Luke 18 And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man; 3 and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Vindicate me against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
This story is a parable? Who is unjust judge?, widow?, and the city?
Yes brother omega it’s a parable concerning being persistent in prayer and not losing faith of you don’t immediately hear an answer
see how it is prefaced
“And he
spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”
Luke 18:1 KJV
it tells us what the parable is about generally before he tells it , that’s how parables are e story he tells here is actually communicating a message to the Hearer
It’s like jesusnis giving us a literary illustrator to communicate a spiritual message
“saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Luke 18:2-9 KJV
Then luke sets us up again by telling us what the next parable concerns
self righteousness and looking down on others
“And he spake
this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:”
Then he tells that story also which is again telling us that message
The figures in a parable aren’t literal they are a story to teach a significant message the one you posted is about being persistent in prayer
“there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.”
hes telling them something they can grasp the ruler helps not the first time but because the person is persistent in asking . Jesus is saying “ if an unjust judge will move because he is bothered then you know of you pray to God constantly in faith he is always going to answer
he tells several about that so it must be important for us here’s one more example of how he’s using a parable to say it
“And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And
he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
I say unto you,
Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
Luke 11:5-10 KJV
Importunity means “ persistence even to the point of annoyance “
jesus is simply teaching his disciples to always pray even if you aren’t yet seeing the answer don’t give up the figures are only used to communicate the message about prayer
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