Luke 18:8

Syriac Peshitta (NT Only)

ܐܳܡܰܪ ܐ݈ܢܳܐ ܠܟ݂ܽܘܢ ܕ݁ܢܶܥܒ݁ܶܕ݂ ܬ݁ܒ݂ܰܥܬ݂ܗܽܘܢ ܒ݁ܰܥܓ݂ܰܠ ܒ݁ܪܰܡ ܢܺܐܬ݂ܶܐ ܒ݁ܪܶܗ ܕ݁ܐ݈ܢܳܫܳܐ ܘܢܶܫܟ݁ܰܚ ܟ݁ܰܝ ܗܰܝܡܳܢܽܘܬ݂ܳܐ ܥܰܠ ܐܰܪܥܳܐ ܀

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he will: Psalms 46:5, Psalms 143:7-9, 2 Peter 2:3, 2 Peter 3:8, 2 Peter 3:9

when: Matthew 24:9-13, Matthew 24:24, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, Hebrews 10:23-26, James 5:1-8

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 32:20 - children Deuteronomy 32:35 - the things 2 Samuel 4:8 - the Lord 2 Samuel 18:31 - the Lord 2 Kings 9:7 - I may avenge Psalms 9:12 - he forgetteth Psalms 10:18 - judge Psalms 31:2 - deliver Proverbs 20:6 - proclaim Isaiah 40:27 - my judgment Jeremiah 15:15 - remember Habakkuk 2:3 - it will surely Matthew 10:23 - till Matthew 16:28 - see Matthew 25:5 - they Luke 17:26 - the days of the Son Luke 18:3 - Avenge 2 Thessalonians 3:2 - for Hebrews 10:37 - General James 5:7 - unto Revelation 6:10 - they cried Revelation 18:20 - God

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily,.... As he did in a few years after the death of Christ, when God's elect among the Jews were singled out, and gathered in from them, and were delivered from their persecutors, and saved from temporal ruin and destruction, whilst the Roman army made sad havoc of their enemies; and so will he do in the end of the world.

Nevertheless, when the son of man cometh; either to destroy Jerusalem, or to judge the world:

shall he find faith on the earth? either in the land of Judea, the believers being removed from thence, and scattered among the Gentiles, and not a man, at least in Jerusalem, that had any faith in Jesus, as the Messiah; or in the world at the last day: there will then be little of the doctrine of faith, and less of the grace of faith, and still less of the exercise of faith, particularly in prayer, and especially about the coming of Christ; it will be little thought of, and expected, or faith little exercised about it. With this agree some expressions in the Jewish writings s:

"Says R. Jose, the holy, blessed God, will not be revealed to Israel, but in the time, דלא אשתכח מהימנותא, "that faith is not found among them."''

And elsewhere t, speaking of the times of the Messiah, and of a star that shall then appear, it is said

"when that star shall be seen in the world at that time mighty wars shall be stirred up in the world, on all the four sides, ומהימנותא לא ישתכח, "and faith will not be found" among them.''

They seem to regard the first coming of the Messiah: and which was true with respect to the majority of their nation; and the same holds good with regard to his second coming; in the apocrypha it says:

"Nevertheless as coming the tokens, behold, the days shall come, that they which dwell upon earth shall be taken in a great number, and the way of truth shall be hidden, and the land shall be barren of faith.'' (2 Esdras 5:1)

s Zohar in Gen. fol. 118. 1. t Ib. in Num. fol. 86. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Speedily - Suddenly, unexpectedly. He will surely vindicate them, and that at a time, perhaps, when they were nearly ready to give over and to sink into despair. This may refer to the deliverance of the disciples from their approaching trials and persecutions among the Jews; or, in general, to the fact that God will interpose and aid his people.

Nevertheless - But. Notwithstanding this. Though this is true that God will avenge his elect, yet will he find his elect “faithful?” The danger is not that “God” will be unfaithful - he will surely be true to his promises; but the danger is that his elect - his afflicted people - will be discouraged; will not persevere in prayer; will not continue to have confidence in him; and will, under heavy trials, sink into despondency. The sole meaning of this phrase, therefore, is, that “there is more danger that his people would grow weary, than that God would be found unfaithful and fail to avenge his elect.” For this cause Christ spoke the parable, and by the “design” of the parable this passage is to be interpreted.

Son of man cometh - This probably refers to the approaching destruction of Jerusalem - the coming of the Messiah, by his mighty power, to abolish the ancient dispensation and to set up the new.

Faith - The word “faith” is sometimes taken to denote the “whole” of religion, and it has been understood in this sense here; but there is a close connection in what Christ says, and it should be understood as referring to what he said before. The truth that he had been teaching was, that God would deliver his people from their calamities and save them, though he suffered them to be long tried. He asks them here whether, when he came, he should find “this faith,” or a belief of “this truth,” among his followers? Would they be found persevering in prayer, and “believing” that God would yet avenge them; or would they cease to pray “always, and faint?” This is not to be understood, therefore, as affirming that when Christ comes to judgment there will be few Christians on the earth, and that the world will be overrun with wickedness. That “may be” true, but it is not the truth taught here.

The earth - The land referring particularly to the land of Judea. The discussion had particular reference to their trials and persecutions in that land. This question implies that “in” those trials many professed disciples might faint and turn back, and many of his “real” followers almost lose sight of this great truth, and begin to inquire whether God would interpose to save them. The same question may be asked respecting any other remarkable visitation of the Son of God in affliction. When tried and persecuted, do “we” believe that God will avenge us? Do “we” pray always and not faint? Have “we” faith to believe that, though clouds and darkness are round about him, yet righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne? And when storms of persecution assail us, can “we” go to God and confidently commit our cause to him, and believe that he will bring forth our righteousness as the light, and our judgment as the noon-day?

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Luke 18:8. He will avenge them speedily. — Or, He will do them justice speedily - εν ταχει, instantly, in a trice.

1. Because he has promised it; and

2. Because he is inclined to do it.

When the Son of man cometh — To require the produce of the seed of the kingdom sown among this people.

Shall he find faith on the earth? — Or rather, Shall he find fidelity in this land? Shall he find that the soil has brought forth a harvest proportioned to the culture bestowed on it? No! And therefore he destroyed that land.