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THE MESSAGE

Luke 18:1

Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, "There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: ‘My rights are being violated. Protect me!'

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Afflictions and Adversities;   Constancy;   Despondency;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Prayer;   Thompson Chain Reference - Ask;   Christ;   Church;   Family;   Importunity;   Parables;   Prayer;   Secret Prayer;   Truth;   United Prayer;   Unwise Prayers;   Wicked, the;   The Topic Concordance - Fainting;   Prayer;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Parables;   Prayer;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Parable;   Prayer;   Repetitions;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Luke, gospel of;   Parables;   Prayer;   Widow;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Christ, Christology;   Prayer;   Widow;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Constancy;   Hearing the Word of God;   Heart;   Meditation;   Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Luke, Gospel According to;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Prayer;   Widow;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Luke, Gospel of;   Parables;   Prayer;   Vengeance;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Parable;   Prayer;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Character;   Circumstantiality in the Parables;   Communion (2);   Discipline;   Discourse;   Duty;   Energy;   Gospel (2);   Intercession ;   Justice (2);   Luke;   Parable;   Parousia (2);   Personality;   Police;   Prayer (2);   Sanctify, Sanctification;   Syria ;   Vain;   Widow ;   Widows;   Winter ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Agrapha;   End;   Faint;   Gospels, the Synoptic;   Prayer;   Prayers of Jesus;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for June 7;   Every Day Light - Devotion for April 26;   My Utmost for His Highest - Devotion for September 12;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not give up.
King James Version (1611)
And he spake a parable vnto them, to this ende, that men ought alwayes to pray, and not to faint,
King James Version
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
English Standard Version
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
New American Standard Bible
Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not become discouraged,
New Century Version
Then Jesus used this story to teach his followers that they should always pray and never lose hope.
Amplified Bible
Now Jesus was telling the disciples a parable to make the point that at all times they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,
Legacy Standard Bible
Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,
Berean Standard Bible
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:
Contemporary English Version
Jesus told his disciples a story about how they should keep on praying and never give up:
Complete Jewish Bible
Then Yeshua told his talmidim a parable, in order to impress on them that they must always keep praying and not lose heart.
Darby Translation
And he spoke also a parable to them to the purport that they should always pray and not faint,
Easy-to-Read Version
Then Jesus taught the followers that they should always pray and never lose hope. He used this story to teach them:
Geneva Bible (1587)
And he spake also a parable vnto them, to this ende, that they ought alwayes to pray, and not to waxe faint,
George Lamsa Translation
HE also spake to them a parable, that they should pray always and not get weary.
Good News Translation
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged.
Lexham English Bible
And he told them a parable to show that they must always pray and not be discouraged,
Literal Translation
And He also spoke a parable to them to teach it is always right to pray, and not to faint,
American Standard Version
And he spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Bible in Basic English
And he made a story for them, the point of which was that men were to go on making prayer and not get tired;
Hebrew Names Version
He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up,
International Standard Version
JesusHe
">[fn] told his disciplesthem">[fn] a parable about their need to pray all the time and never give up.Luke 11:5; 21:36; Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
AND he spake also a parable to them, that in all time (men) should pray and not weary.
Murdock Translation
And he spoke to them a similitude also, that men should pray at all times, and not become weary.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he put foorth a parable vnto them, to this ende that me ought alwayes to pray, & not to be weery,
English Revised Version
And he spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint;
World English Bible
He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And he spake a parable to them to this end, that they ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Weymouth's New Testament
He also taught them by a parable that they must always pray and never lose heart.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he seide to hem also a parable, that it bihoueth to preye euer more, and not faile;
Update Bible Version
And he spoke a parable to them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Webster's Bible Translation
And he spoke a parable to them [to this end], that men ought always [to] pray, and not to faint;
New English Translation
Then Jesus told them a parable to show them they should always pray and not lose heart.
New King James Version
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
New Living Translation
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
New Life Bible
Jesus told them a picture-story to show that men should always pray and not give up.
New Revised Standard
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And he was speaking a parable unto them, as to its being needful for them always to pray, and not be faint-hearted;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he spoke also a parable to them, that we ought always to pray and not to faint,
Revised Standard Version
And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And he put forth a similitude vnto the signifyinge that men ought alwayes to praye and not to be wery
Young's Literal Translation
And he spake also a simile to them, that it behoveth [us] always to pray, and not to faint,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He tolde them a symilitude, signifienge, yt men ought allwayes to praye, & not to leaue of,
Mace New Testament (1729)
Jesus propos'd likewise this parable to them, to show that they should persevere in prayer, and not be discouraged.
Simplified Cowboy Version
One day Jesus told a story to his twelve cowboys to teach them about prayer and never givin' up.

Contextual Overview

1Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, "There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: ‘My rights are being violated. Protect me!' 4"He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, ‘I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won't quit badgering me, I'd better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I'm going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.'" 6Then the Master said, "Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won't step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won't he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

that: Luke 11:5-8, Luke 21:36, Genesis 32:9-12, Genesis 32:24-26, Job 27:8-10, Psalms 55:16, Psalms 55:17, Psalms 65:2, Psalms 86:3, *marg. Psalms 102:17, Psalms 142:5-7, Jeremiah 29:12, Romans 12:12, Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 4:2, Colossians 4:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:17

and not: Psalms 27:13, Jonah 2:7, Galatians 6:9, Hebrews 12:3-5

Reciprocal: Genesis 18:27 - I have Genesis 18:31 - General Genesis 32:26 - I will not Exodus 17:11 - General Deuteronomy 9:14 - Let me 1 Samuel 1:12 - continued praying 1 Kings 8:28 - Yet have thou 1 Kings 18:43 - Go up 2 Kings 6:33 - wait for the 2 Chronicles 6:19 - Have respect Job 15:4 - restrainest Job 27:10 - will he always Psalms 27:4 - seek Psalms 80:4 - how long Psalms 116:2 - therefore Psalms 123:2 - so our eyes Isaiah 40:31 - not faint Isaiah 62:6 - keep Daniel 6:20 - servest Joel 1:19 - to thee Matthew 6:5 - when Matthew 7:7 - and it Matthew 15:25 - came Matthew 20:31 - but they cried Matthew 26:44 - prayed Mark 10:48 - but Mark 11:24 - What Mark 14:39 - he went Luke 11:8 - because of Luke 11:10 - General Luke 18:39 - but Acts 1:14 - all Acts 10:2 - and prayed Acts 12:5 - prayer was made without ceasing Romans 1:9 - that 2 Thessalonians 3:13 - be not weary 1 Timothy 5:5 - continueth James 5:16 - The effectual Revelation 2:3 - hast not Revelation 13:10 - Here

Cross-References

Genesis 12:7
God appeared to Abram and said, "I will give this land to your children." Abram built an altar at the place God had appeared to him.
Genesis 15:1
After all these things, this word of God came to Abram in a vision: "Don't be afraid, Abram. I'm your shield. Your reward will be grand!"
Genesis 17:22
God finished speaking with Abraham and left.
Genesis 18:1
God appeared to Abraham at the Oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent. It was the hottest part of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing. He ran from his tent to greet them and bowed before them.
Genesis 18:3
He said, "Master, if it please you, stop for a while with your servant. I'll get some water so you can wash your feet. Rest under this tree. I'll get some food to refresh you on your way, since your travels have brought you across my path." They said, "Certainly. Go ahead."
Genesis 26:2
God appeared to him and said, "Don't go down to Egypt; stay where I tell you. Stay here in this land and I'll be with you and bless you. I'm giving you and your children all these lands, fulfilling the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. I'll make your descendants as many as the stars in the sky and give them all these lands. All the nations of the Earth will get a blessing for themselves through your descendants. And why? Because Abraham obeyed my summons and kept my charge—my commands, my guidelines, my teachings."
Genesis 48:3
Jacob said to Joseph, "The Strong God appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. He said, ‘I'm going to make you prosperous and numerous, turn you into a congregation of tribes; and I'll turn this land over to your children coming after you as a permanent inheritance.' I'm adopting your two sons who were born to you here in Egypt before I joined you; they have equal status with Reuben and Simeon. But any children born after them are yours; they will come after their brothers in matters of inheritance. I want it this way because, as I was returning from Paddan, your mother Rachel, to my deep sorrow, died as we were on our way through Canaan when we were only a short distance from Ephrath, now called Bethlehem."
Exodus 4:1
Moses objected, "They won't trust me. They won't listen to a word I say. They're going to say, ‘ God ? Appear to him? Hardly!'"
2 Chronicles 1:7
That night God appeared to Solomon. God said, "What do you want from me? Ask."
Acts 7:2
Stephen replied, "Friends, fathers, and brothers, the God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was still in Mesopotamia, before the move to Haran, and told him, ‘Leave your country and family and go to the land I'll show you.'

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he spoke a parable unto them,.... To his own disciples, as the Ethiopic version reads, in order to encourage them to prayer, with perseverance in it; since such sore times of trial and affliction were coming upon the Jews, of which he had spoken in the preceding chapter; and such times more especially call for prayer; see Psalms 50:15

[to this end], that men ought always to pray. This is opposed to them, who pray not at all, or have left off prayer before God, or who pray only in distress; and suggests, that a man should pray as often as he has an opportunity; should be constant and assiduous at the throne of grace, and continue putting up his requests to God, though he does not presently return an answer:

and not to faint; by reason of afflictions, temptations, desertions, and delays in answering prayer; and prayer itself is an admirable antidote against fainting under afflictive providences: it is with the Jews an affirmative precept that a man should pray,

בכל יום, "every day" k; it was usual with them to pray three times a day; see Psalms 55:17 there is no set time fixed by Christ; men should be always praying. This is not to be understood, that a man should be always actually engaged in the work of prayer; that he should be continually either in his closet, in private devotion to God, or attending exercises of more public prayer, with the saints; for there are other religious exercises to be performed, besides prayer; and besides, there are many civil affairs of life, it is every man's indispensable duty to regard: nor does our Lord mean in the least to break in upon, or interrupt the natural and civil duties of life; but his meaning is, that a man should persevere in prayer, and not leave off, or be dejected, because he has not an immediate answer; and this is clear from the following case.

k Maimon. Hilch. Tephilla, c. 1. sect. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A parable - See the notes at Matthew 13:3.

To this end - To show this.

Always - At all times. That is, we must not neglect regular stated seasons of prayer; we must seize on occasions of remarkable providences as afflictions or signal blessings to seek God in prayer; we must “always” maintain a spirit of prayer, or be in a proper frame to lift up our hearts to God for his blessing, and we must not grow weary though our prayer seems not to be answered.

Not to faint - Not to grow weary or give over. The parable is designed to teach us that, though our prayers should long appear to be unanswered, we should persevere, and not grow weary in supplication to God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XVIII.

The parable of the importunate widow, 1-8.

Of the Pharisee and the publican, 9-14.

Infants brought to Christ, 15-17.

The ruler who wished to know how he might inherit eternal life,

18-23.

Our Lord's reflections on his case, 24-27.

What they shall receive who follow Christ, 28-30.

He foretells his approaching passion and death, 31-34.

He restores a blind man to sight at Jericho, 35-43.

NOTES ON CHAP. XVIII.

Verse Luke 18:1. Men ought always to pray — Therefore the plain meaning and moral of the parable are evident; viz. that as afflictions and desolations were coming on the land, and they should have need of much patience and continual fortitude, and the constant influence and protection of the Almighty, therefore they should be instant in prayer. It states, farther, that men should never cease praying for that the necessity of which God has given them to feel, till they receive a full answer to their prayers. No other meaning need be searched for in this parable: St. Luke, who perfectly knew his Master's meaning, has explained it as above.


 
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