 3:8-9).

The parable would be unnecessary if God's people could not lose heart in the midst of their trials--but they can. They can sometimes crumble under what seems to be an unbearable load. They are prone to faint, especially when no way of escape is in view. They are often prepared to give up, thinking that the battle is lost and that all hope of rescue is gone. They are sometimes ready to admit defeat when the sufferings they endure bear long with them. Those who deny this truth need only look at the most eminent of people in scripture to find examples. So dear friend, pray without ceasing (1 Thes 5:17). Know that in those times when prayer is the least desirable, it is the most necessary. When despair knocks at the door, remember this parable. "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray" (James 5:13).

Hear Christ's final word on the matter. He ends His encouragement with a question: "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8). He leaves us with this question to challenge us to remain faithful to the end. To do so will require fervent prayer. Let us, then, be encouraged to faithfully pray, knowing that He hears us. "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you" (Luke 11:5-9).

If you would like to receive further information concerning these matters, please contact Joseph Montalto.