Christ's teaching on prayer (Luke 18) w/thoughts from Charles Simeon, Daniel Bock, and J.C. Ryle

As we end our series on prayers from the Apostles, let's stop to consider Christ's teaching on prayer.

Luke 18:1-8

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” 

The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Prayer Attitude: We should keep up the habit of prayer and never lose faith.

Charles Simeon made some good overall points for this passage:

1. Those who live without prayer—

[Such persons are as devoid of reason as they are of piety. What madness is it to neglect heaven when it may be obtained by such means! And how will such thoughtless sinners ere long bewail their folly! We cannot but address them as the mariners did the sleeping prophetp—.]

2. Those who pray only in a formal manner—

[Formal services are far from being pleasing and acceptable to God: they tend, for the most part, only to deceive our own souls. God requires us to worship him in spirit and in truthq. Let us then remember the awful declaration of our Lordr—.]

3. Those who, after praying for a season, become remiss again—

[See whether it be not the love of earthly things that hath hindered you. If so, repent and do your first works, and turn unto your Gods: but perhaps you faint merely through the discouragements you meet witht. Let the remembrance of the importunate widow revive your hopes. Justify God, as the Psalmist did in similar circumstancesu, and renew your application to him in dependence on his gracious promisex.]

4. Those that have received gracious answers to prayer—

[Let not the goodness of God to you become an occasion of pride. God was not first moved by any worthiness in your petitions; but he stirred you up to ask, because he had before determined to give. If this view of things be humiliating, it also affords much encouragement. Every believing prayer may be considered as a pledge of the blessings askedy. Adopt therefore the pious resolution of the Psalmistz—; so shall your prayers terminate in everlasting praises.]

Simeon, C. (1832-63). Horae Homileticae Vol. 13: Luke XVII to John XII (29–30). London.

Luke 18:8 is particularly challenging to understand and Daniel Bock provides a nice brief understanding in his commentary:

The context of Luke 18:8 makes clear that the ultimate request is for God’s justice and the Son of Man’s return (see similar prayers for the kingdom program in Luke 11:2; 22:42; Acts 4:25–30; 12:5 [for God’s justice in releasing Peter]). The disciples are not to grow weary in making this request. Since an activity is in view, “growing tired or weary” is a more natural translation of ἐγκακέω (enkakeō) than is “losing heart.” The point is that in the midst of persecution and possible delay, the disciple should not stop praying for justice and for the return that will bring justice.

Bock, D. L. (1996). Luke Volume 2: 9:51-24:53. Baker exegetical commentary on the New Testament (1447). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books.

Bishop Ryle's understanding on the overall emphasis should be stated.  In light of Matt 6:7 (the next study), the idea here is not "carpet bombing" God with words but keeping up the habit of prayer each time the heart aches:

1. Should always pray. This does not mean that a person should be constantly performing the act of prayer. It means that a person should constantly keep up the habit of prayer and endeavor to be always in a prayerful frame of mind.

Ryle, J. C. (1997). Luke. The Crossway classic commentaries. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.