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Luke 18:1-8
18:1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (ESV)
- Looking for a Sign
- The Pharisees were looking for something cosmic
- Jesus told them that the kingdom was not “observable”
- It was with them now
- Jesus redirects the conversation to the disciples
- They were aware of who Jesus was (to the best of their ability)
- The final judgment will be accompanied by cosmic events
- Bringing hope to the saved and fear to the lost
- It will come, but at a time that they do not expect it – regardless of what others may say
- The judgment will be preceded by a crucial event – Jesus’ Suffering
- Suffering before Glory; Rejection before Rule
- Jesus makes two comparisons to the judgment
- The flood – Genesis 7
- Sodom and Gomorrah – Genesis 19
- People will be focused on the affair of life with no regard for God
- The kingdom will enter Quickly
- No time to gather belongings
- No place to look back
- Many will be unprepared
- Honoring God now will help mankind to endure temporal persecution
- What will the day look like?
- Two in bed, two grinding – one taken, one left behind
- “Where will they go?” – the disciples ask
- Jesus redirects them to the important point – those left behind will not be comforted
- The Parable – 18:1-8
- Jesus now illustrates His point of discussion – After suffering, He will Return
- To endure suffering – Pray
- The ungodly judge was finally moved to help the widow because of her persistence – We also need to be persistent and never discouraged
