Luke 18

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

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

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,

Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:

And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.

And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,

Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

What does Luke 18:8 mean?

Explanation

Luke 18:8 poses a profound question regarding the state of faith at the time of the Second Coming of Christ.

In context, this verse concludes the parable of the persistent widow, who pleaded with an unjust judge for justice against her adversary.

Despite his initial reluctance, the judge eventually grants her request to avoid her constant bother.

Jesus then assures His listeners that God will bring about justice for His chosen ones who cry out to Him day and night and will do so swiftly.

The phrase "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" expresses a concern. Here, Jesus contemplates whether genuine faith will be prevalent among people at His return.

It suggests the possibility of a decline in steadfast faith amongst the believers and is a call for self-examination about one's personal faith and perseverance.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of Luke was written in the context of the early Christian community, which expected the imminent return of Jesus Christ.

The book is generally attributed to Luke, a companion of the Apostle Paul, and is believed to have been written around 60-80 AD.

At that time, the Christian community faced persecution and needed reassurance of God’s ultimate justice.

The message served to encourage believers to maintain faith despite their difficulties and the seeming delay of Christ's return.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse can be interpreted from various perspectives:

Eschatological Expectation: It reflects the urgent expectation of Christ’s return and the establishment of God's justice.
Perseverance of the Saints: In Reformed theology, this may touch on the doctrine of perseverance, questioning whether believers will maintain their faith until the end.
Free Will and Apostasy: From an Arminian point of view, the verse might raise concerns about the possibility of apostasy - falling away from the faith.
Faith and Society: Some theologians might view this as a commentary on societal faith, pondering the state of Christianity and its influence in the world as time progresses.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse can serve as an exhortation for individuals to:

Examine Personal Faith: Consider the depth and resilience of their faith in God.
Persist in Prayer: Follow the example of the persistent widow and be diligent in prayer.
Work Towards Justice: Advocate for justice in anticipation of the divine justice promised by God.
Prepare for Christ’s Return: Live a life that reflects expectancy of the second coming of Jesus.

Cross-References

Matthew 24:12: "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."
Revelation 3:11: "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."
1 Thessalonians 5:2-6: "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night...

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober."

2 Timothy 4:7-8: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith..."

Language Study

Avenge: The Greek word used here is "ἐκδικέω" (ekdikeo), meaning to bring about justice or to vindicate.
Speedily: "ἐν τάχει" (en tachei) in Greek, implying swiftness or rapidity.
Nevertheless: Translates to "πλήν" (plēn) in Greek, introducing a contrast or an exception.
Faith: The Greek word "πίστις" (pistis) refers to belief, trust, or faithfulness.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of a divine figure returning to judge or deliver justice is not unique to Christianity. For example, in certain strands of Buddhism, there is the figure of Maitreya, a future Buddha who will appear to renew the teachings and restore righteousness.

Additionally, several pagan myths feature gods who depart and return under various circumstances, often linked to themes of renewal or judgment.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives are generally not directly applicable to this verse, as it addresses spiritual beliefs rather than empirical claims.

However, the study of sociology or psychology might offer insights into how and why faith persists or declines in societies over time.

Commentaries

Different biblical scholars and theologians offer varied interpretations of Luke 18:8:

John Calvin: Emphasized the suddenness of Christ's return and the need for constant vigilance in faith.
William Barclay: Suggested that Jesus is warning that the real danger is not that God will forget to be just but that people will forget to be faithful.
**N.T.

Wright**: Wright might place this verse within the larger narrative of God’s covenant with Israel and the role of Jesus as fulfilling and renewing that covenant.

**Robert H.

Stein**: In his commentary on Luke, Stein focuses on the delay of the parousia (the second coming), indicating that the righteous need to have patience and remain faithful.

Luke 18

Luke 18

What does Luke 18:8 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 18:8 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?