1 And he spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought
always to pray, and not to faint; 2 saying, There was in a city a
judge, who feared not God, and regarded not man: 3 and there was a
widow in that city; and she came oft unto him, saying, Avenge me
of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward
he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5
yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest she
wear me out by her continual coming. 6 And the Lord said, Hear
what the unrighteous judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his
elect, that cry to him day and night, and _yet_ he is
longsuffering over them? 8 I say unto you, that he will avenge
them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he
find faith on the earth?
The parable of the Unrighteous Judge was spoken in direct connection with
the instructions given to the disciples by their Master in reference to
his return. It is, therefore, not merely a general exhortation to prayer,
but to prayer for the coming of Christ, and more specifically to the
confident expectation of this event and of the blessedness which will
result.
It does, however, contain a very real encouragement to prayer and for all
Christians and at all times. The argument is this: If an unjust judge, who
has regard for neither God nor man, would yield to the importunity of an
unknown widow because he feared that she would annoy him by her repeated
requests, how much more will a just God be ready to reward the persevering
petitions of his own loved ones who cry to him continually!
In spite of all the mysteries involved, the followers of Christ should
pray without ceasing, and with all importunity should present their
petitions with the assurance that God does hear and in his own time will
answer.
The particular force of the parable relates, however, to the Church in her
conscious weakness and loneliness, in the age between the crucifixion and
the second coming of Christ. Jesus had just given a description of the
world at the time of his return. He had pictured the prevalent
carelessness and indifference and absorption in earthly pursuits, and now
he wished to encourage his followers to be patient and to turn their
hearts toward him in expectation and prayer. The widow in the parable is
not so much requesting that an enemy should be punished as that she should
be given her property rights for which she is applying to the judge. So
the Church is pictured, not simply as crying for vengeance upon
persecutors, but rather as longing and praying for all those blessings
which have been promised and which will be received at the coming of the
Lord.
There is a deep mournfulness in the question which Jesus asked after
expounding his parable, “Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall
he find faith on the earth?” Will there still remain those who are true to
Christ, who love him and are looking for his return? The very question is
a solemn warning against the peril of being overcome by prevalent
worldliness and unbelief. However, the answer is not to be given in a
spirit of hopelessness and pessimism and despair. The Church will always
have her adversaries, she ever will need to be on her guard against the
worldly influences by which she is surrounded. However, there will always
be those who are true to him who has chosen them out of the world, and
after long days of weary waiting their hearts will rejoice in the sudden
appearing of the righteous judge who will bring with him glories brighter
than they have dared to ask or to expect.