The Parable of the Unrighteous Judge and the Widow
Lesson 11
Luke 18:1–8
Both this parable and the following one deal with the subject of prayer. This subject is approached from different sides in each parable. Jesus emphasizes the necessity of persistent prayer in this parable, and in the next one He emphasizes the need for humility in prayer. Prayer is such an important subject for every child ofGod that he is happy that our Lord has taught as much as He has about this subject. The disciples asked Him about prayer (Lk 11:1) because, though they had prayed since infancy, they had never really learned to pray the way He did. He had communion with His Father. Prayer was natural for Him. Although He would at times spend an entire night in prayer, the prayer He taught His disciples was very brief.
Keep on Praying!
Jesus has introduced this parable by stating exactly what it is to be about. He spoke this parable to them “to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Perseverance is required in prayer. The believer is not simply to come before the throne of God and leave, and believe that whatsoever request he has made will automatically be granted him. Many times faith is put to the test to see whether or not the individual will come again and again asking for the same thing. Even Jesus prayed the same words several times in the garden of Gethsemane. One thing the believer must bear in mind: He will be heard! God will answer the prayers of His people. We sing: “Give me the patience of unanswered prayer.” If the hymn author means that we must sometimes persevere before an answer is given, well; but there is no such thing, in the final analysis, as “unanswered prayer.” God is not deaf. He is also not heartless. The answer may be “no,” but that is also a clear answer!
Perseverance
Not only in prayer, but in various pursuits of life perseverance is necessary. That is often the only way in which we will be able to attain our goals. The Bible sets a high value on perseverance. Paul does not want to take John Mark along on the second missionary journey recalling that he did not stay with the others during the first missionary journey. One cannot depend on such a person. Perseverance is a virtue which is easily understood and highly prized. Only the person who will not be turned aside by the first reverses he suffers is worthy of the trust of others. God also demands this of His people in their prayers.
A Conscienceless Judge
In His inimitable manner of teaching, Jesus makes it crystal clear to everyone who hears or reads this parable how important it is to persist in prayer. He pictures an unrighteous judge in a certain city. The very fact that be is an unrighteous judge is a contradiction in terms. A judge is supposed to uphold the justice on which alone a government, whether local or national, can rest. However, in this world of sin there have been many who were called to uphold justice who have trampled it. The reason why this judge is unrighteous is because he does not fear God, nor does he regard men. This might be taken as an indication that he was impartial. However, that is not the point here. He lives as though there is no God in heaven to Whom he will have to give account, and he does not even care for the opinions of his fellow-men. The law of God plays no part in his life–neither the first nor second table. He not only lives for himself, but he pronounces judgment according to this feeling at that particular time! He has no conscience! Many would still be moved by the power of public opinion. But, this one does not even regard men. This is not only the opinion of others, he himself admits that he fears neither God nor regards men!
When justice is no longer upheld, orderly society comes to a standstill. How can human life continue if there is no justice in the land? How often has God complained during the days of the Old Testament that the judges were not judging righteously? Many have been the judges whose eyes were blinded by bribes! In Israel important matters must not be decided by a single judge. Although Rome prided itself on its system of justice, it allowed one judge to rule even in cases where there was much at stake. Jesus is speaking this parable in the days when Rome ruled Israel, but it is also the time in which the Herods rule!
In that same city was a widow. Nothing is said concerning her poverty, although the poverty of widows had become proverbial in that time. This widow had been wronged. Jesus does not tell us what the wrong was because that is not relevant to the meaning ofthis parable. The plight ofthe widow was that she had no defender when she was wronged. Of necessity she goes to the judge in that city because he is the one who will be able to right her wrong and avenge her of her adversary. That is the duty of this judge. If her case is clear, he must rule in her favor! She has nowhere else to tum and appeals to him again and again! He has no conscience and no sense of ethics and refuses to listen. The case is not described for us in this parable, but Jesus makes it unmistakably clear that she is in the right yet she is repeatedly rebuffed. What a disappointment!
The Bible often speaks of the proper way the widows and orphans are to be treated. The whole fabric of society unravels if they are exploited. James says, “Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” Only a judge who does not fear God and has no regard for man could harden himself against the pleas of such a widow.
Persistence Pays Even with the Unjust
This goes on for some time. The widow soon discovers that she is dealing with a judge who is not worthy of the name. Yet, she persists. Because she persists, the judge begins to have second thoughts about the matter. Not because his sense of justice or his conscience plagues him; but because he is annoyed. A woman who will persist the way this widow does may be capable of making more trouble. She has been “troubling” him. If he does not act in her favor, she might “wear me out by her continual coming.” The judge finally decides to avenge her. This is the easiest way out for him. Thus, even an unjust judge who “fears not God nor regards men,” finally gives justice because she persevered! She was finally heard and answered because of her persistence!
God Will Hear
God’s people do not come to an unjust judge, but to their Father who is willing to give them what they need, and to the Almighty God who is able to give them what they need. If an unrighteous judge will finally give in and do justice for a widow who has been bothering him, shall not God avenge His elect who cry to Him day and night? To ask question is to answer it. “He will avenge them speedily.”
Is this true? Did not the Old Testament people of God have to wait centuries before their prayer for the Messiah was answered? Do we not at times have to pray for years for our children? Did not Paul pray several times that the “thorn” might be removed from his flesh? These are the questions which face God’s people again and again. Yet, says Jesus, “He will avenge them speedily.”
Prayer is important in the life of the believer. One who does not pray is not a believer . Ananias is reassured with the words: “Behold he prayeth!” when he is afraid to approach Saul of Tarsis. Man, being made in the image of God, is made in such a way that he must communicate with his God! The saints of the Old Testament were characterized by lives of prayer. There must also be perseverance in prayer. The Old Testament gives a clear illustration of perseverance in Abraham’s prayer for Sodom. Abraham becomes somewhat embarrassed when he begins to plead for the wicked cities on the basis of fifty righteous there and finally comes down to ten! But, God is not displeased with his prayer—the trouble is there are not even ten righteous!
God’s people must persevere in prayer so that it becomes apparent that they truly desire the things for which they pray. That is the requirement which Jesus lays upon His people. They need not wonder whether God will hear and answer. They must recognize their own responsibility. There is no similarity between the judge of this parable and God. The point at issue is—perseverance!
When Christ Returns
At the very close of this parable Jesus seems to interject a new element. “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” In other words, this parable also deals with those things which must characterize the people of God at the end of time. Is it not a strange question to ask whether He will find faith on the earth when He returns? The faith of God’s people will not fail. There will be a church till the end of time. But as many “fall away.” He asks “Will He find the kind of faith of which He has been speaking, when He returns?” Will the church have that persevering faith? Will the church beg in to pray at the Ascension of Christ and continue until He returns, “Lord Jesus come, yes, come quickly?” Will His people have that kind of faith?
Jesu s closes this parable with the above question. Let His people ponder this. This prayer for His return must continue. It is already a long time ago that Jesus left this earth. When will He return? Pray, and He who is the just Judge of men, will answer speedily!
Questions for Discussion
I . Is this element of prayer (perseverance) emphasized enough today? Do we often quickly “give up” if our prayers aren’t soon answered as we wish?
2. How can there be an unrighteous judge? Is this injustice characteristic of human society? 3. Is it possible to have rich widows in the church? If there are those, are we still called to treat widows in a special way? Explain. 4. Is it a comfort to believe in election? Why?5 . How should we view the return of Christ? Is it as important as His first coming? Do we have a gospel if we ignore the second coming?
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican
Lesson 12
Luke 18:9–14
When the New Testament opens we are confronted with various names with which we were not made familiar in the Old Testament. The New Testament introduces us to the synagogue–the local place where people went to worship . It also speaks of Pharisees, Sadducees and Publicans. None of these had been mentioned in the Old Testament because the names did not exist at that time. This underscores the fact that a considerable amount of time elapsed between the two testaments. During those approximately 400 years, history did not stand still. Not everyone was able to constantly journey to Jerusalem, and worship and instruction were necessary for the people. Therefore the local synagogues were established. The Romans now ruled the land of Israel and they appointed men from among the Israelites to collect their taxes and manage all that was connected with this work. These tax–collectors or “Publicans” were hated by the people as traitors to their country and religion.
Pharisees and Sadducees
In the Jewish religious world of that time two main groups had come to light. Although there were also “scribes,” students of the law, already named in the Old Testament, the two main groups of leaders were now the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The latter were the liberal leaders. They took the teachings of the Scriptures rather lightly. They believed in no resurrection, angels or spirits (Matt. 22:23; Acts 23:8). Not only did the Pharisees believe in all of these, but they sought even to “improve” on the Scriptures of the Old Testament. They gave the impression of being very religious but Jesus’ words of scorn were directed to them more than any others. They were so “straight” that they added many rules and regulations to the Old Testament teachings. On the whole, they were held in honor by the people, but Jesus sees through their hypocrisy. He now tells them a parable in which a Pharisee plays a leading role.
Jesus had also referred to the Pharisees time and again in the Sermon on the Mount. He had there made it clear to the people that these leaders were only interested in the externals of religion and that it never touched their hearts. The Pharisees had given their interpretations of the various commandments and Jesus places His “But I say unto You” over against their interpretation. If the people would follow the teaching of the Pharisees, they would be led completely astray. He goes so far, later in His ministry, as to call them a “generation of vipers,” and “whited sepulchres.” They have “taken away the key of knowledge.” They will not enter the kingdom themselves and will hinder others from entering. They place all the emphasis on the externals and forget the most important things.
The Publicans, as has been said , were considered to be traitors to their own nation seeing they were in the employ of the hated Romans. They were named in one breath with “sinners.” The two, the Pharisee and the Publican, form the great contrast which Jesus is drawing for us in this parable. The one was an honored member of the community and the other was despised. Both of these go up to the temple to pray! The temple was apparently not only for the public worship of the whole people, but was also open for the individual to come to pray. Jesus had called the temple “the house of prayer” and it is, therefore, entirely proper that both come to this place to utter their prayers. Neither of the two stays in one of the outer courts, but both seem to come into the main hall of the temple—the Pharisee is able to see the Publican.
Contrasting Prayers: The Pharisee
Our Lord now contrasts the prayers which these men pray. The Pharisee seems to go to a place where he will be visible to all that come into the temple. His “prayer” is strange. He addresses God, but, says Jesus, he prayed with or to himself. In other words, it is no prayer at all! He simply comes to give God a report! Jesus is speaking in this parable about those who trusted in themselves and despised everyone else. That is the picture of this Pharisee.
He is self-satisfied. He is thankful (?) that he is not as other men. He mentions the violators of the 6th, 7th, and 8th commandments . He doesn’t do such things! He is careful not to speak of the 9th and 10th commandments and, of course, he has left out the whole first table of the law. This is the kind of interpretation of the law which Jesus had condemned in the Sermon on the Mount. This Pharisee believes that he is living a blameless life. Why does he not make confession? He believes he has nothing to confess! God ought to be very happy that he has such a stalwart son teaching His people!
According to the teaching of Jesus, the law could be summarized in one word: love, both to God and to one’s neighbor. The Pharisee shows that he has no love for his fellow-man . He thanks God that he is not as others. If that is too general, he will particularize his sentiments, and give thanks that he is not as that Publican who is also in the temple and is coming to the throne of God at the same time. This attitude reveals a total lack of love for others. How can he be a shepherd of the people of God?
But, there is more! He is not only negative in his prayer by saying that he is not as others; he is also positively showing God in how far he is superior to the others. He fasts twice a week! The law required a fast once a year! He does one hundred times better than the law required! Leviticus 16:29ff shows us what the law required concerning this matter. If he does so much more than the law requires, he should surely receive the commendation of God! He also brings tithes of everything he gets. Christ later refers to those who even bring tithes of garden herbs! This is that kind of person. He is not satisfied with keeping the law, he will go far beyond it. His statements were rather mild when he said that he was not like others! He is so far different—one would say that they don’t belong to the same people!
This is the way the Pharisee prayed. The Pharisees were the teachers of the people. They no doubt taught the people to pray like this. Is it any wonder that the disciples come to Jesus and ask Him: “Lord teach us to pray”? Is Jesus speaking a parable or is He simply stating an historic fact? How common was it for the people of His day to pray the way this Pharisee did?
The Publican
However, all Israel has not been led in this way. There is also a Publican who comes into the temple to pray. “He stood afar,” says Jesus. One gets the impression that he is in the temple, but is standing near the back door. He does not care to be seen by others. He has come here to pray because his need drove him here. He stands afar and cries out: “God, be thou merciful to me a sinner.” Here is a man who knows himself as a lost son ofIsrael unless there is intervention on the part of God Himself. He realizes his sinful condition. This did not all spring from the fact that he was a Publican, but rather, because he is a son of Adam! Only the light from above gives the knowledge of sin. He realizes how great his sin and misery is. He may well have been excommunicated from the synagogue, because he is a Publican. He has no where else to go! He need not go to such a leader in Israel as this Pharisee for comfort. He comes to his God and pours out his heart in one short statement. Here is a man who is filled with grief and sorrow for the sin he has committed. He keeps beating upon his breast. That’s where the trouble lies-in his heart. This knowledge of sin has so filled his heart with shame that he does not dare raise his eyes to heaven! He has been his own greatest enemy. He has sinned. “Oh God, forgive!”
This man came with the sacrifice of a broken heart. This is well-pleasing to God (cf. Psalm 51). That’s where conversion has to begin. However, that is not enough. Broken hearts, by themselves, do not earn forgiveness nor salvation. But, with that broken heart he seeks expiation, forgiveness. He calls for the mercy of God. This will be of free grace! But, the God of the Bible does not despise the broken and contrite heart.
Contrasting Answers
Jesus says: this man went down to his house justified rather than the other, and then gives the reason for this: “for everyone that exalteth himself shall be humbled; but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” In other words, the prayer of the Publican was answered but the so–called prayer of the Pharisee was not. Why? No answer was necessary to the “prayer” of the Pharisee! This Publican can go home in the confidence that his God has heard him and answered him.
The teaching of this parable is abundantly clear. No one has to ask at the close of this parable, “Who does our Lord have in mind?” This parable also makes clear certain characteristics of true prayer. True prayer is fellowship with God. The Pharisee did not seek nor have this fellowship. Humility is necessary for true prayer. There are many prayers offered, not only by the Pharisees, but also by many today which do not even approach the standards for prayer which the Scriptures lay down for us. Humility is not common. Often what claims to be humble is not true humility. One wonders how many so-called “Publicans” today give thanks to God that they are not like the Pharisee! True humility is necessary because we as sinners come into the presence of a holy God. Humility becomes us because we can only live on free grace. We do well to look carefully at that which the Heidelberg Catechism has to say about the kind of prayer which pleases God and which He wiU hear (Question 117). We are to call on Him from the heart; only calling on the God of the Bible; and we are to ask for those things which He has commanded us to ask of Him, or the things He has promised us. This will safeguard us against asking for those things for which there is no room in true prayer.
We must know our need, as this Publican does. We are to seek forgiveness and can be confident that we have been forgiven only when we forgive others, and not in the haughty spirit of the Pharisee. Compare the Pharisee—“I thank thee that I am not as others,” with Paul—“I am the chief of sinners!”
Questions for Discussion
1. Is a “conservative” position, like that of the Pharisees, always proof that the individual lives and teaches the truth of God correctly? What is a true conservative position?
2. How badly had the teachings of the Pharisees infected the beliefs of the common people in the days ofJesus? Are there any indications of this in the New Testament? 3. Would it be well if our churches had their doors open all the time so that anyone would be able to come in at any time for private devotions? Or don’t you think this is necessary? If not, why not? 4. Do you think such blatant self-satisfaction as that which the Pharisee reveals is very common today? Do you think his was a silent prayer? 5. Are all the elements of true prayer present in the prayer of the Publican? Which elements should be present in true prayer?