The sermon for this past Sunday covered the parable of "The Widow & the Unjust Judge". Often this scripture is used to preach for 'social justice', and there certainly is that component here... but, the words translated as "grant me justice" can also be translated as "grant me righteousness" and the word translated as "opponent" can mean one you steals or removes your righteousness. Given that this parable follows Luke's version of the 'Little Apocalypse' and that in verse 8 we see "when the Son of Man comes", I think we're dealing with something deeper here than just if someone has wronged you in some earthly fashion.
Please take a listen, it's actually a very brief sermon and this point alone is (in my humble opinion) worth the listen and some consideration.
Thank you for dropping by this tiny corner of the web.
Be a blessing to someone today!
In Christ,
Roy
Luke 18:1-8 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge
18 Then Jesus[a] told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ 4 For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’”[b] 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Footnotes:
a) Luke 18:1 Gk he
b) Luke 18:5 Or so that she may not finally come and slap me in the face
Luke 17:20-37 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Coming of the Kingdom
20 Once Jesus[a] was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among[b] you.”
22 Then he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 They will say to you, ‘Look there!’ or ‘Look here!’ Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.[c] 25 But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation. 26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all of them 30 —it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not come down to take them away; and likewise, anyone in the field must not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. 34 I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other left.”[d] 37 Then they asked him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”
Footnotes:
a) Luke 17:20 Gk he
b) Luke 17:21 Or within
c) Luke 17:24 Other ancient authorities lack in his day
d) Luke 17:35 Other ancient authorities add verse 36, “Two will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.”
