Luke 18:8
I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus promises that God will answer the cries of his chosen people, and remarkably, he emphasizes this vindication will come "speedily." But then, he pivots with a question that chills the soul: after all this, will there still be faith left on earth when he returns? The shocking implication is that the greatest danger isn't God’s slowness to act, but humanity’s potential to stop believing in his action altogether.
Jesus has just told a parable about a persistent widow who finally gets justice from an unfair judge. He uses this story to teach his followers that they should always pray and not give up, because God will surely answer the prayers of his chosen people. However, Jesus then asks a sobering question, implying that despite God's faithfulness, finding genuine faith in his people might be rare when he returns.
You've prayed, you've pleaded, but nothing seems to change. Does God hear? And if He does, will He actually act?
Jesus concludes His parable about the persistent widow with a powerful promise and a sobering question.
The Promise:
The Question:
Prayer isn't just asking; it's believing. But what happens when our prayers feel like they're hitting a wall?
The parable Jesus told was designed to teach His followers that they "ought always to pray, and not to faint." This means:
The Nature of Persistent Prayer:
Understand the original words
huios tou anthrōpou · Greek Noun phrase
A messianic title used by Jesus referring to Himself, rooted in Daniel 7:13-14. It highlights both His humanity and His divine authority as the coming judge and king of the kingdom of God.
pistis · Greek Noun
Biblical faith is not mere intellectual assent but a firm, active reliance and trust in God and His promises. It involves an ongoing commitment and dependence on Christ, even in the absence of tangible evidence.
This verse arises directly from Jesus' parable, challenging His followers to consider whether perseverance in faith will endure even as His return, and the full vindication of God's people, seems delayed. The context of early church persecution and the eventual fall of Jerusalem highlights the real-world pressures that could cause faith to waver.
c. 30-33 AD— this verse
Jesus Teaches the Parable
Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge to His disciples, teaching them to pray always and not lose heart.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee and Judea
Jesus' teaching ministry across Galilee and Judea, facing increasing opposition from religious authorities, setting the stage for His eventual suffering and death.
c. 33 AD
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified in Jerusalem and rises from the dead, marking a pivotal moment in redemptive history and the basis for Christian faith.
c. 33-62 AD
Early Church Growth and Persecution
The early Christian church spreads throughout the Roman Empire, experiencing significant persecution from both Jewish leaders and Roman authorities.
This passage directly echoes Jesus' concern from Luke 18:8, warning that 'because lawlessness will be multiplied, most people's love will grow cold,' highlighting the widespread spiritual decline that makes finding faith on earth a challenging prospect.
2 Timothy 3:1-5Paul describes a similar dire spiritual climate marked by self-love and godlessness, reinforcing the difficulty of maintaining genuine faith during challenging times, as Jesus implies in Luke 18:8.
Hebrews 12:1-3This passage encourages believers to persevere in their faith by looking to Jesus, directly addressing the 'struggle against sin' and the weariness Jesus anticipates when He returns, as questioned in Luke 18:8.
Romans 11:20-22Paul uses the analogy of a cultivated olive tree to illustrate God's faithfulness and humanity's potential unfaithfulness, paralleling Jesus' warning in Luke 18:8 about the possibility of people being 'broken off' from the vine due to a lack of enduring faith.
barnesLuke 18:8: "I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"
Speedily - Suddenly, unexpectedly. He will surely vindicate them, and that at a time, perhaps, when they were nearly ready to give over and to sink into despair. This may refer to the deliverance of the disciples from their approaching trials and persecutions among the Jews; or, in general, to the fact that God will interpose and aid his people. Nevertheless - Bu…
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,…
Jesus promises that God will answer the cries of his chosen people, and remarkably, he emphasizes this vindication will come "speedily." But then, he pivots with a question that chills the soul: after all this, will there still be faith left on earth when he returns? The shocking implication is that the greatest danger isn't God’s slowness to act, but humanity’s potential to stop believing in his action altogether.
Jesus has just told a parable about a persistent widow who finally gets justice from an unfair judge. He uses this story to teach his followers that they should always pray and not give up, because God will surely answer the prayers of his chosen people. However, Jesus then asks a sobering question, implying that despite God's faithfulness, finding genuine faith in his people might be rare when he returns.
Jesus has just told a parable about a persistent widow who finally gets justice from an unfair judge. He uses this story to teach his followers that they should always pray and not give up, because God will surely answer the prayers of his chosen people. However, Jesus then asks a sobering question, implying that despite God's faithfulness, finding genuine faith in his people might be rare when he returns.
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The Risk of Fainting:
Jesus speaks of His return, but not just as a moment of judgment—it's a moment of intense scrutiny for faith itself.
Jesus' question about finding faith is deeply tied to His return as the "Son of Man."
What "Coming" Means Here:
Faith Under the Microscope:
c. 62-64 AD
The Book of Luke Written
Luke, likely writing his Gospel during this period, records Jesus' teachings, including the parable and the concluding question about faith.
70 AD
Destruction of Jerusalem
The Roman army destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, a catastrophic event that profoundly impacted Jewish life and was seen by some as a sign of God's judgment and vindication.
"I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”" — Jesus promises that God will answer the cries of his chosen people, and remarkably, he emphasizes this vindication will come "speedily." But then, he pivots with a question that chills the soul: af…
