Luke 18:6

And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

Luke 18:6 (KJV)

Context

Luke 18:6 is the pivot point in the Parable of the Persistent Widow. Jesus has just told the story of a widow who repeatedly appeals to a judge who “neither feared God nor cared what people thought.” The judge finally grants her justice, not out of righteousness, but because she wears him out. In this verse, Jesus says, “Hear what the unjust judge saith.” This is not a command to imitate the judge, but to listen carefully to his reasoning. The judge’s own words reveal his unrighteous character: he admits he has no fear of God and no regard for people, yet he acts because of the widow’s persistence.

Meaning

Jesus uses this shocking contrast to teach His disciples about prayer. If an unjust, godless judge can be moved by persistent pleading, how much more will God, who is just and compassionate, hear His chosen ones who cry out to Him day and night? The verse sets up the “how much more” argument that follows in the next verse. The focus is on the character of God as the willing and able responder to persistent prayer, in stark contrast to the reluctant and unjust human judge. The phrase “the Lord said” identifies Jesus as the speaker, the authoritative teacher of this parable.

Application

This passage emphasizes the importance of persistent prayer and encourages believers to have faith that God hears and answers their prayers. It assures us that God is not like an unjust judge who ignores our pleas, but rather, He is loving and compassionate, ready to respond to our needs. It teaches us to persevere in prayer and not lose heart, knowing that God hears us and is faithful to His promises.