3.21 The Unjust Judge
XXI. THE UNJUST JUDGE.
It is unusual that the lesson which a parable teaches should, as here, be prefixed to it by way of introduction. The lesson, “ that we ought always to pray, and not to faint,” is not here taught as of universal application in all times, places, and circumstances, as in the case of the parable 11:5ff. Both its position after an eschatological discourse and internal indications (verse 7/.) show that the Parousia is envisaged as imminent. A time of great trial is coming when the faith and patience of the disciples will be put to a severe test, THE PARABLES OF JESUS 209 and it is only those who persevere in prayer that will be able to stand it. The prayer of which there is question here is not a state of habitual, virtually uninterrupted prayer, nor a prayerful spirit, but the actual prayer of petition in the ordinary sense of the term. The preceding discourse was spoken to the disciples; and even apart from this circumstance, the character of the parable itself would oblige us to conclude that it also was addressed to them.
There was in a certain city a judge who, with perfect consciousness of the fact, neither feared God nor regarded man. There was also in the same city a widow who came to him repeatedly, asking him to do her justice in a lawsuit which she had in hand. In the Old Testament, kindness to widows, especially on the part of those concerned with the administration of justice, is strongly inculcated.
Jahweh himself is styled “ the Advocate of widows “ (Ps. Ixvii. 6); and we find Isaias in his address to the rulers of Jerusalem, in which he urges on the work of reformation in the city, attaching special importance to the duty of pleading the cause of thi; class of
14 210 THE PARABLES OF JESUS women. 1 Widows, as bereft of their natural protectors, could easily become the prey of designing and unscrupulous men, especially in Palestine, where venality lingers still. No formal charge of corruption is brought here against the judge; but he will not give himself the trouble to set in motion the simple machinery of justice for the purpose of doing his petitioner right. Judges are appointed to administer strict, impartial justice; and as the judge in question, though with no corrupt intention, neglected this duty, to the detriment of the widow’s interests, he is rightly qualified with the epithet “ unjust.” Thus matters went on for a time, each new entreaty meeting with a fresh refusal, until at last the widow, who began to despair of success, became so importunate in her appeals that the judge, who only wanted to be left in peace, decided to grant it. He said within himself: “ Even though I fear not God nor regard man, yet, because this widow is troublesome to me, I will avenge her, lest she should at length come and claw me.” The last words have a certain ironical flavour: it does not appear that he * C. 1:17. THE PARABLES OF JESUS 211 was actually afraid of personal violence.
Jesus Himself draws the moral of this short history: “ Hear ye what the unjust judge saith. And think ye that God will not avenge His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will tarry in their regard? I tell you that He will speedily avenge them.” The elect are those who remain faithful and vigilant in the last days of great tribulation which will precede the Parousia, and which God will mercifully shorten, else no flesh would be saved (Matthew 24:21 f.; cf. Revelation 6:10, Revelation 19:2).
If the unjust judge granted the widow’s prayer, merely to be rid of her importunity, how much more will God, Who is not only just, but faithful to His promises, hear the prayer of His elect who cry to Him, not at intervals of days or weeks, but day and night without ceasing! The words of Jesus contain a promise of deliverance which will support the sinking courage of the disciples in those evil days; and they also indicate the condition namely, continual prayer on which the fulfilment of the promise depends. The prayer of the elect, which finds many parallels in the Psalms, is not opposed to the precept 212 THE PARABLES OF JESUS of fraternal charity, inasmuch as it is prompted by the desire that the outraged honour of God should be vindicated, and that His servants should be recompensed for their fidelity, by their reception into His Kingdom. Jesus may be slow in coming, but this delay in relation to eternity is but short (2 Corinthians 4:17). In His concluding words, “ Yet will the Son of Man at his coming find faith on the earth?” to which a negative answer is expected, Our Lord intimates what the state of the world will be at that time. The passage agrees with the statements of the eschatological discourses as to the condition of humanity at the Parousia (xvii. 26-30; Matthew 24:12, Matthew 25:5Matthew 25:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Peter 3:3).
TAGS: [Parables]