Jesus Parable of The Persistent Widow We must be persistent in prayer especially when persecuted trusting in God one day to avenge His elect A parable is an earthly story designed to teach a spiritual lesson through a comparison Many parables focused on the nature of the kingdom of God, its King and its citizens Today, Jesus church is the visible manifestation of His kingdom The parable of the persistent widow is only 2 found in Luke This parable is focused on disciples being persistent in prayer It is similar to the parable of the friend at midnight which Jesus had taught in Luke 11 about persistence in prayer However, his first parable on prayer focused more generally on persistent prayer and the loving good heavenly Father giving what is good in His time 3 In this parable on prayer, Jesus teaches the need for persistence in prayer but applies it to a specific situation, praying for God s help to avenge His people who are being persecuted even to death In this situation, we must continue to pray, as in all situations, trusting that one day God will avenge His elect because He is just, loving and merciful 4 Jesus Parable of The Persistent Widow 1. Background 2. The parable 3. Applications 5 Jesus Teaches Two Parables On Prayer Luk 18:1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, Luk 18:2 saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. Luk 18:3 "There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.' 6
Jesus Teaches Two Parables On Prayer Luk 18:9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: Luk 18:10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 7 The Parable of The Persistent Widow Luk 18:1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, Luk 18:2 saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. Luk 18:3 "There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.' 8 The Parable of The Persistent Widow Luk 18:4 "For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, Luk 18:5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.'" 9 God Will Eventually Avenge His Elect If We Are Persistent In Prayer Luk 18:6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge *said; Luk 18:7 now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? Luk 18:8 "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?" 10 We Are God s Chosen Nation 1Pe 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; We Are God s Chosen Nation 1Pe 2:10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. 11 12
God s People Will Be Persecuted 2Ti 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 1Pe 4:15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 1Pe 4:16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. 13 Rev 6:9 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; Rev 6:10 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?" 14 Rev 6:11 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. 15 2Th 1:3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; 2Th 1:4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. 16 2Th 1:5 This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. 2Th 1:6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 2Th 1:7 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, 2Th 1:8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 17 18
2Th 1:9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 2Th 1:10 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. 19 Rev 6:11 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. 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 20 Heb 12:9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? Heb 12:10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. Heb 12:11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. 21 22 Be Persistent Praying In Faith To 1Th 5:16 Rejoice always; 1Th 5:17 pray without ceasing; 1Th 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Jas 4:1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? Jas 4:2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 23 24
Jas 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. Jas 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 25 Mar 11:23 "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Mar 11:24 "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. 26 Mar 11:25 "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. 1Jn 3:21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 1Jn 3:22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. 27 28 1Jn 5:14 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1Jn 5:15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. 29