Jesus wanted to teach the disciples always to pray to God when in trouble; if their prayers were not soon answered, they might think it would be no use to pray more. But He wanted them to know that God would surely answer the prayers of His people, and He told them this story, or parable: There was a widow in a city, to whom someone did a wrong, and she went to the judge to ask him to avenge her—punish the person.
The duty of a judge is to hear all cases and decide justly, and enforce the right, especially for one like the widow with no one to protect her. But the judge of that city was not a just man: he did not care for the people or for God. At first he paid no attention to the woman’s request, but it seems she came again to ask. Then he decided to take care of her, not because it was right, but because he liked to be at ease, and he thought she would keep coming to bother him.
Jesus told the disciples how different God is from the selfish, unjust judge. He will most surely care for His people in trouble; “His elect,” believers of Israel, will be in deep trouble from those who despise them, and God will avenge them.
People now who love God and believe in His Son, the Lord Jesus, do not ask God to avenge them of their enemies, because now is God’s time to bless, not to punish. He wants to show mercy to all who will trust in His Son.
Yet these words, “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint” are surely meant for all who believe God and for every time of trouble. And He has given many promises that He will hear and do: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me” (Psalm 50:1515And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Psalm 50:15)). “The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth” (Psalm 145:1818The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. (Psalm 145:18)).
Pride and Humility
The Lord Jesus told another parable to teach that God answers only true and earnest prayer. He said two men came into the temple to pray; one man seemed to want others to hear him pray. He thought himself very good, and not a sinner like the other man. Jesus said, He prayed “with himself.” His prayer was not really to God.
The other man stood in a far part of the room, bowed his head low, and struck himself on his breast, which was a sign that he felt he deserved to be punished. All he could say was to ask God to have mercy on him: he knew he had done what was wrong, and that God was holy.
Jesus said that man was “justified” or forgiven by God but not the man who thought himself to be good. So we must be honest in prayer. God knows all we do and wants to bless us if we confess our wrongs. “The poor man cried and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles” (Psalm 34:66This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. (Psalm 34:6)).
Further Meditation
1. What words did the second man say?
2. Who is told to pray in James 5:1313Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. (James 5:13)? What is our proper attitude when we pray? How is it possible to be proud of being humble?
3. Prayer by H. P. Barker gives a nice and very simple introduction to the essential subject of speaking to God.