Luke 18:1-8 Meaning: Why God Delays Answers
1He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray and not give up,
2saying, “There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God and didn’t respect man.
3A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my adversary!’
4He wouldn’t for a while; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man,
5yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.’”
6The Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.
7Won’t God avenge his chosen ones who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?
8I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
1And he spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2saying, There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, and regarded not man:
3and there was a widow in that city; and she came oft unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out by her continual coming.
6And the Lord said, Hear what the unrighteous judge saith.
7And shall not God avenge his elect, that cry to him day and night, and yet he is longsuffering over them?
8I say unto you, that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
1And he spake also a simile to them, that it behoveth us always to pray, and not to faint,
2saying, `A certain judge was in a certain city--God he is not fearing, and man he is not regarding--
3and a widow was in that city, and she was coming unto him, saying, Do me justice on my opponent,
4and he would not for a time, but after these things he said in himself, Even if God I do not fear, and man do not regard,
5yet because this widow doth give me trouble, I will do her justice, lest, perpetually coming, she may plague me.'
6And the Lord said, `Hear ye what the unrighteous judge saith:
7and shall not God execute the justice to His choice ones, who are crying unto Him day and night--bearing long in regard to them?
8I say to you, that He will execute the justice to them quickly; but the Son of Man having come, shall he find the faith upon the earth?'
1And he spoke also a parable to them to the purport that they should always pray and not faint,
2saying, There was a judge in a city, not fearing God and not respecting man:
3and there was a widow in that city, and she came to him, saying, Avenge me of mine adverse party.
4And he would not for a time; but afterwards he said within himself, If even I fear not God and respect not man,
5at any rate because this widow annoys me I will avenge her, that she may not by perpetually coming completely harass me.
6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge says.
7And shall not God at all avenge his elect, who cry to him day and night, and he bears long as to them?
8I say unto you that he will avenge them speedily. But when the Son of man comes, shall he indeed find faith on the earth?
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow to teach us to pray always and not lose heart. Discover what it means when God seems slow.
Context
Jesus has just been speaking about the coming days of the Son of Man. Now He turns to His disciples with a story that addresses a question they, and we, carry: what do you do when God seems silent? The parable is simple. A widow with no power keeps coming to a judge who cares about nothing. She asks for justice. He refuses, then finally gives in because she wears him down. Jesus then draws the contrast: if an unjust judge eventually acts, how much more will the righteous God bring justice for His own people who cry to Him day and night? But the parable ends with a question that lingers. It suggests that persistent prayer is not just about getting an answer. It is about something even deeper. The next parable in the chapter, the Pharisee and the tax collector, continues the theme of how we come before God.
Key Words
Two Greek verbs in this passage hold the weight Jesus is pressing on His disciples. The first is the word behind 'not give up', egkakein. It paints a picture of someone whose courage drains away, who goes slack inside. Vincent describes it as 'to turn coward or lose heart.' That is what the widow could have done. Stop showing up. Let the silence convince her she is alone. Jesus knows how easily that happens when prayers seem to hit the ceiling and bounce back. The second verb is the widow’s strategy: she will hupōpiazē the judge. Clarke explains that this is a boxing term, meaning to strike under the eye, to bruise and stun. She harries him, wears him out with her presence. It is an aggressive kind of persistence, not passive waiting, but active, returning, showing up. And then Jesus uses a third word for God: makrothumei, He is patient, He bears long. The word means to be of a long spirit, to hold back anger and action for a purpose. God is not the unwilling judge; He is the Father who waits because His timing is better than ours.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have found different points of emphasis in this parable without disagreeing on its central call to persist in prayer. Reformed commentators like Calvin stress the contrast: if a wicked judge vindicates a widow, surely the just God will vindicate His elect. The emphasis falls on God’s character, not ours. Wesley and other Methodist voices highlight the warning against fainting, the parable exists to keep us from giving up when prayer feels unanswered. Some early church writers read it in light of the end times, seeing the widow as the church crying out for Christ’s return. The Eastern tradition often dwells on prayer itself as a means of growing in union with God, so the persistence shapes the one who prays as much as it moves the One who hears. Each reading flows from the same story: keep coming.
A common misunderstanding
Many people read this parable and think, 'So I need to nag God until He gives in.' The widow gets what she wants by being annoying, but that is the point of the contrast, not the point of the lesson. Jesus is arguing from the lesser to the greater: if a bad judge eventually does the right thing, how much more will the good God, who already loves you, respond to your cry? You do not have to wear God out. You simply have to keep trusting. The parable is not about changing God’s mind; it is about staying connected to the One who already intends your good.
Living This Out
Think of one thing you have stopped praying about. Maybe it is a relationship that is not healing, a job situation that has not changed, a prayer for someone you love that seems to go nowhere. You stopped because it felt pointless. This week, start that prayer again. Not with a demand, but with the same simple request the widow brought: 'Give me justice.' You can say it the same way every day if you want. The point is not the words. The point is that you keep showing up. That daily showing up is what keeps your faith alive in the waiting.
Main takeaway: God invites us to keep praying even when He seems slow, because persistence in prayer keeps our trust alive and rooted in Him.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The woman in the story kept asking the judge for help, and he finally said yes. God is much nicer than that judge! You can keep talking to God about what you need, even if it takes a while. He loves to hear your voice.
For ages 9, 12
The widow didn't give up even when the judge ignored her. Jesus says God isn't like that judge, He truly cares for you. But sometimes He waits before He answers, because the waiting itself makes your faith stronger. Think of one thing you've stopped praying about and start again this week. Just keep showing up.
Questions People Ask
Why did Jesus tell the parable of the unjust judge?
Jesus told this parable to encourage His disciples to keep praying and not lose heart. The story shows that if an unjust judge eventually gives justice, the righteous God will certainly answer His people. The parable was likely spoken after Jesus had warned about difficult times ahead.
Does God answer prayers right away?
Not always. Jesus promises that God will avenge His elect 'speedily' (v.8), but the parable itself shows that there can be a delay. The waiting is not because God is reluctant, but because He is patient and His timing is best. The call is to keep praying even when the answer doesn't come immediately.
Who are 'the elect' in Luke 18:7?
The term 'elect' refers to God's chosen people, those who belong to Him and cry out to Him day and night. Across Christian traditions, this is understood as believers, the church, or the people of God. The word emphasizes that they are dear to Him, not neglected like the widow was.
What does it mean to 'pray always'?
Jesus is not saying you must recite prayers nonstop all day. Rather, 'pray always' means maintaining an attitude of dependence on God, regularly bringing your needs to Him, and not giving up when you don't see an immediate answer. It is persistent faith expressed in persistent prayer.
What does the end of verse 8 mean: 'will he find faith on the earth'?
Jesus closes with a sobering question. Even though God will act quickly for His people, the real concern is whether people will still be trusting in Him when He returns. The delay of justice can wear down even sincere believers. The question challenges us to examine whether our faith will survive the waiting.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study