Luke 18:1-8

November 14, 2007
Study: Luke 18:1-8
Memorize: Luke 18:1
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
4"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "
6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

ANALYSIS
1. Paraphrase study passage: To illustrate his point and help them understand, Jesus told the disciples a story- kind of practical application for them. The town judge was confident and did what he wanted. Meanwhile, there was a widow who was persistent in her pleas for help/justice. Originally, the judge refused, perhaps ignored her pleas. Finally, he realized he would grow tired of her coming to him and changed his mind. He acted on her behalf. Won’t God help his faithful who cry out to him? You better believe it, and how. God is swift.
This is the same as Jesus praying for us in heaven, interceding to the Father on our behalf. Will he find out faith and persistence the same?

2. Outline study passage:
I. Jesus point of the parable: Pray with persistence, don’t give up.
II. Judge
A. Didn’t fear God
B. Didn’t care about man
III. Widow
A. Persistent- “Grant me justice against my adversary.”
B. “Because this widow keeps bothering me…”
- Her persistence paid off.
IV Comparison
A. “will God not bring about justice for his chosen ones…”
B. He is swift in meeting our requests & needs.
V Will we have the faith to back it up?

3. Cross References:
Show: to cause or allow to be seen; exhibit; display. to present or perform as a public entertainment or spectacle. to indicate; point out. to guide, escort, or usher. to explain or make clear; make known. to make known to; inform, instruct, or prove to
2 Sam 22:26 “to the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked, you show yourself shrewd.”
Psalm 143:8- We are to put our trust in him, lift our souls to Him to show the way.
Zec 7:9- Show mercy and compassion to each other.
Acts 2:19- Show wonders in heaven & signs on earth
Acts 10:34- God does not show favoritism.

Always: every time; on every occasion; without exception. all the time; continuously; uninterruptedly. Forever.
Deut 15:11 “There will always be poor people…” We are to be openhanded and take care of them.
Psalm 16:8- “I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
Matt 26:11- alabaster jar of perfume is poured on Jesus, the disciples got upset because it was such a waste in their eyes- could have been sold to raise money for the poor. Jesus reminds them that they will always have the poor, but won’t always have his presence.
Matt 28:20- “I am with you always.”
Mark 14:7- alabaster perfume
John 12:8- alabaster perfume
1 Cor 13:7- Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Phil 4:4- Rejoice in the Lord always
1 Peter 3:15- We are to always be prepared to give an answer for our hope in Jesus.

4. Problems & Questions:

5. APPLICATION
What is God’s desire for me? Focus, persistence, faithfulness.
What will I do about it? Make the choice to obey and tune out the distractions.
This is how I plan to do it: I’m not fully sure yet. The start, prayer. So far, the Holy Spirit has been pretty good at bringing me back into focus. I just need to listen more, question less. I don’t always need to know why. I don’t always need to give an opinion.