Then he told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, 2 “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. 3 And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ 4 For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, 5 because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’” 6 The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. 7 Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? 8 I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Jesus tells this parable to show why disciples must keep praying and not lose heart. Prayer here is steady trust, a habit of returning to God “day and night”—an everyday idiom for persistence—especially when justice seems delayed (cf. 1 Thess. 5:17). Luke sets the scene with a stark contrast: a judge who “neither feared God nor respected any human being,” and a widow whose need places her among Scripture’s most vulnerable. The Law and the Prophets single out widows for God’s care, urging His people to defend them (Deut. 10:18; Isa. 1:17; Sir. 35:12-18). Her repeated plea for “a just decision” is a picture of persevering prayer: not noise, but fidelity—less about piling up words and more about returning to God with steady trust, honest words, and a willing heart (cf. Mt. 6:7). Fidelity means praying again and again, even when nothing seems to change, letting prayer align us with God’s will rather than trying to bend His to ours (cf. 1 Thess. 5:17).
The judge finally acts, but not from conversion; he yields because her persistence becomes inconvenient—he worries she will “wear me out” and cause trouble. Jesus uses this to teach by contrast: if even a callous judge can be moved to do what is right under pressure, how much more will the living God—who is just and merciful—secure the rights of His chosen who call out to Him (cf. Lk. 11:5-8; 12:6-7; Mt. 7:11). The Father is not reluctant; He cares for the smallest things and therefore will not ignore those who belong to Him.
When Jesus promises that God will see that justice is done “speedily,” He does not claim that divine action always matches our timetable. Scripture teaches that the Lord is patient and purposeful, not indifferent; His help may seem delayed and then arrive decisively, and His final vindication comes with the Son of Man (cf. 2 Pt. 3:9). The closing question—“When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”—turns the focus from God’s readiness to our perseverance. The issue is not whether God hears prayer, but whether we will keep praying in trust until He comes.
Lord Jesus, teach us to pray without losing heart. When answers seem delayed, steady our trust and keep us close to the Father day and night. May our faith remain firm until You come. Amen.
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Sources and References:
- The Holy Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition (2011).
- Faculty of the University of Navarre, The Navarre Bible: Luke (2008).
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al., eds., The Paulist Biblical Commentary (2018), Luke.
- Brown, Raymond E., et al., eds., The New Jerome Biblical Commentary (1990), Luke.
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