Exposition of Luke 18:1-8 on Prayer
Luke 18:1–8 records a parable Jesus told "to signify that men ought always to pray and not to be weary" [1]. The passage opens with an explicit statement of purpose—rare among Jesus' parables—and concludes with a question about whether the Son of Man will find faith on earth when he returns. Between these bookends lies the story of a widow who persistently petitions an unjust judge until he grants her justice, not from compassion but from sheer exhaustion.
Literary Context
This parable follows immediately upon Jesus' teaching about the coming of the Son of Man and the trials that will precede it (Luke 17:20–37). The connection is deliberate: believers facing tribulation need instruction on how to endure [7]. The next parable (18:9–14) continues the theme of prayer but shifts focus to the proper attitude—humility rather than self-righteousness [2, 3]. Together, these two parables form a diptych on prayer: persistence and posture.
The Parable's Logic
The argument proceeds a fortiori: if an unjust judge who "feared not God, nor regarded man" eventually yielded to a widow's importunity, how much more will a righteous God respond to the cries of his elect [6]? Augustine notes that the parable builds believers up "unto the duty of praying and believing, and of not putting our trust in ourselves, but in the Lord" [6]. The widow's persistence is not meant to overcome divine reluctance—God is not like the unjust judge—but to model the believer's posture during delay.
The Closing Question
Verse 8 introduces a jarring note: "Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown interpret this as a reference to the Church's "widowed, desolate, oppressed, defenseless condition during the present absence of her" Lord [4]. The delay will be so protracted that hope of relief will sink low, and faith in a coming avenger may nearly vanish [4]. The question is rhetorical but sobering: will the community of prayer persist?
Application to Constant Prayer
Matthew Henry emphasizes that the parable "supposes that all God's people are praying people" and that prayer is "to be our constant work" [5]. The phrase "always to pray" does not mean unceasing vocalization but maintaining "both a constant and an occasional correspondence" with God [5]. The parable thus addresses not technique but endurance—the temptation to "faint" under prolonged trial. God will vindicate his elect "speedily," yet the subjective experience of waiting may test whether faith endures until the Son of Man appears [4].
Sources
- Luke “Luke 18:1 (Tyndale) — And he put forth a similitude vnto the signifyinge that men ought alwayes to praye and not to be wery”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 18:9: 18:9-14 The topic of prayer (18:1-8) leads into this parable about the right attitude for approaching God.”
- Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 18 (introduction): In this chapter we have, I. The parable of the importunate widow, designed to teach us fervency in prayer (Luk 18:1-8). II. The parable of the Pharisee and publican, designed to teach us humility, and humiliation for sin, in prayer (Luk 18:9-14). III. Christ's favour to little children that were brought to him (Luk 18:15-17). IV. The trial of a rich man that had a mind to follow Christ, whether he loved better Christ or his riches; his coming short upon that trial; and Christ's discourse with his disciples upon that occasion (Luk 18:18-30). V. Christ's ”
- Luke (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Luke 18:8: speedily--as if pained at the long delay, impatient for the destined moment to interpose. (Compare Pro 29:1.) Nevertheless, &c.--that is, Yet ere the Son of man comes to redress the wrongs of His Church, so low will the hope of relief sink, through the length of the delay, that one will be fain to ask, Will He find any faith of a coming avenger left on the earth? From this we learn: (1) That the primary and historical reference of this parable is to the Church in its widowed, desolate, oppressed, defenseless condition during the present absence of her ”
- Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 18:1: 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, Luk 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 be our constant work; we ought always to pray, it is that which the duty of ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — ON THE WORDS OF THE GOSPEL, LUKE XVIII. I, (part 1): "THEY OUGHT ALWAYS TO PRAY, AND NOT TO FAINT," ETC. AND ON THE TWO WHO WENT UP INTO THE TEMPLE TO PRAY: AND OF THE LITTLE CHILDREN WHO WERE PRESENTED UNTO CHRIST. 1. THE lesson of the Holy Gospel builds us up unto the duty of praying and believing, and of not putting our trust in ourselves, but in the Lord. What greater encouragement to prayer than the parable which is proposed to us of the unjust judge ? For an unjust judge, who feared not God, nor regarded man, yet gave ear to a widow who ”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 18:1: 18:1-8 The parable of the persistent widow follows naturally from Jesus’ teaching about coming troubles (17:20-37). Believers can face trials and persevere through persistent prayer.”