Luk 18:1-8 LEB And he told them a parable to show that they must always pray and not be discouraged, (2) saying, “There was a certain judge in a certain town who did not fear God and did not respect people. (3) And there was a widow in that town, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary!’ (4) And he was not willing for a time, but after these things he said to himself, ‘Even if I do not fear God or respect people, (5) yet because this widow is causing trouble for me, I will grant her justice, so that she does not wear me down in the end by her coming back!'” (6) And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge is saying! (7) And will not God surely see to it that justice is done to his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night, and will he delay toward them? (8) I tell you that he will see to it that justice is done for them soon! Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, then will he find faith on earth?”
I went to Men’s group on Saturday, and we had a lively discussion about the above passage. What struck me about the passage is the theme of persistent prayer, to not be discouraged, and the issue of justice. NT Wright says that this parable is not as much about prayer as it is about vindication and justice being served. The Judge is unlike God in all ways, since God symbolizes justice and cares passionately about people and will see that justice will be done, where this judge is unjust and does not care about people at all. NT Wright further alludes that this passage in addition to the next parable about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector is more about “justification of faith” than about justice being done. The vindication is that those that are shown mercy (like the tax collector), and the one that prays with persistence for God’s justice against their enemies are vindicated by their faith and allegiance to Jesus as both Lord and king. NT Wright says that “justification which we meet a lot in Paul but hardly ever in the gospels, means exactly this: that the judge finds in one’s favour at the end of the case (see Romans 2:1-16; Romans 3:21-31; Galatians 2:16-21).
I agree with Wright, that as we groan and long for the restoration of all things at the end of the age (Matt. 19:28-29), we shall be vindicated. Faith defined here is allegiance to the Kingdom of God that Jesus ushered when he rose from the dead. This passage is also alluding to the previous passage where Jesus talks about the second coming of the Son of Man (Luke 17:22-37). God will restore all things at the end of the age. To me this what Luke means by justice.
The application of this passage is to believe in the goodness of God, and come to him all the time with our requests and never give up praying. God will answer our prayers, it is just a question of when. We need to be specific about our requests. God can hear our laments and complaints against this broken world. At the same time we need hope that a new day is coming and justice (vindication) will be served.
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