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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke

PART 4 - JESUS' MINISTRY DURING HIS JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM (Luke 9:51 - 19:27)

27. The Parable of the Unjust Judge and the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8)


LUKE 18:01-08
1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’” 6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

Do you wait for the coming of Christ and the light of his kingdom? Do you beg your Lord to fulfill his promises to his own elect? Maybe you will not understand this parable unless you long yourself for the coming of Christ, and wait for the revelation of his glory, which removes all injustice, cures all diseases, and destroys death. Do you think much of the dwelling of heaven on earth, or are you one of the negligent and cold-hearted, who do not cry to God in continuous prayer ascending from churches for the speedy coming of Christ.

The parable made clear by Christ’s explanation that God is willing to help his elect find the fulfillment of the promises which become an established truth to them (v. 7). He loves and longs for them, but the time is still unripe. The gospel has not reached the last tribe and tongue in the world, and evil has not yet become fully incarnate in the person of the antichrist. This is why the presence of the truth of God promised to the saints is delayed. However they cry day and night to their heavenly Father motivated by the Holy Spirit in them who called, enlightened, renewed and filled them with his love that their longing to be united with the Father and the Son may be increased in the midst of hatred and persecution. As a woman longs for her husband who is far away, from whom she had not heard any news for a long time, so that the neighbors say he is dead and she is a widow. The coming of Christ is delayed, and the waiting elect are losing heart. So Christ commands his church to pray persistently, holding fast the image of the faithful Father, for sometimes believers think that God is not their Father any longer, but that he is an unjust severe judge who does not answer their prayers. God is not unjust, but love and truth. He looks with loving kindness on the redeemed of his Son, even if they do not realize his care. God hears all your prayers, even if he did not respond to them according to your wishes. In his love he knows all your needs before you ask him, and he helps you when the time is ripe. Thus the heavenly Father knows that the world is in dire need of the second coming of Christ, for there is no salvation from sin, disease, and death except through the coming of the kingdom of God to our evil world. Do you long for the peace of God to be spread around the world? Then pray faithfully and persistently that Christ may come. Begin today, and be sure that God hears your prayer and definitely answers it even if his answer is delayed. Christ is certainly coming and revealing his true kingdom in our world.

The widow in the parable is like the church that has been living since Christ’s ascension to heaven without the presence of her Lord visibly with her. She cries and prays persistently for his coming, persevering in her crying until he responds. Christ gives us the spiritual meaning of the woman’s persistence to have justice done to her: We have to pray persistently the fervent petition in the Lord’s Prayer, “Your kingdom come” that the King may appear among us.

Now you may have understood Christ’s important question. Is it possible for the Son of Man to find such faith on earth at his coming? Who is waiting for him ardently, not only with longing love and hope, but also with prayers, knocking at the door of the truth promised to us beggars? Who is studying with care God’s promises in the Holy Bible, holding fast this truth promised to the church, calling on his Lord with persistent cries to send his Son again to save us, that we may obtain his kingdom which he builds for his elect? We do not have to wait for him simply watching and failing to take action. The Lord invites us to participate in his coming, and pray effectively, approaching him continuously to open heaven, renew the earth, and reveal his glory. Where is your prayer? Where is your love for Christ? Where is your faith based on the promises of the Holy Bible? Where is your great hope? Where in your heart has the guarantee of the Spirit been poured out? Where is your faithfulness in supplication? The aim of this parable is that we may pray persistently and incessantly: “Come, Lord Jesus!”

PRAYER: O Lord Jesus Christ, you are true God, and the Possessor of your kingdom. We worship you with rejoicing and ask you to come soon. Teach us your love, strengthen our hope in your coming. Direct your church toward your coming, that we may be waiting for yo at all times.

QUESTION 110: How must we pray for the second coming of Christ?

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