The Unjust Judge
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The Unjust Judge is a story found in the Gospel of Luke, 18:1-9. It concerns a judge "who did not fear God, neither did he care for people." Nevertheless, he eventually agreed to do justice to a poor widow because she was so persistent in demanding justice. The traditional interpretation is that the story is a parable, urging listeners to be persevering in presenting their petitions to God. If even a corrupt judge will yield to repeated insistence, how much more will God listen to persistent prayer.
However, there is also a school of thought that denies the story is a parable or that the judge is meant to compare to God in any way. In this view this is an exemplary story teaching us how to deal with human authorities on Earth. God knows what we need, and repetition is superfluous and futile in prayer, as Jesus taught elsewhere.
From Luke 18:1-9 (KJV)
- 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
- 18:2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
- 18:3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
- 18:4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
- 18:5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
- 18:6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
- 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
- 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
- 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
| Parables of Jesus - [http://encycl.opentopia.com/ edit] |
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| >The Barren Fig Tree | Drawing in the Net | The Friend at Night | Good Samaritan | Good Shepherd | Growing Seed | The Hidden Treasure | Workers in the Vineyard | Leafing Fig Tree | The Leaven | Lost Coin | Lost Sheep | Marriage of the King's Son | Mustard Seed | Pearl | Pharisee and the Publican | Parable of the Talents | Prodigal Son | The Rich Fool | Lazarus and Dives | Faithful Servant | The Sheep and the Goats | Sower | Weeds | Ten Virgins | The Two Debtors | The Two Sons | The Unjust Judge | The Unjust Steward | Unmerciful Servant | The Vine | The Wicked Husbandmen | The Wise and the Foolish Builders |
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