1. Jesus was a man of prayer.

2. He frequently gave instructions to his disciples on how to pray.

3. The aim of this parable is to teach the disciples the importance of persistence in prayer.

18:1 Now He [Jesus] was telling them [ His disciples] a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,

1. Jesus relates this parable to reveal that we must never lose heart (give up, become discouraged) in our prayer lives.

2. We must be persistent in prayer. (Col. 4:2; Rom. 12:12; 1 Thess. 5:17; Matt.7:7-11).

3. The Greek has m¬ ¦gkakein meaning "not to faint, to turn coward, to lose heart.

18:2 saying, "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God, and did not respect man.

1.  This was a "hard-boiled" judge who knew no one as his superior. 

2. This judge had little concern for poor and unimportant people.

3. This judge did not "fear God" nor did he fear man.

4. He was probably a Roman because one man could not constitute a Jewish court.

5. He was certainly a foolish judge. (Prov. 1:7; 9:10).

18:3 "And there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.'

NIV AGrant me justice@ has the idea of rendering justice by upholding the innocent and punishing the guilty.

1. The widow wanted to be preserved from her adversary's attacks.

2. She kept coming to the judge over and over again seeking protection from her opponent.

18:4 "And for a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man,

1. He kept giving this widow a deaf ear.

2. He may have been expecting a bride. See Felix. Acts 24:26.

18:5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, lest by continually coming she wear me out. '"

18:6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge *said;

18:7 now shall not God bring about justice for His elect, who cry to Him day and night [continually], and will He delay long over them?

1. If an unrighteous (heathen) judge would answer the persistent petitions of an insignificant widow, how much more would a loving God answer the continuous cries of His elect.

2. Yes, God answers prayers. (1 Pet. 3:12; 1 Jno. 5:14,16).

3. The Aelect@ are those who accept the gospel. (2 Thess. 2:14).

• It has no reference to God arbitrarily choosing some to be saved and others to be lost.

• God is not a "respecter of persons" and He wants all men to be saved. (Acts 10:34,35;1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9)

18:8 "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

1 Persistent prayer and perseverance are necessary in order for God=s chosen ones to remain true to the faith until the Son of man returns.

2. A...will He find (lit. the) faith on the earth?@

1. May each of us pray continuously to God.

2. We must be persistent in prayer, and never give up.