Luke 18

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

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

And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,

Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:

And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.

And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,

Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

What does Luke 18:7 mean?

Explanation

Luke 18:7 speaks about the faithfulness of God in bringing about justice for His chosen ones who persist in prayer.

The verse comes from a parable Jesus told about a widow who persistently sought a judge's intervention against her adversary.

The judge, who neither feared God nor respected man, eventually granted her request because of her continual coming.

The crux of the parable is to encourage persistent prayer, with the assurance that God, who is just and loving, cares for His elect and will certainly respond to their cries, even though it might seem He is delaying.

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Historical Context

Luke 18:7 is a part of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament, traditionally attributed to Luke the Evangelist, a companion of the Apostle Paul. The Gospel was written to a primarily Gentile-Christian audience.

It is thought to have been composed around AD 80-110. The parable is situated in a time when the early Christian community was experiencing persecution and injustice.

It was a message to encourage them to continue steadfast in their faith and in prayer, with the assurance that God's justice would prevail.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints focus on certain aspects of this verse:

Predestination and the Elect: Some Calvinist traditions would emphasize the concept of the "elect," suggesting that God has predestined certain individuals for salvation and is attentive to their prayers.
God's Timing: Arminian theology might focus on the aspect of God's timing and human free will in prayer, observing that God's responses are aligned with His perfect timing and the overall good.
Persistence in Prayer: The verse is also used to support the theology of persistence in prayer, with the understanding that such persistence is a testament to one's faith and trust in God.

Practical Applications

This verse serves as an encouragement for believers to persist in their prayer life, especially during times of difficulty or perceived delayed answers.

It is a reminder that God values justice and is attentive to the needs of His followers. It can also call Christians to reflect on their own actions, challenging them to advocate for justice in their communities, being the hands and feet of God's justice on earth.

Cross-References

Matthew 7:11: "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"
Psalm 55:22: "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."
1 Peter 5:7: "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

Language Study

Avenge: From the Greek word "ἐκδικεῖ" (ekdikei), which means to bring about justice or to vindicate.
Elect: From the Greek "ἐκλεκτός" (eklektos), this term implies chosen or selected ones and is often associated with those whom God has chosen.
Bear long with them: Often interpreted as meaning 'be patient' or 'defer action'.

It implies a period of endurance or waiting.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures and religions, there are figures similar to a divine judge who listens to the pleas of his or her people.

For example, in ancient Egypt, the god Osiris was considered the judge of the dead.

In the Greco-Roman tradition, Zeus or Jupiter was seen as the god who upheld justice.

Luke 18:7, however, presents a God who is not only a fair judge but also one who has a special relationship with His "elect," and therefore, a deeply personal vested interest in their well-being.

Scientific Perspectives

There is a growing body of research in psychology about the power of persistence and resilience which aligns with the practical teachings of Luke 18:7. The effects of persistent prayer or meditation have been studied in terms of stress relief and general mental health benefits.

However, these studies typically do not comment on the theological truth claims of prayer efficacy or divine response to prayer, as science is generally limited to studying natural phenomena.

Commentaries

William Barclay: He emphasizes the need for persistent prayer and explains that the parable teaches two things: God’s need to be certain of the real desire of our heart and our need to be sure of the real depth of our desire.
John Calvin: Calvinists might reference John Calvin's views on predestination, suggesting that God responds to the prayers of His elect based on His sovereign will.
Matthew Henry: Henry says, the promise is that God will speedily avenge them.

That is, he will, in due time, make their innocence appear, will bring forth their righteousness as the light; this he will do in his own time.

Luke 18

Luke 18

What does Luke 18:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 18:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?