The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 104

EXPOSITION. to neglect, if not to oppress these helpless CHAPTER xvm. widow-women, sternly commented upon. So Vere. 1-14.-The Lord speaks the tioo in Isaiah we read (i. 23), "They judge not parables on prayer-the importunate widow, the fatherless, neither doth the cause of tbe and the Pharisee and publican. widow come unto them." While Jesus (Matt. Ver. 1.-And he spe.ke e. parable unto xxiii. 14) includes this cowardly sin among them to this end, that men ought always to the evil deeds of the rulers of the Israel of pray, and not to faint. The formula ,;>..-ye his day: "Ye devour widows' houses, and o~ Ka:, literally, "and he spake also," calls for a pretence make long prayer." A more attention to the fact that the parable-teach- desperate situation, as regards any hope of ing immediately to follow was a continua- obtaining the object of her earnest prayer, tion of what had preceded. Indeed, tbe could not well be pictmed--a careless, connection between the first of the two corrupt judge of the lawless Herod period parables, which Ul'ges restless continued for the tribunal in Israel, and a poor help- prayer, and the picture which the Lord had less widow for the suppliant. The forlorn just drawn of men's state of utter forgetful- woman of the parable represents the Church ness of God, is obvious. "The Son of man or people of God in dire straits, overborne has been rejected ; he has gone from view ; by an unbelieving world and seemingly for- the masses are plunge,! in gross worldli- gotten even of their God. The story is a ness; men of God are become as rare ne, in reminder that there is hope even in that the d11ys of Abraham, they were in Sodom. extreme situation sketcheu in the parable, What, then, is the position of the Church? if the petitioner only continues persistent That of a widow whose only weapon is in- in her prayer. The argument which lies on cessant prayer. It is only by means of this the surface of the parable-teaching is oln·ious: intense concentration that faith will be pre- if such a judge will in the end listen to the served. But such is precisely the disposition prayer of o. •uppliant for whom he cu.rPs which Jesus fears may not be found even in nothing, will not God surely listen to thu tl1e Church at his return" (Godet). repeated prayer of a suppliant whom he Ver. 2.-There we.s in a oity a judge, loves with o. deep, enduring love? Such is whioh feared not God, neither regarded man. the argument of the story. Importunity, it Probably enough tbe whole scene was a seems to say, must inevitably triumph. But !!ketch from lile; under such a rule 11s that underlying this there is much tlcep teaching, of Herod Antipas there were, doubtless, of which, perhaps, the most important item judges of the character here portrayed. is that it insists upon the urgent necessity Ver. 3.-And there was e. widow in that for us all to continue in prayer, never faint- oit7 ; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge ing in this exercise though no answer seems me of mine e.dverse.ry. The petitioner was to come. "The whole life of the faithful," a woman und a widow, the latter being iu 11s Origen once grandly snitl, "should be oue the Enst a synonym for helplessness. With great connected pmyer." 'l'bat is the real no one to defend her or ple1ul her cause, this moral of the story; but thero are a number widow was ever a pruy to the covetous. Not of minor bits of Diviue tencbing contained once nor twice in t.he noble generous words in this curious parable setting, as we shall of the chivalrous llobrew prophets we find see. Avenge me of mine adversary. We this re11<li uess on the part of thoso in powor ruust not suppose that were vengeance in 108 THE GOSrEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. [err. XVIII. 1-43.