Parable of Unjust Judge and Persistent Widow
Study of Luke 18:1-8
Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’”
And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
— Luke 18:1-8
Still within the eschatological theme of chapter 17, Jesus told a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart.
The interval between His two comings will be a time of difficulty (2 Timothy 3:1) where all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:12-13). Believers will be like righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds) (2 Peter 2:7-8).
It will be a time of much injustice, persecution, and evil and the disciples might get tired waiting for the return of Jesus. So Jesus wanted to strengthen the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith because "Through many tribulations they must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Even though they don't know when it will come and it may sometimes feel like it never will, the disciples must continue praying ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven' (Matthew 6:10).
Jesus introduced the first character as a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man.
This judge is himself a violator of the two greatest commandments, love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ And ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself' (Matthew 22:37-40). He is unqualified to sit in office for judges are supposed to be dispensers of God's law and fear of God and care for people are fundamental requirements for that function. Judges shall do no injustice in judgment; shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but is to judge his neighbor fairly (Leviticus 19:15).
When king Jehoshaphat appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city. He said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the Lord who is with you when you render judgment. Now then let the fear of the Lord be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the Lord our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe.”
In Jerusalem also Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests, and some of the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord and to judge disputes among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Then he charged them saying, “Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and wholeheartedly. Whenever any dispute comes to you from your brethren who live in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you shall warn them so that they may not be guilty before the Lord, and wrath may not come on you and your brethren. Thus you shall do and you will not be guilty.
— 2 Chronicles 19:5-10
But this judge don't have fear of anyone above him, neither God nor men who are higher in office than him. It's unfortunate that he is the judge of a city where a poor widow has been wronged and nowhere to seek justice but him. Widows, along with orphans and foreigners, were among the most helpless In Israel that God has given provisions in the Law for their protection and sustenance (Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 14:28-29; 24:19-22; 26:12).
Because widows are poor and helpless, they are easily exploited. Klyne Snodgrass elaborates:
"Widows were easily recognized by their distinctive attire, which indicated their status (see Gen 38:14, 19; Jdt 8:5; 10:3; 16:8). Since women married in their early teens, widows were numerous but not necessarily old. Widows were often left with no means of support. If her husband left an estate, she did not inherit it, although provision for her upkeep would be made. If she remained in her husband’s family, she had an inferior, almost servile, position. If she returned to her family, the money exchanged at the wedding had to be given back. Widows were so victimized that they were often sold as slaves for debt."
So God warned,
You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
— Exodus 22:22-24
and commanded judges to
Vindicate the weak and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
Rescue the weak and needy;
Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.
— Psalm 82:3-4
The widow probably had a good case against her opponent but the unrighteous judge doesn't care at all about justice nor the widow's welfare and he doesn't fear disobeying God so he keeps rejecting her. The widow is too poor to pay a bribe so all she can do is keep going back to the judge. Because he is painfully annoyed by the widow's persistence he begrudgingly gives in to her demand for legal protection against her enemy.
Then Jesus told His disciples to pay attention to what the unrighteous judge said and contrasts him with God who supports the fatherless and the widow (Psalm 146:9) and A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows (Psalm 68:5). If the unrighteous judge can reluctantly give justice to a stranger how much more the righteous Judge will avenge His beloved elect?
God's elect will be persecuted in this present age and they will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and they will not see it (Luke 17:22) but we are not to think vindication will never happen. We don't need to take our own revenge because it is the Lord who will avenge us. Instead we bless those who persecute us and love and pray for and evangelize our enemies (see Romans 12:14-21).
The unrighteous judge is unwilling to help the widow that's why it took so long until he could no longer endure her repeated pleas. But God is not unwilling to avenge His saints and will surely vindicate them on His appointed time. To us it may seem like delays. Warren Wiersbe explains:
"Remember that God’s delays are not the delays of inactivity but of preparation. God is always answering prayer, otherwise Romans 8:28 could not be in the Bible. God works in all things at all times, causing all things to work together to accomplish His purposes. The moment we send Him a request that is in His will (see 1 John 5:14–15), God begins to work. We may not see it now, but one day the answer will come."
You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
— Exodus 22:22-24
and commanded judges to
Vindicate the weak and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
Rescue the weak and needy;
Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.
— Psalm 82:3-4
The widow probably had a good case against her opponent but the unrighteous judge doesn't care at all about justice nor the widow's welfare and he doesn't fear disobeying God so he keeps rejecting her. The widow is too poor to pay a bribe so all she can do is keep going back to the judge. Because he is painfully annoyed by the widow's persistence he begrudgingly gives in to her demand for legal protection against her enemy.
Then Jesus told His disciples to pay attention to what the unrighteous judge said and contrasts him with God who supports the fatherless and the widow (Psalm 146:9) and A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows (Psalm 68:5). If the unrighteous judge can reluctantly give justice to a stranger how much more the righteous Judge will avenge His beloved elect?
God's elect will be persecuted in this present age and they will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and they will not see it (Luke 17:22) but we are not to think vindication will never happen. We don't need to take our own revenge because it is the Lord who will avenge us. Instead we bless those who persecute us and love and pray for and evangelize our enemies (see Romans 12:14-21).
The unrighteous judge is unwilling to help the widow that's why it took so long until he could no longer endure her repeated pleas. But God is not unwilling to avenge His saints and will surely vindicate them on His appointed time. To us it may seem like delays. Warren Wiersbe explains:
"Remember that God’s delays are not the delays of inactivity but of preparation. God is always answering prayer, otherwise Romans 8:28 could not be in the Bible. God works in all things at all times, causing all things to work together to accomplish His purposes. The moment we send Him a request that is in His will (see 1 John 5:14–15), God begins to work. We may not see it now, but one day the answer will come."
Tribulation saints, those who would come to faith during the 7-year tribulation period, will ask God when they will be avenged and God told them to relax and wait until the full number of those God predestined to be martyred are fulfilled.
When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.
— Revelation 6:9-11
They were persecuted and killed on earth, now they will be avenged and vindicated on earth by being resurrected and reign with Christ in His millenial kingdom.
Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
— Revelation 20:4
Yet, how many Christians are eagerly waiting for Christ's coming to right all wrongs, save His elect and destroy His enemies, reward His servants and punish the rebels, defeat evil and establish righteousness, restore creation and bound Satan? How many are waiting for the time that “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).
When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.
— Revelation 6:9-11
They were persecuted and killed on earth, now they will be avenged and vindicated on earth by being resurrected and reign with Christ in His millenial kingdom.
Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
— Revelation 20:4
Yet, how many Christians are eagerly waiting for Christ's coming to right all wrongs, save His elect and destroy His enemies, reward His servants and punish the rebels, defeat evil and establish righteousness, restore creation and bound Satan? How many are waiting for the time that “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).
Jesus asks "However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,
— 1 Timothy 4:1— 2 Thessalonians 2:3
Before the Lord comes, persecutions, false teachings, and apostasies abound. How many can the Lord find steadfastly waiting for Him?
Note also the location--on earth. If we have faith in Him we must believe what He said. These things must be expected to happen on this present earth before the eternal state in the new heavens and new earth.
Michael Vlach explains why:
There must be a vindication and reign of the saints in the realm where they were persecuted
Present age: Saints are persecuted on earth as they serve Jesus.
Millennial kingdom: Saints are rewarded on earth for faithful service.
He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Michael Vlach explains why:
There must be a vindication and reign of the saints in the realm where they were persecuted
The Bible reveals that the period before the Messiah’s kingdom is one of persecution and opposition for the saints from both the world and Satan. The blood of the martyrs throughout history and the abuse of God’s people in many lands confirms this fact. The millennial kingdom of the Messiah, though, is presented as a reversal of these difficult conditions on earth. So in addition to looking at how the millennium relates to Jesus, it is also important to examine what the millennium means for Jesus’ servants.
The millennium is a time of vindication and reigning for God’s saints in the realm where they were persecuted. With the millennium there will be an ironic reversal of roles. God turns the tables on His enemies who persecute His people and flips the experience of believers.
God’s people who now are persecuted by Satan and the nations, will be rewarded, vindicated, and given authority over the nations on earth. They go from persecution to reigning. Thus, a future millennial kingdom is necessary for the reward and vindication of God’s people in the realm where they were persecuted.
Present age: Saints are persecuted on earth as they serve Jesus.
Millennial kingdom: Saints are rewarded on earth for faithful service.
He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
--Revelation 3:21
For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.
To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
— 2 Thessalonians 1:6-12
For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.
To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
— 2 Thessalonians 1:6-12
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