CULTWATCH Devotional

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men.
3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, “Grant me justice against my adversary.”
“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, “Even though I don’t fear God or care about men,
5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!”
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.
7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

This parable or word-picture is unique to Luke, and like the parable of the friend at midnight (Luke chapter 11) it is one of the few parables whose purpose is clearly stated. Both these parables teach hope and patient persistence in prayer. Jesus compares the character of God with the character of an evil man, not of a good man. This adds force to the parable, as God is the opposite of the crooked judge. The story does not suggest that God can be manipulated or badgered into answering prayer. Instead Christians pray to a loving Father, who is more willing to give than we are to ask.

This parable is a conclusion to Jesus’ earlier teaching in chapter 17 about his unexpected (second) coming at the end of this age, as verse 8 makes clear. In particular, it is an encouragement to continue in prayer without losing heart through the difficult times of intense distress before his return. An associated theme is justice for God’s suffering people (verse 7; Revelation 6:9-11).

FOUR MAIN CHARACTERS

Probably this widow was bringing a financial case to the godless and arrogant judge, but he refused to listen because he was busy with more profitable cases, and perhaps he wanted a bribe. The unscrupulous judge cared nothing about justice for the widow.A widow was the weakest and most helpless person in ancient society and a symbol of those who were poor and defenceless. As a woman with little standing in society, no natural male protector, and too poor to pay legal fees, persistence was her only weapon. She “kept coming” (verse 3) so that the judge reconsidered his usual refusals. The determined widow had a faith with the quality of perseverance; it was not faith in the unjust judge but faith in the value of persistence.

The judge may have been a Roman magistrate who had no personal interest in the needs of Jewish people. This corrupt and procrastinating judge had no reverence for God, and consequently no regard for the rights of man. These two things go together. Few nations were like Israel with basic justice written in their constitution: “Do not show partiality [bias or prejudice] in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of any man, for judgment belongs to God.” (Deuteronomy 1:16-17). He became tired of her “bothering” him, and publicly embarrass him. His motive in granting her request was a selfish regard for his own convenience. He only cared for himself.

3. His “chosen ones” or believers in Jesus Christ.

In this story the “chosen ones”[1] suffer like the oppressed widow, and represent the persecuted Church at the end of this age, and every individual believer in conflict with an anti-Christian government. The coming of Christ is a major theme in the previous chapter where Jesus said: “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.” (17:30).

The doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ is central to the New Testament but no time is specified and its manner is not clear. No one can predict the coming of Christ. Extravagant interpretations and date fixing are the mark of a cult. Jesus emphasized that believers must keep alert in prayer and be ready for that day. Meanwhile believers must not lose heart and should continue faithfully in their Christian service. This is also the lesson of the parable of the pounds in Luke 19:11–27. Like servants alert for the return of their master, believers in Christ should be prepared for his coming.

God has no favourites. His plan of salvation includes the entire human race but regrettably only a minority responds in faith to Jesus Christ and is saved. God is both a loving father to his people and a just judge of those who have rejected Jesus Christ. These two roles are not contradictory as Christians i.e. those who have been saved, have been shown grace because of their faith in the sacrifice of Christ, not because they have deserved it. Judgment is the inevitable result of human failure to respond to God’s mercy in Christ. It is a serious matter for anyone to reject Jesus Christ.

God loves justice. The Old Testament Law was based on the principle of even-handedness and fairness: “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favouritism to the great, but judge your neighbour fairly.” (Leviticus 19:15). The last part of this law, in verse 17, reminded Israel where this equality and fairness came from: “I am the LORD.” The Law of Moses recognized the poverty and helplessness of widows: “Do not take advantage of a widow or orphan.” (Exodus 22:22)

The parable makes its point by contrast as Jesus argues from the lesser to the greater: if an unjust judge (who is not like God) will give justice to a widow and a stranger (which believers are not) then surely God will hear and answer the prayers of his children. God is the faithful Judge who delays giving justice to his suffering people, not through indifference, but through patience and mercy. The parable promises that God will answer, no matter how long it may seem to take. We can have faith that righteousness will triumph over evil in the end.

Jesus was not suggesting that all believers would be gone when he returned! Rather the question is asked to encourage Christians to continue faithfully in prayer in times of “great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equalled again.” (Matthew 24:21) “Faith” in this context refers to the loyalty of Christ’s disciples. Some commentators assume that the implied answer to this question is “No”. Jesus’ question suggests that persistent faith, that is, the faith that does not faint in prayer, will be rare. However, the question remains open.

The early church faced a time of anguish and suffering, as has the persecuted church through the ages, and the persecuted church of today. Passages like this challenge the current false belief that believers will automatically experience happiness, health and wealth in this life. This false doctrine reveals an ignorance of church history and does not help persecuted Christians, or third world believers trapped in poverty.

The prophetic words of Jesus in chapters 17 and 21 of this gospel do not predict a general improvement in the spiritual condition of the world before his coming (See 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy chapters 3 and 4).

Jesus warned about apostasy from sound Christian doctrine where professing believers favour religious talk that is empty of biblical teaching and based on current theological fashion. Paul predicted counterfeit “Christian” doctrine. Many members of today’s cults were once members of churches.

THERE ARE THREE CONTRASTS IN THIS PARABLE

We shall “faint” (AV) and become discouraged if we do not pray. Jesus encouraged us to “not give up” (NIV) or “lose heart” (NASB) or “become discouraged” (TEV) or “to be faint-hearted”[2] or “to grow weary.” In difficult times it is easy to be despondent, or downhearted, or to lose courage. Sometimes we become tired or careless in prayer where tiredness is not only physical but also spiritual. When an answer to prayer is delayed, Jesus said, we should not become depressed or spiritually weary and “lose heart.”

She was one person, but the praying people of God are many, and together they may ask for what they need. Believers also have the Holy Spirit who helps them pray.
She came to an unfriendly judge but we come to a loving Father who encourages us to come boldly to him.
She came to an unjust judge, but we come to a righteous Father who is concerned for the weak and oppressed.
She had no friend to speak for her, but “we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (1 John 2:1).
She had access to the judge only at certain times but we may pray to God at any time.
The widow came to a human court of law, but God’s children come to a “throne of grace with confidence.” (Hebrews 4:16).
We may claim the promises of the Bible, but the widow had no promises that she could claim as she approached the judge.

Obviously, the story is not saying that God is like the unjust judge and that we have to bother him before he will answer our requests because he does not want to help us. Like the similar story in Luke 11:5-8, the parable of the friend at midnight, it makes its point by making a contrast.

There is a mystery about our unanswered prayers. However, trials develop spiritual endurance and test the quality of our faith and as we persist in prayer, we grow in character, hope and faith. God answers prayer for his glory and for our good. God loves to answer our prayers, but sometimes the answer is “No” or “Wait”. Paradoxically, while prayer is an expression of our weakness, it is also a God-given tool that allows us to co-operate with God in achieving his purposes on earth.

Why does God not intervene to protect the innocent from injustice in our world of violence, corruption, and moral and spiritual decline? God is working out his purposes even in the unlikely and unpromising events of our turbulent history. However difficult it is to understand God’s ways, we can remain confident that he is always in control in unexpected ways and that he has the last word. We lose heart because we do not understand God’s timing and his purpose. Faith in a God who knows what he is doing allows us to live with unanswered questions and unrealized hopes.

EXAMPLES OF PERSEVERING PRAYER

In the OT there are several examples of people who refused to give up until God’s answer came. Moses kept his hands raised to God in prayer until Amelek was completely defeated (Exodus 17:13). Joshua held out his javelin toward Ai until it was destroyed (Joshua 8:18-26). Elijah kept praying to end a three-year drought until rain clouds came (1 Kings 18:42). The psalmist waited for God’s answer more than a man on night duty waits for the long dark hours to pass (130:5-6). The OT word “wait” has the idea of waiting with confident expectancy.

In the NT Jesus prayed in Gethsemane at a crisis moment in his life until he was strengthened for the coming ordeal of trial and crucifixion (Mark 14:32-42). The disciples remained in the upper room until the Holy Spirit came upon them (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:14; 2:4). The believers in Jerusalem prayed until Peter was released from prison (Acts 12:5, 16).

As we pray, we place ourselves in a position where God can use us. We also place God in a position where he can respond. Even though God is able to do anything how and when he likes, there is still a sense in which prayer moves his hand. This does not mean that we can manipulate God through prayer. Rather God has chosen prayer as his means of achieving his work in his world.

Any delay in answered prayer does not mean that God has forgotten his promise or us. In his time the answer will come and in such a way as to show you that he has been planning your highest good. We do not trust in our persistence but we trust in God’s love and faithfulness.

“Do we ever feel a secret inclination to hurry our prayers, or shorten our prayers, or become careless about our prayers, or omit our prayers altogether? Let us be sure, when we do, that is a direct temptation from the devil. He is trying to sap and undermine the very citadel of our souls and to cast us down to hell. Let us resolve to pray on steadily, patiently, perseveringly and let us never doubt that it does us good. However long the answer may be in coming, still let us pray on. Whatever sacrifice and self-denial it may cost us, still let us pray on. Whatever we make time for, let us make time for prayer.”[3]

PRAYER

Gracious Father, we pray for all those in authority, and for the victims of injustice, especially persecuted believers. Help me, to live in an attitude of persevering prayer as did Jesus. Reveal more of your grace to me, and remind me of your strength and mercy in my daily walk with you. Amen.

[1] The Greek “eklektos”, in verse 7, is translated “chosen ones” (NIV), or “elect” (AV), or “His own people” (Weymouth). This term refers to all believers of all ages throughout the world. They include those from all people groups who have heard God’s call to “repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15) and responded to it. It is also a term that is significant in describing God’s people at the end of this age of history (Mark 13:27; Matthew 24:22, 31; Revelation 17:14).

[2] Liddell and Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, Electronic Edition, Logos.

[3] Robert Sheehan editor, Daily Readings From J. C. Ryle, page 251, Evangelical Press, 1982.