Luke 18:1-8
Persistent Widow
Read the passage
1Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:
2“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men.
3And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’
4For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men,
5yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Otherwise, she will wear me out with her perpetual requests.’”
6And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge.
7Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them?
8I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Jesus tells a parable to show His disciples that they should always pray and not lose heart. In a certain city there is a judge who neither fears God nor respects people.
A widow keeps coming to him, asking for justice against her adversary. For a while he refuses, but finally he says that although he fears neither God nor people, he will give her justice so she will not keep bothering him.
Jesus asks them to hear what the unrighteous judge says. If such a judge responds to persistence, will not God give justice to His chosen ones who cry to Him day and night? Jesus says God will give justice swiftly.
But He ends with a searching question: when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth? The parable is not saying God is reluctant like the judge. It calls disciples to persistent prayer because God is righteous and attentive.
Questions
1 What does the widow keep asking for?
AnswerShe keeps asking the judge to give her justice against her adversary. Her persistence is the only power she is shown to possess.
2 What kind of judge hears her?
AnswerHe neither fears God nor respects people. He acts only after deciding that continued requests will wear him down.
3 What does Jesus say God will do?
AnswerHe says God will give justice to His chosen ones who cry to Him day and night. God's character is not like the judge's.
4 What question does Jesus ask at the end?
AnswerHe asks whether the Son of Man will find faith on earth when He comes. Persistent prayer is connected to enduring faith.
What This Means for Us
The widow's persistence is not a lesson in making vulnerable people prove their worth to officials. It is a promise that God sees those who must keep asking for justice when human systems are indifferent.
Families can pray for justice while also taking responsible action: listen to the vulnerable, document harm, seek wise advocacy, and refuse to confuse delay with God's absence.
Prayer
Righteous God, hear people who cry out for justice day and night. Keep our household from indifference, make us persistent in prayer and action, and sustain faith when answers seem delayed. Amen.