Luke 18:1-8

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought ¹always to pray and not ²lose heart.

2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who ³neither 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, ⁴'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 ⁵will not God give justice to ⁶his elect, ⁷who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?

8 I tell you, he will give justice to them ⁸speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, ⁹will he find faith on earth?"

Luke 18:1-8 In-Context

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?"

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:

10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayedthus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.'

Cross References

• 1. Luke 21:36; Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; [Luke 11:5-9]
• 2. 2 Corinthians 4:1, 16; 2 Thessalonians 3:13(Gk.)
• 3. [2 Corinthians 8:21]
• 4. [Luke 11:8]
• 5. Revelation 6:10; [Isaiah 63:4]
• 6. Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12; Titus 1:1; See Mark 13:20
• 7. Psalms 88:1
• 8. Hebrews 10:37
• 9. Luke 17:26-30; [Matthew 24:12]