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Search on passages as Genesis 1, Lk 11:2-3 or keywords as Pray, Jesus or Golden Rule.

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Thematic Selections from the Bible

The persistent widow and the crooked judge shown in American Standard Version

The persistent widow and the crooked judge

Just like now, corruption was evident in the past as well. This passage speaks of a widow with no support, no family, and no one to help her. She sought the judge for justice, but the judge shunned her request. Desperate and at her wit’s end, she kept disturbing the judge with her plea for help. Finally, the judge gave in, simply because he wanted her to stop disturbing him.

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This is one of those “how much more” parables. After all, if a crooked (or unrighteous) judge would be willing to bring justice to a widow just to get her off his back, how much more would Jesus be willing to bring justice to us!

This parable is similar to the one Jesus spoke of about having a neighbor in need

Lk 11:5-8

And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves;

for a friend of mine is come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him;

and he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee?

I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will arise and give him as many as he needeth.

It speaks of the attitude of persistence that we should have when we ask, or pray, for something. Notice that the widow kept pestering the judge because she had nowhere else to turn to. Had she thought there were a better alternative, or decided that there was nothing that could be done, she would have given up, and stayed home wallowing in self pity. But she did not give up. Instead, she persisted in trying to convince the judge. Similarly, if we really want it, we will persist in prayer for it. And God will answer!

Lk 18:2-8

saying, There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, and regarded not man:

and there was a widow in that city; and she came oft 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 she wear me out by her continual coming.

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

And shall not God avenge his elect, that cry to him day and night, and he is longsuffering over them?

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

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