WHAT DOES THE PARABLE OF THE UNJUST JUDGE TEACH? WE ARE FIRST INTRODUCED TO A FEARLESS AND SELF-CENTERED JUDGE.
"THERE WAS IN A CERTAIN CITY A CERTAIN JUDGE WHO NEITHER FEARED GOD NOR RESPECTED MAN." (LUKE 18:2).
THE JUDGE OF THIS PARABLE DID NOT LOOK TO PLEASE GOD OR EVEN CARED WHAT HIS CREATOR THOUGHT ABOUT HIS ACTIONS. HE ALSO WAS VOID OF ANY COMPASSION TOWARD OTHERS. HE HAD A STONE-COLD HEART THAT PURSUED ONLY WHAT BENEFITED HIMSELF!
A WIDOW COMES TO THE JUDGE SEEKING JUSTICE FOR HER CAUSE. DESPITE GOD COMMANDING WIDOWS BE TREATED WITH UNUSUAL CARE, WITH SEVERE PENALTIES IF THEY ARE NOT (EXODUS 22:22 - 24), THE JUDGE REFUSES TO HELP HER!
THE WIDOW'S PERSISTENT PURSUIT OF JUSTICE, HOWEVER, WEARS DOWN THE JUDGE'S RESOLVE AND MOTIVATES HIM TO ACT.
"ALTHOUGH I DO NOT FEAR GOD AND DO NOT RESPECT MAN, YET BECAUSE THIS WIDOW IS CAUSING ME TROUBLE, I WILL AVENGE HER, LEST SHE WEAR ME OUT BY HER CONTINUAL COMING." (LUKE 18:4 - 5).
* THE LESSON *
THE WIDOW WAS WILLING TO CONTINUE PURSUING HER CAUSE UNTIL THE JUDGE ACQUIESCED. JESUS GAVE THIS PARABLE TO ENCOURAGE BELIEVERS TO BE PERSISTENT IN PRAYER AS SUCH DETERMINATION CARRIES GREAT WEIGHT WITH GOD!
IF SUCH AN UNGODLY MAN SUCH AS THE UNJUST JUDGE COULD BE PRODDED BY PERSISTENCE TO DO RIGHT, THEN HOW MUCH QUICKER WILL OUR RIGHTEOUS GOD RESPOND TO US?
"AND SHALL NOT GOD EXECUTE VENGEANCE FOR HIS ELECT, WHO CRY OUT TO HIM DAY AND NIGHT, AND PATIENTLY WATCH OVER THEM? I TELL YOU THAT HE WILL EXECUTE VENGEANCE FOR THEM SPEEDILY . . ." (LUKE 18:7 - 8).
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