Luke 18:5

5 yet because of all the trouble this widow is giving me, I will see to it that she gets her rights. If I don't, she will keep on coming and finally wear me out!' "

Luke 18:5 Meaning and 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 widow's case; but from a selfish end, for his own ease, in perfect agreement to his character, that his house might not be disturbed, and his ears stunned with her noise and cry, and he was pestered with her company day after day. The character of this judge, his reasoning with himself upon it, his principles from which he acted, and the ends he had in view, are wholly to be left out in the accommodation of this parable; and no farther to be considered than as the argument from the lesser to the greater may be strengthened by them; the intention of the parable being only to show the force, efficacy, and usefulness of importunity in prayer, as appears by the application of it, by our Lord, in the verses following.

Luke 18:5 In-Context

3 And there was a widow in that same town who kept coming to him and pleading for her rights, saying, "Help me against my opponent!'
4 For a long time the judge refused to act, but at last he said to himself, "Even though I don't fear God or respect people,
5 yet because of all the trouble this widow is giving me, I will see to it that she gets her rights. If I don't, she will keep on coming and finally wear me out!' "
6 And the Lord continued, "Listen to what that corrupt judge said.
7 Now, will God not judge in favor of his own people who cry to him day and night for help? Will he be slow to help them?
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.