i was reading tomorrow's gospel, luke 18 : 1-8, and i don't understand it. can you help? thanks, here it is:
1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
4"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "
6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
2007-10-20 15:39:12 · 8 answers · asked by Arcadia 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There is nothing wrong with repeatedly asking for the same thing. As long as it is within the will of God (1 John 5:14-15), keep asking until God grants your request or removes the desire from your heart. Sometimes God forces us to wait for an answer to our prayers in order to teach us patience and perseverance. Sometimes we are asking for something when it is not yet in God's timing for our lives. Sometimes we are asking for something that is not God's will for us, and He is saying no. Prayer is not only us presenting our requests to God, it is God presenting His will to our hearts. Keep on asking, keep on knocking, keep on seeking – until God grants your requests, or convinces you that your request is not His will for you.
Recommended Resource: Prayer, The Great Adventure by David Jeremiah.
2007-10-20 15:47:43 · answer #1 · answered by Freedom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is showing that if an unjust man will finally give justice if someone is persistant enough then if a man is persistent enough and in the will of God then it will be granted to him. The BIG part people miss there is that it has to be in the will of God (justice in this example)... to take it to the ridiculus extreme, no matter how hard we pray someone isn't going to drop off a keg of beer or give us a lottery win.
The problem is that in other things such as illness of a friend or family he still may not give us what we want but will give us the strength to handle the situation IF our faith stays true. Justice is an easy to understand request but health etc... ???
God Bless
Todd
2007-10-20 15:49:04 · answer #2 · answered by Pilgrim in the land of the lost 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is pointing out that if something truly is important to you, you wont give up in your prayers to God. You will press in and use your faith and God will move for you. If the evil judge will help the widow, how much more will a loving God help you. It also means if you pray twice for something and forget about it, maybe its not that important, if it is important you wont give up. Back then there were probably a lot of bad judges, its a story the people easily understood.
2007-10-20 15:49:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is teaching about persistance. Just as the widow kept asking the judge for her petition, and he eventually answered her --- we are to be persistant in placing our requests before the throne of God, because, like any good parent - and the judge - God will determine how and when, and IF, it is beneficial to answer our requests as stated. This passage tells us that He hears His chosen ones, but may delay the answer until His timing is perfect.
2007-10-20 15:52:49 · answer #4 · answered by del m 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the whole passage is quite clear. If we can get justice on this earth through our persistent petitions before the courts, surely God, who is truly good and just, will grant us justice when we petition Him in faith.
Thank-you for reminding me of the last few verses. They give me comfort and hope, and a reminder to be true to the Lord.
2007-10-20 15:47:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus often used Jewish hyperbole to make his points.
The extreme example was the unjust judge & the widow.
So we are to be persistant in our prayers for justice.
God will answer, in his own time, because he knows best.
The last line is just a rhetorical question.
2007-10-20 15:45:46 · answer #6 · answered by Robert S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
we should be persistent especially in matters of justice. Gods justice is even better than the judges in the courthouses. it is pretty clear......did i miss your point?
2007-10-20 15:44:02 · answer #7 · answered by trooper753 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Don't give up on the brink of a miracle
2007-10-20 15:51:03 · answer #8 · answered by sego lily 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋