The Parable of the Persistent Widow - Luke 18 verses 1 to 8

The Parable of the Persistent Widow - Luke 18 verses 1 to 8

Jesus tells this parable to show his disciples that they should always pray and not give up. So the parable is intended to illustrate the theme of being persistent in prayer.

But let’s briefly sketch out the story we are being presented with here.

The first character we are introduced to is the judge. He’s not a particularly good person to be a judge as he doesn’t fear God and he doesn’t care about people.

The sense of the translation is that he doesn’t feel shame because his conscience isn’t functioning as it should.

In those days such judges were often bribed and the case would go to the person who paid the most.

Next we are introduced to the widow. In the bible widows often symbolise the powerless and the oppressed. 

The fact this widow is representing herself in this case would suggest that she has no male relatives to do it for her.

In Israel in those times, it was very much a man’s world. Women didn’t go to court so her appearance suggests she is entirely alone in the world with no one to support her.

However what the woman does have, is a conviction that her cause is just and an absolute determination to see justice done. Also because she is a woman she will be treated with a degree of respect in the court. She is able to plead her case and be heard.

So she comes repeatedly to the judge and asks him to grant her justice. The sense of the translation implies that the lady has a will to go on forever if need be. There is no sense of wavering in her determination.

Initially the judge rejects her request but she is not to be deterred.

One can imagine when the court opened the woman being there and the judge thinking oh no not that woman again.

Her relentless appeals start to get to him and wear him down, and eventually the judge decides to grant her justice for his own peace of mind, and to finally be rid of her persistent requests.

So Jesus paints a picture of an uncaring judge with a woman whose chances of success would have been very slim indeed in that day and age.

 But even in this situation the woman’s determination eventually leads to justice being done.

Jesus’s point is that if even an unjust judge will grant justice to a powerless widow because she is persistent, how much more will God answer the prayers of his chosen ones if they are persistent.

The reality however is that God is nothing like the unjust judge and as Christians our situation is nothing like the widow’s. So if her persistence is rewarded how much more will our persistence in prayer be rewarded.

In fact God is the polar opposite of the unjust judge. He loves justice and he cannot act unjustly. Furthermore he cares very much about people and has a perfect understanding of every situation that is presented to him. 

He can see our thoughts and the attitude of our hearts. And above all He loves us. He wants to give us what is good for us. He is on our side.

So when we pray we’re not coming to someone who is unjust and unconcerned; we’re coming to someone who is absolutely just and who cares deeply about our situation and who wants to help us.

But not only is God different to the judge presented in the story. We are in a very different situation to the widow. She is on her own in a male dominated world.

But as Christians we are children of God. We’re not strangers to the judge. We are his children and He is our loving Heavenly Father. His spirit is living in us and we belong to his family and household. The one we’re coming to is the one who created us and loves us most of all.

So we can understand when Jesus says in this parable; “and will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones who cry out to him night and day. Will he keep putting them off? I tell you he will see that they get justice and quickly.”

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Some of you will be parents and you will know how precious your children are to you. Perhaps there have been things your children have longed for, which as a parent you also wanted to give them.

But maybe you didn’t give them to your child straight away. You asked them to wait for Christmas or a birthday. But there was a longing in your heart to give your beloved child something that would mean a lot to them.

Perhaps you were as impatient as them for Christmas day or their birthday to arrive so that they could receive the gift. You were looking forward to that moment when at last their request would be granted.

If you’re not a parent perhaps you can remember receiving a gift from your own parents, which meant a lot to you. What perhaps you didn’t see at the time was the longing in their heart to give it to you.

Jesus said; “If you even though you are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

So God longs to answer our prayers but we need to be persistent and not to give up.

Our persistence is a sign of our faith and of how much we really want something from God.

Why doesn’t God answer our prayers straightaway? Well he does but often what we are asking for can take months or years to accomplish. The moment you first start praying, God will start to address the situation you are praying for.

For instance in Daniel chapters 9 and 10 we read about Daniel praying earnestly but not receiving an answer to his prayer for 21 days. However he is told; “Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard.”

Daniel was heard as soon as he started praying although he saw no obvious answer for 3 weeks.

It is the same for us. We are heard as soon as we start praying but the answer can take many weeks or months or even years to become evident.

Why does it sometimes take so long to see an outcome from our prayers?

Well if we’re praying for instance for someone’s salvation or healing there is often much that we don’t see that 

God may need to do in order to answer our prayers.

A while ago I was praying for a young person with a nut allergy. I remembered him in my prayers over a period of perhaps 12 months but I saw no obvious answer to my prayers.

I asked God why it was taking so long for him to answer my prayer. I then had the impression that what I was praying for was actually much bigger than I realised, and that the nut allergy was merely a symptom of some deeper root cause. God was dealing with the root cause – not just the symptom.

What I had imagined would be a simple healing was actually more involved than I had realised.

Perhaps if you’re a gardener you’ve gone to dig a plant out but you’ve found its roots go much deeper than you expected.

Sometimes if we’re praying for someone’s healing we may be only seeing the tip of the iceberg as it were. We may see the symptom but not the root cause.

Sometimes of course we may be concerned with a need for physical healing whereas God may be more concerned about spiritual or emotional healing.

Likewise with praying for a person’s salvation, often people pray for several years before their prayers are fully answered. Sometimes people will need to walk a long long path before they reach the point of really wanting God in their lives.

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There is quite an important point in the parable which is that the widow’s determination to see justice done, springs from a conviction that her cause is just.

If we are to persevere in prayer for something we must be fully convinced in our hearts that what we are praying for is in line with God’s will.

If you’re praying to win on your premium bonds you may not be successful. However if God has laid a particular prayer on your heart – a particular person or situation – your chances of success are extremely good as long as you persevere.

However like the widow you must be absolutely determined to pray until you see an answer to your prayers, even if it will take years and years. The person or situation you are praying for is so dear to your heart that you simply will not give up. You will rend the heavens until your prayer is answered.

Such prayers spring from a heart of love and often you will find these prayers spring from the heart of God himself. You are praying in to being the desires of God.

So beloved if this is you. Don’t give up. God does hear your prayers and He is at work. Persevere and your perseverance will be rewarded.

Of course we can’t dictate to God and sometimes the outcome of our prayers won’t be what we hoped for or expected. However what we can be sure of is that our prayers were heard and that they have had some effect even if the answer hasn’t been obvious to us.

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Sometimes if we pray for a situation that is close to our heart and we feel frustrated that there has been no obvious break through, fasting may be an option.

Fasting can be done for a variety of spiritual reasons but one way in which it can be very helpful is as a way of prayer. I heard one person describe fasting in this way as prayer with a megaphone.

It’s saying Lord I feel so strongly about this situation that I am willing to deny myself food.

Now I would only suggest fasting as an option to someone who is in good health and if you have any doubts seek medical advice beforehand.

If you haven’ done it before perhaps try fasting initially for just a couple of days. You could even try a partial fast – say going without your evening meal for a few days.

If you do decide to fast set your own parameters and be clear in your own mind as to exactly why you’re doing it.

Personally I’d continue to drink liquids except for alcohol and I’d never suggest going without liquids for any period of time as if you do, you can become seriously ill.

My own experience is that God does hear fasts and that it can sometimes lead to a spiritual breakthrough.

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Finally I’d just like to say a few words about prayer in general.

Of course you can pray at any time of day wherever you happen to be, but one of my favourite scriptures is what Jesus said about praying;

He said; “When you pray go to your room and close the door and pray to your father who is unseen and your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

It is a good idea to have some place in your home where you can go to be alone with God.

A quiet place where you can go to talk to God on a regular basis.

Firstly shut the door. This is a practical and a symbolic gesture. You are effectively shutting out the world for a while. You are going to be alone with your heavenly father and you don’t want to be disturbed or interrupted.

Although you won’t be able to see God when you do this He can most certainly see you.

As Jesus says, God is unseen but he sees what is done in secret. He knows your thoughts and the words you are about to speak. He knows the concerns on your heart and what sort of day you’ve had. And he longs for you to share it all with him.

Be totally honest with God. If you feel frustrated or angry share it with Him. Tell him about what is going on in your life. And when you pray explain situations to him. Tell him about the people you care about and ask him to bless them, to protect them, to draw them to himself, to open their eyes, to heal them if need be. Share your concern for them with him as He loves them too.

If you look at prayers in the bible they are often detailed. God already knows everything of course but by sharing situations with him your prayers are real and relevant.

When you pray like this you are exercising faith and God always rewards faith. As Jesus says; Your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

And do remember to thank God for loving you, for hearing your prayers, and for providing for you.

If you’re not yet a Christian and this all sounds a bit alien still go to your room and close the door and pray. I promise you that God will hear every thought and word you want to share with him.

Before I became a Christian I used to pray in my room. I used to say God I don’t know if you’re listening but if you are please reveal yourself to me. I believe that you created the world and that you created me I want to know who you are.

It took a few years but God answered that prayer and whoever you are today God will answer your prayers too, if you mean them and if like the widow in today’s parable you persevere.

Amen.