Luke 18:1-8 — Some Pharisees have asked Jesus when the kingdom of God
will come; he has answered: it is already “among
you”. Using examples from the Old Testament, He has warned His disciples
that its full coming will be sudden and unexpected; many people will miss it,
being preoccupied with worldly affairs.
In Jewish society, a “widow” (v. 3) had no legal status; she was powerless. The story tells
us twice that the judge is a rogue: he neither respects God nor cares about
other people (vv. 2, 4). So why would Jesus tell an absurd story? Because such
stories are easily remembered and are likely to be retold. The point, never
give up when searching God’s grace and favor.
The point of the parable
lies in the contrast between the callous judge and the loving God. If even this
judge could be moved to act by the widow’s persistence, how much more will the
LORD answer His people’s prayers for vindication?
The scene is a court of
law, with the plaintiff a poor widow whose opponent has refused to settle a
lawful debt. She keeps coming before the judge asking for justice against her
oppressor. But the judge is swayed neither by religious principle nor be public
opinion. At first he does nothing. Why should he bother with a widow who has no
money or influence? Bu the next day she is back again bothering him and this
goes on day after day, Her pestering becomes so tiresome to the judge that,
though he fears neither about God nor man, he relents and gives her justice
just to be rid of her,
The LORD, however, is not a
dour, ungracious deity who has to be badgered into compliance. He is a loving
God. If persistence brought results even with the godless judge, how much more
will your LORD, whose only motive is love, hear and answer the insistent cries
of His children?
Prayer
for likeness to Christ: O God, by the patient suffering of Your
only-begotten Son You have beaten down the pride of the old enemy. Now help us,
we humbly pray, rightly to treasure in our hearts all that our Lord has of His
goodness borne for our sake that following His blessed example we may bear with
all patience all that is adverse to us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.[2]
Collect for Friday of the week of Pentecost 18: Show us, O God, a much of Thy purpose, because we have it, as shall steady us. We do not ask that the way be made smooth, or even that Thou wouldst bestow upon us now the strength which Thou hast promised. We ask only for the grace to use what Thou has already provided in Christ Jesus. Amen [3]
[1] Luther’s
Seal copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[2] Collect
for likeness of Christ, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing
House, St. Louis
[3] Collect
for Friday of the week of Pentecost 18, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For
and By the Church, Vol. II © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau,
Delhi, NY
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