Luke 18:3
And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It’s easy to focus on the widow's repeated demands, but notice the specific word choice: she doesn't ask for vengeance, but for "justice" or to be "vindicated." This highlights that her persistent plea was for what was rightfully hers, not for revenge.
Jesus tells a parable about a corrupt judge to teach that his followers ought to pray constantly and never give up. A persistent widow, representing those who feel oppressed and forgotten, repeatedly asks the unjust judge for justice against someone who has wronged her. This highlights the desperation of her situation and the judge's callous disregard, setting the stage for Jesus' comparison to God and the believer's cry for help.
The word 'avenge' might sound harsh, but what did this widow really want? It's not what you might first think.
The original language used here, 'ekdikēson,' doesn't necessarily mean revenge in a petty or hateful way. While it can imply vindication or punishment of an offender, in this context, it's primarily about justice. This widow wasn't just looking for someone to get even; she was seeking legal redress and protection from ongoing oppression. She wanted the judge to right a wrong and stop her adversary's harmful actions. The commentators emphasize that if she were seeking pure vengeance, Jesus likely wouldn't have used her story to teach about prayer.
This widow was relentless. What can her 'never-give-up' attitude teach us about approaching God?
Jesus tells this parable to show that 'men ought always to pray, and not to faint.' The widow's repeated visits weren't just annoying; they were a demonstration of her unwavering belief that justice was possible. She understood that her only recourse was to keep bringing her case before the judge, even when he initially refused. This persistence is the key! Jesus contrasts the unjust judge with a just God, not because God is like the judge, but to highlight how our persistent prayers, offered to a loving Father, are powerful and will ultimately be answered.
Why does Jesus specifically choose a widow and a corrupt judge? It paints a stark picture of desperation and the need for divine intervention.
Widows in the ancient world were particularly vulnerable. Without a husband or male relative, they often lacked legal standing, financial support, and protection. They were easily preyed upon by the powerful. This judge, who 'neither feared God nor regarded man,' represents the worst kind of authority – corrupt, indifferent, and unjust. He neglected his duty to protect the weak. By setting this scene, Jesus highlights the desperate situation of God's people, who, like this widow, can feel overlooked and oppressed by a world that often disregards righteousness. Yet, even this corrupt judge eventually acted out of annoyance, showing that persistence yield results.
Understand the original words
chēra · Greek Noun
A woman whose husband has died; in Scripture, widows are frequently presented as a vulnerable class under God’s special protection, often representing those who have no earthly defense.
ekdikēsis · Greek Noun
The standard of moral and legal righteousness; it refers to the vindication of the oppressed or the restoration of what is right according to God’s law.
antidikos · Greek Noun
An opponent or legal plaintiff; in spiritual terms, it can denote anyone or anything that stands against the believer’s vindication or righteousness.
This verse speaks to the vulnerability of widows and the Lord's command to not afflict them, highlighting the injustice the widow in Luke is facing.
Deuteronomy 10:18This passage shows God's heart for the defenseless, specifically mentioning widows, which underscores why their plight is so significant in Jesus' parable.
Isaiah 1:17Here, the prophet calls for justice for the widow, mirroring the core plea of the widow in Luke's parable and showing this was a recognized societal problem God cared about.
James 5:4This New Testament passage directly parallels the widow's cry for justice against her oppressor, showing this theme of the unheard cry of the oppressed continuing into the early church.
Matthew 23:14Jesus condemns those who 'devour widows' houses,' demonstrating the prevalent spiritual and societal danger widows faced, making their plea for justice even more urgent.
calvinLuke 18:1-8: "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;"
- And he spake also a parable to them, that they ought always to pray, and not to grow weary: 2. Saying, There was a judge in a city, who neither feared God, nor regarded man. 3. And there was a widow in that city, who came to him, saying, Do me justice on my adversary. 4. And he refused for some time, [322] but afterwards said within himself, Though I neither fear God, nor regard man,…
vincentLuke 18:3: "And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary."
Avenge (ἐκδικησον)The word is too strong. It means do me justice. See on Romans 12:19.
It’s easy to focus on the widow's repeated demands, but notice the specific word choice: she doesn't ask for vengeance, but for "justice" or to be "vindicated." This highlights that her persistent plea was for what was rightfully hers, not for revenge.
Jesus tells a parable about a corrupt judge to teach that his followers ought to pray constantly and never give up. A persistent widow, representing those who feel oppressed and forgotten, repeatedly asks the unjust judge for justice against someone who has wronged her. This highlights the desperation of her situation and the judge's callous disregard, setting the stage for Jesus' comparison to God and the believer's cry for help.
Jesus tells a parable about a corrupt judge to teach that his followers ought to pray constantly and never give up. A persistent widow, representing those who feel oppressed and forgotten, repeatedly asks the unjust judge for justice against someone who has wronged her. This highlights the desperation of her situation and the judge's callous disregard, setting the stage for Jesus' comparison to God and the believer's cry for help.
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"And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’" — It’s easy to focus on the widow's repeated demands, but notice the specific word choice: she doesn't ask for vengeance, but for "justice" or to be "vindicated." This highlights that her persistent pl…
