Luke 18:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’"

NIV: yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ "

NASB: yet because this widow is bothering me, I will give her justice; otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’?'

CSB: yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice, so that she doesn’t wear me out by her persistent coming.’"

NLT: but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’'

KJV: Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

NKJV: yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”

In Jesus' parable of the persistent widow, an unqualified judge refuses to honor God or respect people. The man has no interest in giving a widow the protection she is owed by law. Unfortunately for him, the widow will not take no for an answer. She continues to demand what she is due. Finally, just to relieve his own irritation, he relents and allows her case to proceed.

"Justice" in this context implies two things. First is the sense of the widow getting what she is owed: an opportunity to present her case under the established law. The second is the idea of her adversary being punished. The duplication of "keeps bothering" and "her continual coming" emphasize that the judge is not convicted by the fact he's disobeying God and refusing to do his job. He just wants her to go away.

This parable comes on the heels of Jesus' description of the events surrounding His second coming. At that time, He will judge the world. His arrival will be obvious, but people will not be prepared. Like the widow, it is the expectant who will see God move (Luke 17:24–37).

Jesus contrasts this heartless judge with God the Father: "And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?" (Luke 18:7). God is not a corrupt man who refuses to give justice. He will act. To us, it may seem like a long delay, but what He has promised He will fulfill.

Luke 18:1–8 contains the parable of the persistent widow. Jesus contrasts God with a corrupt judge who will only give a widow justice when she becomes a nuisance. The Lord, however, is eager to give His followers justice—partially now and fully when Jesus returns. Like the widow, we must ask diligently and with faith. Jesus goes on to show that proper faith is humble, not self-congratulating (Luke 18:9–14), childlike (Luke 18:15–17), and makes us hold lightly things of the earth as compared to how we cling to God (Luke 18:18–30). Only Luke records this parable.

Luke continues to arrange Jesus' teachings by their topic. Here, he includes two parables: the persistent widow and the Pharisee and the tax collector. Jesus encourages children to approach Him. He interacts with a moral, wealthy man who can't bear to follow Jesus if it means giving up wealth. After another prediction of His death, Jesus encounters and heals a blind man on His way to Jerusalem.

Luke 18 approaches the end of Jesus' "travelogue" to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51—19:27). Luke has selected miracles, teachings, and events to show how Jesus trained His disciples. His emphasis was explaining the kingdom of God in preparation for their work to build the church. Luke 18 includes several contrasts between those who understand God's kingdom and those who don't. Luke 19 includes the story of Zacchaeus and another parable before Jesus' triumphal entry and the Passion Week. These stories are also found primarily in Matthew 19—20 and Mark 10.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.