The Persistent Widow

Story Snapshot

A widow keeps coming to an unjust judge demanding justice. Though he neither fears God nor cares about people, he finally grants her request just to be rid of her. Jesus says how much more will God bring justice to those who cry out to him day and night.

Main Characters

Story Summary

Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 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 do not fear God or care about people, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she will not eventually wear me out with her coming. And the Lord said, Listen to what the unjust judge says. Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. Then he added a searching question: However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?

Timeline

• The PleaA widow keeps demanding justice from an unjust judge.
• The RefusalFor a time the judge refuses her.
• The Wearing DownHer persistence finally moves him to act.
• The ApplicationJesus points to God's readiness to answer his people.
• The QuestionHe asks whether he will find faith when he returns.

Themes

What This Story Means

Jesus states the point of this parable up front: his disciples should always pray and not give up. Like the friend at midnight, it works by contrast. If even a judge who fears neither God nor people will finally grant justice to a widow simply because she will not stop coming, how much more will God, who is perfectly just and loves his chosen ones, answer those who cry out to him. The widow is one of the most powerless figures in that society, yet her persistence prevails. Jesus is not saying God is like the reluctant judge, but the very opposite: God is eager to bring justice, so his people should not lose heart when answers seem delayed. The closing question turns the lesson inward. The real issue is not whether God will answer, but whether we will keep praying in faith until he does.

Bringing It Home

• Always pray and do not give up.
• Delay is not denial; God is not the reluctant judge.
• God will bring justice to those who cry out to him.
• Persistence in prayer is an expression of faith.
• The question is whether we will keep believing until the answer comes.

Key Verse

Did You Know?

• Jesus states the parable's purpose at the outset: to pray and not give up.
• Widows were among the most vulnerable and least protected people.
• The judge acts not from justice but to be rid of the widow.
• It closes with a question about faith at the Son of Man's return.

Read Next

What This Shows Us About God

• God is just and eager to defend his people.
• God is nothing like the reluctant, godless judge.
• God answers the persistent cries of his chosen ones.

What This Shows Us About People

• We are prone to lose heart when answers seem delayed.
• We need encouragement to keep praying in faith.
• We show our faith by not giving up.

A Question to Sit With

Where have I stopped praying because the answer seemed delayed?

Prayer

Lord, You are just and You love Your people. Keep me from losing heart when answers are delayed. Give me the widow's persistence and a faith that keeps crying out to You. Amen.