The Parable of the Unjust Judge (also known as the Parable of the Importunate Widow or the Parable of the Persistent Woman, is one of the parables of Jesus which appears in the Gospel of Luke (). In it, a judge who lacks compassion is repeatedly approached by a woman seeking justice. Initially rejecting her demands, he eventually honors her request so he will not be worn out by her persistence. One interpretation of this parable is never giving up. It is found immediately prior to the parable of the

Pharisee and the Publican The parable of the Pharisee and the Publican (or the ''Pharisee and the Tax Collector'') is a parable of Jesus that appears in the Gospel of Luke. In Luke 18:9–14, a self-righteous Pharisee, obsessed by his own virtue, is contrasted with a ta ...

(also on prayer) and is similar to the

Parable of the Friend at Night The Parable of the Friend at Night (also known as the Parable of the Friend at Midnight or of the Importunate Neighbour) is a parable of Jesus which appears in . In it, a friend eventually agrees to help his neighbor due to his persistent demands ...

. Other scholars note that the content of the parable makes no reference to prayer and that the introduction of prayer as a theme is generally inspired by the Lukan construction in verses 6–8 and by the fact that Luke placed the parable of the Pharisee and Publican immediately after this one. Whatever approach is taken, it is noteworthy that the judge in the parable does not act on the basis of justice.

Narrative

John Everett Millais - Parable of the Unjust Judge

Luke reports the parable as follows:

Interpretation

The author's (Luke's) framing material of the parable demonstrates the need to always

pray Prayer is an invocation or act that seeks to activate a rapport with an object of worship through deliberate communication. In the narrow sense, the term refers to an act of supplication or intercession directed towards a deity or a deified an ...

like that persistent widow, for if even an unjust judge will eventually listen, God is much quicker to do so.

Joel B. Green Joel B. Green (born May 7, 1956) is an American New Testament scholar, theologian, author, Associate Dean of the Center for Advanced Theological Study, and Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, ...

,
The Gospel of Luke
', Eerdmans, 1997, , pp. 63643. The

parable of the Friend at Night The Parable of the Friend at Night (also known as the Parable of the Friend at Midnight or of the Importunate Neighbour) is a parable of Jesus which appears in . In it, a friend eventually agrees to help his neighbor due to his persistent demands ...

has a similar meaning.Craig L. Blomberg,
Interpreting the Parables
', InterVarsity Press, 1990, , p. 275.

sees in this parable an injunction not to lose heart, in the light of the

eschatological Eschatology (; ) concerns expectations of the end of the present age, human history, or of the world itself. The end of the world or end times is predicted by several world religions (both Abrahamic and non-Abrahamic), which teach that negati ...

tone of , and also an echo of

Sirach The Book of Sirach () or Ecclesiasticus (; abbreviated Ecclus.) is a Jewish work, originally in Hebrew, of ethical teachings, from approximately 200 to 175 BC, written by the Judahite scribe Ben Sira of Jerusalem, on the inspiration of his fa ...

35: "For he is a God of justice, who knows no favorites. ... The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal, nor will it withdraw till the Highest responds, judges justly and affirms the right." William Barclay says that the point of the parable is less about persistent prayer, but rather the contrast between God and men in the phrase "how much more." In prayer one is speaking to a Father ready to give.

Cornelius a Lapide Cornelius Cornelii à Lapide (''né'' Cornelis Cornelissen van den Steen; 18 December 1567 – 12 March 1637) was a Flemish Catholic priest. He was a Jesuit and exegete of scripture. Life He was born at Bocholt, in Belgian Limburg. He studi ...

comments on this parable, writing, "Hence the heretics called Euchitæ wished, but without reason, to be always praying and to do no manual work. But it is written, 'If any man will not work, neither let him eat' (2 Thess. 3:10). 'Always' here seems to mean sedulously, perseveringly, diligently, assiduously as in other things, and at befitting times, especially when temptation, persecution, and affliction are hard at hand. It is impossible for us to pray always and at all times. We must have a time for eating, drinking, labouring, etc. The word 'always' means, therefore, not continuance but perseverance in prayer: that is, that we should set apart fit times for prayer, and not cease to pray until we have obtained what we need and what we ask for."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parable Of The Unjust Judge Importunate Widow, Parable of the Gospel of Luke Prayer Women in the New Testament Works about widowhood

Narrative

Interpretation

See also

References