Scripture Reading:
Luke 18:1-8
Key Verse:
And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:7-8)
What does this passage teach us?
The object of the parable before us, is explained by Christ Himself. “He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” These words, be it remembered, are closely connected with the solemn doctrine of the second coming, with which the preceding chapter concludes. It is perseverance in prayer, during the long weary intervals between the first and second comings, which Jesus is urging His disciples to keep up. In that interval, we ourselves are standing. The subject therefore is one which ought to possess a special interest in our eyes.
These verses teach us firstly—the great importance of perseverance in prayer. Our Lord conveys this lesson by telling the story of a friendless widow, who obtained justice from a wicked magistrate—by force of sheer importunity. “Though I fear not God, nor regard man,” said the unjust judge, “Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”
Our Lord Himself supplies the application of the parable, “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?” If importunity obtains so much from a wicked man—then how much more will it obtain for the children of God—from the Righteous Judge, their Father in Heaven!
The subject of prayer ought always to be interesting to Christians. Prayer is the very life-breath of true Christianity. It is in prayer, that true religion begins. It is in prayer, that true religion flourishes. It is in prayer, that it decays. Prayer is one of the first evidences of conversion (Acts 9:11). Neglect of prayer, is the sure road to a fall (Matthew 26:40-41). Whatever throws light on the subject of prayer, is for our soul’s health.
Let it then be engraved deeply in our minds, that it is far more easy to begin a habit of prayer, than it is to keep it up. The fear of death, or some temporary piercings of conscience, or some excited feelings—may make a man begin praying, after a fashion. But to go on praying, requires saving faith. We are apt to become weary, and to give way to the suggestion of Satan, that “it is of no use.” And then comes the time when the parable before us ought to be carefully remembered. We must recollect that our Lord expressly told us “always to pray—and never give up.”
Do we ever feel a secret inclination to hurry our prayers, or shorten our prayers, or become careless about our prayers, or omit our prayers altogether? Let us be sure, when we do—that it is a direct temptation from the devil. He is trying to sap and undermine the very citadel of our souls, and to cast us down to Hell. Let us resist the temptation, and cast it behind our backs. Let us resolve to pray on steadily, patiently, perseveringly—and let us never doubt that it does us good. However long the answer may be in coming—still let us pray on.
These verses teach us, secondly—that God has an elect people upon earth, who are under His special care. The Lord Jesus declares that God will “avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him.” “I tell you,” He says, “that He will avenge them speedily.”
Election is one of the deepest truths of Scripture. Election is a truth which should call forth praise and thanksgiving from all true Christians. Unless God had chosen and called them—they would never have chosen and called on Him. Except He had chosen them of His own good pleasure, without respect to any goodness of theirs—there would never have been anything in them to make them worthy of His choice. The worldly and the carnal-minded may rail at the doctrine of election. The false professor may abuse it, and turn the “the grace of our God into lasciviousness” (Jude 4) But the believer who knows his own heart, will ever bless God for election. He will confess that without election—there would be no salvation.
But what are the marks of election? By what tokens shall a man know whether he is one of God’s elect? These marks are clearly laid down in Scripture. Election is inseparably connected with faith in Christ, and conformity to His image (Romans 8:29-30). It was when Paul saw the working “faith,” and patient “hope,” and laboring “love” of the Thessalonians—that he knew their “election of God” (1 Thess. 1:3-4).
Above all, we have a plain mark described by our Lord, in the passage before us. God’s elect are a people who “cry unto Him night and day.” They are essentially a praying people. No doubt there are many people whose prayers are formal and hypocritical. But one thing is very clear—a prayerless man must never be called one of God’s elect. Let that never be forgotten!
Questions:
1. What are the themes of chapters 1-18?
2. What is the point of this parable?
3. What made the unjust judge finally give the widow justice?
Family Application Questions:
1. What kinds of things keep us from persevering in prayer?
2. Consider a nation or people group suffering injustice and persecution at the hands of the world. Pray that the Lord would avenge, and deliver, and bring conversions to that land.
