ACC ~ Luke 18 v1 - 8

OVERVIEW:

It is not the length of prayer that Jesus is recommending, something that he cautions against, but persistence in prayer (AUGUS-TINE). Those who pray continually have an advocate with the Father, who gives them whatever they ask (ORIGEN). In the parable, a persistent widow will be blessed because she seeks out her judge with persistence. And because of her persistence, the judge shows her mercy even though he has no respect for people or fear of God, showing how much more we might expect from our merciful God (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA). The persistent prayer of the widow transforms the iniquity and wickedness of the judge into mercy because she was more persistent than he was (EPHREM THE SYRIAN).

As much as it may appear to himself and his society that he does not fear God or respect people, the judge, when pushed by a shameless widow, does care about his reputation. In a similar way—and this involves moving from the lesser to the greater—God will be true to himself and his Word: the time of vindication for his faithful saints will come (AUGUSTINE). God will eventually give vindication, because he has promised salvation to the elect, who cry to him day and night, from the attacks of the Satan their adversary (MARTYRIUS).

God’s vindication does indeed come quickly at Christ’s atonement because our enemy is none other than Satan. Our cry for vindication is for the incarnate Word of God to avenge us against the tyranny of the devil. The longsuffering God who vindicates quickly wants his elect to pray constantly and confidently: they are to ask, seek and persevere. Christ asks, “Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he even find the faith on the earth?” Will there be a faithful community awaiting at the coming of the Son of man amid all the false teachings (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA)?

18:1 | Introduction

NOT THE LENGTH OF PRAYER BUT PERSISTENCE

AUGUSTINE: [The Lord] taught us to pray [1] to receive this blessed life. He taught us not to pray with much speaking, as if we were more likely to be heard, the more words we use in our prayer. The Lord said, “He knows what is needful for us before we ask him.” For this reason, it may seem strange, although he cautions us against much speaking, he still urges us to pray since he knows what is needful for us before we ask for it. He said, “We should always pray and not faint.” He used the example of a certain widow who wished to be avenged of her adversary and petitioned an unjust judge so often that she made him listen to her. She made him listen not through any motive of justice or compassion, but through weariness of her insistence. In this way, we were to learn how surely the merciful and just God hears us when we pray without ceasing. The widow, because of her continual petition, could not be treated with contempt even by an unjust and wicked judge. LETTER 130. [2]

[1] Mt 6:7-8.

[2] FC 18:387-88**.

THOSE WHO PRAY CONTINUALLY HAVE AN ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER

ORIGEN: He prays for those who pray and appeals with those who appeal. He does not, however, pray for servants who do not pray continuously through him. He will not be the Advocate with God for his own if they are not obedient to his instructions that they always should pray and not lose heart. It says, “And he told them a parable to the effect that they should always pray and not lose heart. In a certain city there was a judge, etc.” … Who would hesitate a moment to be persuaded to pray if he believes that the mouth of Jesus cannot lie, when he says, “Ask, and it will be given you … for everyone who asks, receives”? [1] ON PRAYER 10.2. [2]

[1] Lk 11:9-10; Mt 7:7-8.

[2] OSW 101**.

18:2-5 | The Parable

THE PERSISTENCE OF THE WIDOW

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The present parable assures us God will bend his ear to those who offer him their prayers, not carelessly nor negligently but with earnestness and constancy. The constant coming of the oppressed widow conquered the unjust judge that did not fear God or have any shame. Even against his will, he granted her request. How will not he who loves mercy and hates iniquity, and who always gives his helping hand to those that love him, accept those who draw near to him day and night and avenge them as his elect? COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 119. [1]

[1] CGSL 478*.

PERSISTENT PRAYER TRANSFORMS INIQUITY AND WICKEDNESS INTO MERCY

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: How was that unjust judge immoral and wicked? How was the upright judge gracious and just? The first in his iniquity was not willing to vindicate the widow, and in his wickedness, he was not willing to put her mind at rest. The justice of God knows how to vindicate, and his grace discerns how to give life. The iniquity of this wicked judge was contrary to the justice of God, and the wickedness of this rebel was in opposition to the grace of the gentle One. His wickedness therefore was stubbornness, for it dared to go against the fear of God. His boldness was stubborn, for it refused the lowly person.

These two were stubborn, but persistent prayer was even more stubborn. The persistence of the widow humiliated both the iniquity that was rebelling against God and the boldness that was behaving arrogantly towards human beings. She subjected them to her will, so that they might provide her with a vindication over her adversary. Persistence transformed these two bitter branches, and they bore sweet fruit that was against their nature. The iniquity of the judge brought about a righteous judgment and a just retribution for the falsely accused woman. His wickedness gave peace to the afflicted one, although iniquity does not know how to judge, and wickedness does not know how to give refreshment. Persistence forced these two evil and bitter branches to give good fruit against their nature. If we persist in prayer, we should be even more able to prevail on the grace and justice of God to give us fruit that agrees with their nature. Let justice vindicate us, and let grace refresh us. Accordingly, the fruit of justice is the just reward of the oppressed, while the giving of refreshment to the afflicted is the fruit of grace. COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 16.16. [1]

[1] ECTD 250-51**.

18:6-8 | The Interpretation

NOT AN ALLEGORICAL REPRESENTATION OF GOD

AUGUSTINE: These examples now are proposed so that important things may be suggested from things of less importance. They are like the example of the judge who feared neither God nor people and who nevertheless yielded to the widow bothering him to judge her case. He yielded not through piety or kindness but through fear of suffering annoyance. By no means does that unjust judge furnish an allegorical representation of God. The example is of an unjust man who, although he yields for the mere sake of avoiding annoyance, nevertheless cannot disregard those who bother him with continual pleadings. By this the Lord wishes us to infer how much care God bestows on those who beseech him, for God is both just and good. SERMON ON THE MOUNT 15. [1]

[1] FC 11:159*.

GOD VINDICATES US AGAINST SATAN’S ATTACKS

MARTYRIUS: As our Savior pointed out, even the cruel and wicked judge eventually looked into the poor widow’s case because she had wearied him with her insistence. It is quite clear that God does not neglect us. Even if he makes us wait, he will nonetheless answer us and see to our case all of a sudden. When we pray all the time, we should not weary. We should eagerly cry out to him day and night, begging him with a broken heart and a humble spirit. “A humble spirit is a sacrifice to God, and God will not reject a broken heart.” [1] BOOK OF PERFECTION 75. [2]

[1] Ps 51:17.

[2] CS 101:233**.

THE INCARNATE WORD OF GOD AVENGES US

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: We say in our prayers to him who is able to save and drive away from us that wicked being, “Avenge me of my adversary.” The only-begotten Word of God has truly done this by having become man. He has ejected the ruler of this world from his tyranny over us and has delivered and saved us and put us under the yoke of his kingdom. It is excellent to make requests through constant prayer, because Christ will receive our pleas and fulfill our petitions. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 119. [1]

[1] CGSL 479**.

WILL THE SON OF MAN FIND FAITH?

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: People sell the word of righteousness and make many abandon sound faith. They involve them in the inventions of devilish error. As Scripture says, they belch things out of their own hearts and not out of the mouth of the Lord. He foretold this saying, “When the Son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” It did not escape his knowledge. How could it, since he is God, who knows all things? In his own words, he tells us that the love of many will grow cold. In the end times, some will depart from a correct and blameless faith. They will be going after seducing spirits and listening to the false words of people who have a seared conscience. [1] Against these, we come near to God as faithful servants, begging him that their wickedness and their attempts against his glory may have no effect. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 119. [2]

[1] 1 Tim 4:1-2.

[2] CGSL 479**.