Devotional Reading: Psalm 145:13b-20
Jesus uses a greater to lesser argument in Matthew 6:25-27 which teaches, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (NKJV)
Worry and anxious thoughts are an unnecessary pastime according to the LORD. He who gives life, our Creator, is also the One who will sustain us with food, clothing, money, jobs, family, friends, and so much more. The difference between rich and poor, young and old, racial backgrounds, etc. is irrelevant because each of us stand on the same level. Each of us are of the created lesser than He, the greater Creator God. It is unnecessary to worry or have anxious concerns about life. All we need do is see how the Creator provides. Since humans are created in His image and are far more valuable to God than birds, we need not worry. This great God provides, sustains, and cares for each of His creatures. No one can add a single hour to their life through anxious thoughts. Worry only brings stress and sickness. Consistently pray instead to God in the Name of Jesus.
This summer quarter focuses on Justice in the New Testament. We are in Unit II “Jesus Calls for Justice and Mercy” of the three units of the quarter. This is the third lesson of the five lesson study with a parable taught by Jesus of a persistent widow and an unjust judge. It is sandwiched between His addressing a question of the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God would come (Luke 17:20) and an instruction on humility by way of the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, which follows it at Luke 18:9. Jesus was giving instructions in view of His rejection as His ministry was to come to a close in a couple of months. He wanted His disciples and followers prepared for the difficult days ahead.
In Luke 17:20-37 Jesus addressed the concerns of the Pharisees and, later, the disciples as to the coming of the kingdom of God and His return. He described the coming as a spiritual work that will meet with much opposition, the Messiah must suffer before He reigns, and the Jewish nation must be destroyed to set up the kingdom of the Messiah, and when Christ returns the believers will immediately escape the destruction at a time only known to God.
After teaching the disciples about the destruction which Jesus compared to lightning, the flood of Noah’s day, and the destruction of Sodom Jesus knew they were in need of instruction to prepare them against worry, against anxious thoughts. The key to a parable usually does not appear in the 1st verse but at/or toward the end. However, this very important point was to be recognized from the beginning of the parable and carried throughout as it reads in Luke 18:1, Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, (NKJV).
Jesus had already taught the disciples a model prayer (Luke 11:1-4). We are to pray to our spiritual, holy God who will send Jesus back again to set up His kingdom. We must pray to follow the LORD’s commandments on earth just as commandments are followed in heaven. Believers are to request daily, spiritual and physical food for themselves and their neighbors. We are to request forgiveness for our sins, seen and unseen, known and unknown, as we forgive those sins committed by others. We are to pray for deliverance from any and all evil, and be thankful for the kingdom, power, and glory which belongs to the LORD. The Psalm of David, Number 145 verses 13, and 18-19 indicate His …kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion endures throughout all generations…The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. (NKJV) Believers must be consistent and remain focused in our prayer life. We must call upon Him.
Jesus wants us to never tire, never faint, in our prayer life and not view prayer as our “spare tire”. What does it mean to faint not? We know that fainting is associated with abrupt unconsciousness which may be said to be unintentional. Jesus wants us to be intentional and conscious in our decisions and not to lose heart, not to faint, not to lose our faith. The Apostle Paul instructed the believers at Gal 6:9, let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (NKJV) A strong, consistent prayer life is what we need in order to be intentional and conscious.
By parable Jesus shows the power of persistence, especially through annoyance, among men who will be influenced by nothing else other than that to provide justice. Luke 18:2-5 provides insightful perspective. The Scriptures read, “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for awhile; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’” (NKJV)
We have a judge whose duty it is to hear complaints fairly and impartially. Widows were deprived the support of their husband and could not inherit their husband’s estate during the biblical days. The fact this widow was speaking for herself would mean she did not have a male to speak in her stead on her behalf. She was likely poor and vulnerable to exploitation. She has to be bold and strong in order to take on this judge who has no fear of God nor man. He does not see in her anything she can give him as a bribe to decide her case. So he puts her off by ignoring her. She refuses to be ignored and is persistent. She consistently comes back, most likely on a daily basis. Maybe she took her lunch with her to his office to sit and wait for his audience a few days. Perhaps she followed him. Perhaps she sat in his courtroom within his eyesight. We will never know what she did to wear out his patience. But she was persistent in her request that he avenge her of her adversary.
The point is faith asks, faith acts, and faith perseveres and endures.
Do not lose sight of the wickedness of the unjust judge because he finally granted the widow’s request. He just did it because he was tired of her persistence and wanted to get rid of the widow. He was not converted to believe in God nor did he worry about his standing with men. This parable is decided similarly to the parable at Luke 11:5-8 where a friend gets his friend out the bed because he needs three loaves of bread. His friend finally opens the door, not because of the friendship, but because of the persistence.
Jesus wanted the disciples to really pay attention and apply the guiding principle of verse 1 to the parable as it continues to unwind. If this unjust judge will come to the aid of the persistent widow who he cares nothing about, how much more will the sovereign God bring about justice for His beloved chosen believers who consistently pray? Luke 18:6-8 reads, Then the LORD said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (NKJV)
We know this widow received justice in due time and she was a stranger to the unjust judge. In comparison, we are the loving children of God. The widow stood as one before the unjust judge while we stand as many in our prayer lives before the Almighty Great God. The widow went to an unjust judge while we appeal to the Righteous Judge through our prayers. She could only cry out to the unjust judge during the times when he granted her access. In comparison, we have access to cry out to God both day and night. Instead of praying some believers ask, ‘When will God come to the defense of His people?’ Jesus wanted to assure His disciples that God will provide mercy. The believers have many adversaries and, it is our duty to cry out both day and night to God for justice. We must have faith that our prayers shall be heard at the proper time, and we shall receive mercy quickly or in God’s time. We often say, “He may not come when you want Him, but He’s right on time!” It requires patience.
Matt 18:19b-20 states, “If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (NKJV) I am reminded of yet another teaching of Jesus found in Luke 11:9-13. This lesser to greater wisdom was a message to the believers to keep asking, seeking, and knocking. The Passage reads, “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you, seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish. Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to who ask Him!” (NKJV)
In the parable the widow persevered until she received justice. She did not grow weary. But will we grow weary before we receive mercy? Remember faith asks, faith acts, and faith perseveres and endures. We have been assured the Son of Man shall come. Are we patient in our wait? Can we keep the faith while we wait for the return of the Son of Man? (Rev 19) Or will we become disobedient during the wait? Why fight in this battle if we do not believe we are on the winning side? (Rev 20) There may be some who lose their faith and conclude He is not coming. It is a challenge, but think of how we shall meet up with God one day if we remain obedient and patient. He will wipe away all of our tears (Rev 21:4) and answer all of our prayers. This is our comfort. Unbelievers can’t change or make the promised return of the Son of Man of no effect. God keeps His promises and does not lie. (Num 23:19) Be patient. Keep praying. Ps 145:20 states, The LORD preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy. (NKJV)
Deborah C. Davis
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