The Parable of the Persistent Widow
Jesus tells a parable about prayer without losing heart. A judge who ignores God and people finally grants the widow’s request because she keeps coming, and Jesus contrasts that delay with God’s prompt justice for his elect.
T1hen Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart: 2“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men, 5yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Otherwise, she will wear me out with her perpetual requests.’” 6And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge. 7Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them? 8I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”
Verse 1Jesus tells a parable about the need to pray continually and not lose heart.
Introduces prayer as the point of the parable.
Verse 2A judge in a certain town neither fears God nor respects people.
Sets up the contrast with God’s character.
Verse 3A widow keeps asking for justice against her adversary.
Shows steady pleading under hardship.
Verse 4The judge refuses for a time, then speaks to himself about his own lack of reverence.
Shows his reluctance before he yields.
Verse 5He decides to grant justice so the widow will stop wearing him down with repeated requests.
Shows pressure, not compassion, moving him.
Verse 6The Lord tells the listeners to hear what the unjust judge says.
Turns the story toward its lesson.
Verse 7God will not fail to bring justice for his elect who cry out day and night.
Contrasts divine care with the judge’s refusal.
Verse 8Jesus says God will act quickly, then asks whether the Son of Man will find faith on earth.
Ends with justice answered and faith tested.
A quiet block diagram: each row is one authored paragraph movement, with verse numbers kept visible for scanning and deeper work.
- vv. 1-8
Jesus tells a parable about prayer without losing heart. A judge who ignores God and people finally grants the widow’s request because she keeps coming, and Jesus contrasts that delay with God’s prompt justice for his elect.
The paragraph places persistent prayer beside the certainty of God’s justice.