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| Bob | Posted: Sunday, August 31 2003 6:44 pm
Post subject: What is the message?
User Location: Out there somewhere |
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| OK, I admit I don't know what this parable means. Verse 1 says that man should pray often without becoming weary. Verse 5 states that persistant pestering pays off. Yet verse 8 says that God will answer prayers speedily.
Is this a contradiction?
Does "pestering the judge" mean that we should pester God until we get what we want?
What's speedy about that?
How does that relate to Christ asking if He shall find faith on earth?
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| Denny Aleksuk | Posted: Tuesday, September 30 2003 1:44 pm
Post subject: Widow and unjust judge
User Location: Minneapolis |
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| | I think there are a lot of misconceptions about the parable of the widow and the unjust judge. A lot of people think that Jesus is saying that we should pray repetitiously over any one thing. Is that really what is being said in light of the fact the Jesus said, "pray not vain repititions like the heathens do"? When he says, "men ought always to pray and not faint", is he saying to pray continuously? Or might he be saying "every single time you pray, don't faint or stand upon that one prayer until your answered? I submit that that's what this is saying. But she came over and over again someone will say. No, it said, "she came unto him saying". She barely got in the door and wasn't even done walking when she demanded justice. Someone will also say but he said that he will avenge her lest by her CONTINUAL coming she weary him. She was coming day and night". No, lest means, because IF SHE CONTINUES to come, she'll drive him nuts. She only came once, but by the determination in her words she impressed upon him, "she means business". So where does faith fit in to all of this? Didn't Jesus say, "if you had faith as a grain of mustard seed you would say unto this sycamine tree be thou plucked up by the root and be cast into the sea and it would obey you? Notice the aspect of patience, HE WOULD NOT FOR A WHILE but afterward he said, "though I fear not God nor regard man, I will avenge her lest by her continual coming she weary me. She planted a seed in his heart by her boldness, words and address. That seed grew within his heart and consumed him. But only "after a while". She didn't come again because in her heart it was a done deal. "And shall not God avenge his own elect which cry unto him day and night?” I believe that Jesus is saying that instead of crying day and night, if we would just have the faith to approach God boldly, as a covenant partner, and regard it a done deal, we would qualify as one of those who are avenged speedily. Will he find this kind of faith on earth when he comes? You decide. |
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| Rob | Posted: Saturday, June 30 2007 9:53 am
Post subject: The Importunate Widow
User Location: Cincinnati |
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| Denny,
You have come VERY close to the kingdom of God. Your interpretation lacks only a very small observation.
I used to read this parable and identify the characters as most do:
I am the widow
God is the unjust judge (what a characterization!)
Try this one on for size and see if it doesn't fit a little better:
I am the widow AND the unjust judge. After the parable Jesus tells us that God answers our prayers "speedily" (KJV) or "quickly" (NIV). That would eliminate God as the unjust judge character who got tired of this woman banging on him day and night.
God answers every prayer quickly and speedily but because of the condition of our hearts a lot of times, we are unwilling to receive the graces (gifts) that He has provided. Many times we cannot bring ourselves to the place where we actually believe in His goodness we limit our lives to whatever we ourselves can achieve.
The unjust judge is our own hearts. We do not receive anything from God except it be by faith. (For we are saved by grace through faith). If my heart cannot bring itself to the belief that God wants to bless me then I cannot receive what I cannot believe.
God answers all pray quickly. "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ" (2 Cor. 1:20). If we are in Christ then all promises to us are "Yes". Please be cautioned, however, persecution is as much a promise from God as "whatever you wish" (John 15:7).
The heart must be persuaded. "Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness". As the apostle Paul points out, this was no casual mental ascent to the existence of God; it was a belief in what God promised. And that is what counted as righteousness.
"He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in faith giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that what God had promised, he was able also to perform." (Rom. 4:20-21)
Abraham had to fully persuade his heart (the unjust judge) that God's promise was "Yes". And about 25-years later, Isaac was born. Sometimes, the persuasion process takes a little while but it's not God we are persuading, it's our own unjust and unbelieving hearts.
Or so it seems to me.
Rob |
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