Luke 18:1-7

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 18:2

Saying, there was in a city a judge ,.... In every city in the land of Israel, there was a sanhedrim, or court of judicature; in Jerusalem was the great sanhedrim, consisting of seventy one; and in every city where there were an hundred and twenty men, or more, there was a lesser sanhedrim, consisting of twenty three; and in a city in which there were not an hundred and twenty men, were three judges; for there was no sanhedrim, or court of judicature, that consisted of less than three F12 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 18:3

And there was a widow in that city ,.... Poor and helpless, and none among men to counsel, direct, and assist her, and take her part: now as in the accommodation of this parable, the elect of God answer to this widow; such an one is rather pitched upon to represent the helpless, desolate, and forlorn condition they are in among men in this world, though they are espoused to one husband, Christ; and especially to signify the state and condition of God's elect among the Jews in those sad... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 18:4

And he would not for a while ,.... He would give no ear to her cries, nor take her cause in hand, nor right her wrongs, and clear her of her adversary: but afterward he said within himself ; as he was considering the matter in his own mind, and reflecting on this woman's case and the frequent application she had made to him: though I fear not God, nor regard man ; a monster in iniquity he was, to say so of himself; for though the character belongs to many, there are few that are so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 18:5

Yet because this widow troubleth me ,.... By often knocking at his door, by loud cries and earnest entreaties, with strong arguments, and floods of tears, and could not easily be removed from his presence, or got out of his house: I will avenge her ; I will hear her cause, do her justice, and deliver her from her troublesome adversary: lest by her continual coming she weary me : so that it was not from a conscience of duty in him, as a judge, or from a commiseration of the poor... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 18:6

And the Lord said ,.... The Lord Jesus Christ, who delivered out this parable to his disciples: hear what the unjust judge saith ; and take encouragement from hence to be frequent and importunate in prayer with God; for if such a cruel, merciless, and unjust judge is to be wrought upon by importunity to do justice, who has no principle to influence him, how much more will not God, who is a just judge, the judge of widows, and of the oppressed, a God of great mercy and compassion, who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 18:7

And shall not God avenge his own elect ,.... Who are a select number, a special people, whom he has loved with an everlasting love, so as of his own sovereign good will and pleasure to choose in his Son Jesus Christ unto everlasting life and salvation, through certain ways and means of his own appointing, hence they are peculiarly his: and these he will avenge and vindicate, right their wrongs, do them justice, and deliver them from their adversaries, and take vengeance on them; as may be... 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

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