Estimated Read Time: 9 min.

Supporting Text: Luke 18:1–8, Luke 17:20–37, Luke 17:11, Luke 19:1, Luke 19:28, Deuteronomy 24:17, Isaiah 10:1–2, 1 Peter 5:8, John 10:10, Job 1–2, 1 Kings 22, Daniel 10, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Genesis 3, Matthew 4, Matthew 6:7, Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 1:9, 1 Kings 18:41–45, 2 Corinthians 12:7–9, Matthew 26:36–44, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Daniel 6:10, Psalm 55:17, Acts 10:2, Luke 11:5–13, Hebrews 11:6, Matthew 24:13, Revelation 19:17–18

You can find the Parable of the Persistent Widow in Luke 18:1–8. In this parable, Jesus describes a widow who has suffered an injustice at the hands of an adversary and is seeking a judge who will hear her case and grant her justice. Yet every time she comes before the judge, he refuses her. Undeterred, she continues returning until she finally wears him down, and he grants her request.

There are several important applications we can draw from this passage. First, Luke 18:1 tells us exactly why Jesus gave the parable: "that they ought always to pray and not lose heart." It is, therefore, a parable about persistent prayer. But why does Jesus connect persistent prayer with the command not to lose heart?

That question requires us to understand the context of Luke 17. Even more, Luke 18:1 begins with the conjunction "and," connecting the parable directly to the events and teaching that precede it.

By Luke 17, Jesus is in the latter part of His earthly ministry and is making His way toward Jerusalem. Luke 17:11 places Him traveling between Samaria and Galilee, and later, in Luke 19:1, He enters Jericho before continuing to Jerusalem (Luke 19:28).
Our focus is Luke 17:20–37.

In this section, a Pharisee asks Jesus when the Kingdom of God will come. Rather than continuing the conversation with the Pharisee, Jesus turns to His disciples and teaches them about His return.

He tells them:

• Although they long to see the coming of the Son of Man, there will first be a period of delay (Luke 17:22–23).
• Before He returns, He must first be rejected and endure the Cross.

Jesus then compares the last days to the days of Noah and Lot. In both examples, people continued living ordinary lives until divine judgment suddenly came upon them.

The point is clear: there will be a delay before Christ returns, but when He does return, He will come bringing divine judgment.
The final verse of Luke 17 states,

"Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather."

This likely anticipates the judgment described in Revelation 19:17–18 at the Battle of Armageddon, where the birds gather to feast upon the defeated armies of the earth.

The parable is therefore eschatological in nature. It concerns the period between Christ's first and second coming. More specifically, it teaches believers how they are to live during this delay.

Jesus tells us to pray persistently.

But He also tells us something uncomfortable: The Christian life will not be free from suffering.

The parable contains three primary characters:

• the widow,
• the judge,
• and an unnamed adversary.

Throughout the Old Testament, widows represent one of society's most vulnerable groups. God specifically commanded Israel not to pervert justice against widows (Deut. 24:17), yet they were frequently oppressed by the powerful (Isa. 10:1–2).

This widow has experienced some injustice at the hands of an unnamed adversary.

Typologically, she represents God's people living in a fallen world, while the adversary ultimately points to Satan and his kingdom of darkness.

Scripture describes Satan as our adversary who prowls around seeking someone to devour (1 Pet. 5:8). Jesus tells us that his purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). He opposes the Gospel and those who faithfully proclaim it.

Therefore, Christians should not be surprised when suffering comes.

Some suffering may come through direct satanic opposition, as in Job 1–2. At other times, it may come through demonic influence (1 Kings 22; Dan. 10). More commonly, we simply experience life in a fallen world over which Satan presently exercises influence as the "god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4) where it rains both on the just and the unjust (Matt. 5:45).

Because of humanity's fall into sin, brokenness, disease, injustice, and death entered creation. Every person—believer and unbeliever alike—must endure these realities.

But they will not last forever.

Only when Christ returns will perfect justice be established. Disease, suffering, death, and sin will finally come to an end.

That is our hope.

That is why we pray, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Like the disciples, we long for Christ to return and make all things right. Until then, however, we will suffer. We will experience persecution, sickness, anxiety, hardship, and even death.

The Apostle Paul knew this well.

In 2 Corinthians 11:23–28, Paul recounts extraordinary suffering for the sake of Christ. He endured persecution, beatings, shipwrecks, hunger, danger, and constant hardship. Beyond all of that, he carried the daily burden of caring for Christ's churches.

Jesus suffered, Paul suffered, and every disciple of Christ should expect to suffer while waiting for the Lord's return.

So what should we do during this delay?

Jesus answers:  "Always pray and do not lose heart."

The widow represents God's oppressed people. She has suffered injustice and repeatedly brings her case before the only one with authority to make things right.

That is exactly what Christians are to do.

When suffering, injustice, temptation, or hardship comes, we are to persistently seek the face of God.

Persistent prayer is not the same as mindless repetition.

Jesus specifically warns against empty repetition in Matthew 6:7. Rather, we continually bring our needs before God's throne of grace (Heb. 4:16). We bring Him our weakness, our suffering, our temptations, our anxieties, and our sin (1 John 1:9).

We see this pattern throughout Scripture:

• Elijah prayed seven times for rain (1 Kings 18:41–45).
• Paul pleaded three times for the removal of his thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:7–9).
• Jesus prayed three times in Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36-44).

Paul also commands believers to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17).

This does not mean praying continuously every second of every day. Rather, it describes a continual posture of dependence upon God.

We see this in Daniel (Dan. 6:10), David (Ps. 55:17), and Cornelius (Acts 10:2). Each continued seeking God despite difficult circumstances.

Like the persistent widow and like the friend at midnight in Luke 11, they simply refused to stop asking.

Jesus concludes the parable by saying,

"I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8)

When Christ returns, justice will come with Him.

Everything that is wrong will finally be made right.

But while we wait for that day. For the complete fulfillment of "Your kingdom come, Your will be done," Jesus says He will be looking for something as well. He will be looking for faith.

What kind of faith is He looking for? The answer. the kind that keep persistently seeking Him in prayer. The kind where people continue trusting Him despite suffering, delay, and unanswered prayer. The kind that continually seek for healing, hope, righteousness, and the advancement of His Kingdom.

They do not so much seek Him because He answers immediately, but because they believe in a God who is and Who is a rewarder of them that dilligently seek Him. -- Hebrews 11:6 

So whatever you are facing today—whether persecution, sickness, grief, disappointment, or unanswered prayer—do not lose heart. Seek God persistently.

Perhaps, like the widow, your request will be answered during this life. If not, Christ will return. When He does return, every wrong will be made right.

Until then, don't lose heart. Jesus Christ is our only hope.

Seek Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

"But the one who endures to the end will be saved." — Matthew 24:13

God bless!