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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 18:1-8

This parable has its key hanging at the door; the drift and design of it are prefixed. Christ spoke it with this intent, to teach us that men ought always to pray and not to faint, Luke 18:1. It supposes that all God's people are praying people; all God's children keep up both a constant and an occasional correspondence with him, send to him statedly, and upon every emergency. It is our privilege and honour that we may pray. It is our duty; we ought to pray, we sin if we neglect it. It is to... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 18:1-8

18:1-8 Jesus spoke a parable to them to show that it is necessary always to pray and not to lose heart. "There was a judge," he said, "in a town who neither feared God nor respected man. There was a widow in the same town who kept coming to him and saying, 'Vindicate me against my adversary.' For some time he refused. But afterwards he said to himself, 'Even though I neither fear God nor respect man, because she bothers me, I will vindicate this widow, lest by her constant coming she exhausts... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 18:1

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 Psalm 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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 18:1

Verse 1 We know that perseverance in prayer is a rare and difficult attainment; and it is a manifestation of our unbelief that, when our first prayers are not successful, we immediately throw away not only hope, but all the ardor of prayer. But it is an undoubted evidence of our Faith, if we are disappointed of our wish, and yet do not lose courage. Most properly, therefore, does Christ recommend to his disciples to persevere in praying. The parable which he employs, though apparently harsh,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 18:1

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint . The formnla ἕλεγε δὲ καί , literally, "and he spake also," calls attention to the fact that the parable-teaching immediately to follow was a continuation of what had preceded. Indeed, the connection between the first of the two parables, which urges restless continued prayer, and the picture which the Lord had just drawn of men's state of utter forgetfulness of God, is obvious. "The Son of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 18:1-7

Continuance in prayer: Divine delay. We have first to consider what is— I. THE ARGUMENT IN THE TEXT . It is one from the less to the greater, or rather from the unworthy to the worthy. If a bad man will, for a poor reason, accede to the request of one for whom he cares nothing, how much more certainly will the Righteous One himself, for a good reason, espouse the cause of those who are so dear to him! The reasons for confidence in God's faithfulness and interposition are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 18:1-8

The importunate widow. The importance which Christ attaches to prayer is evidenced by the frequency with which he recurs to it in his teaching, and the variety of his illustration of its duty and blessedness. The sermon on the mount enforces it as one of the cardinal virtues of the perfect disciple. In the eleventh chapter of this Gospel both the manner after which we are to pray, and the assurance on which faith should rest, are presented. Again, towards the close of the ministry we are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 18:1-14

The Lord speaks the two parables on prayer — the importunate widow, and the Pharisee and publican. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 18:1-14

Lessons in prayer. Our Lord, in the two parables composing the present passage, gives the disciples encouragement to pray. The one brings out the need of perseverance and importunity in prayer; the other brings out the spirit of self-abasement which should be cultivated in prayer. They are thus linked together as twin lessons in the art of prayer. I. LET US NOTICE THE NEEDFUL IMPORTUNITY OF GOD 'S ELECT AS ILLUSTRATED BY THE IMPORTUNATE WIDOW . ( Luke... read more

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