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Ordinary Time · Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year C

Luke 18:1-8

The Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge

October 22, 2028

Allegory of Justice Punishing Injustice, Jean-Marc Nattier
Allegory of Justice Punishing Injustice, Jean-Marc Nattier, 1737Private collection, via Sotheby's
A French Rococo allegory, Justice descending on a cowering figure with the sword already raised.Will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? The parable's widow wears the judge down; the allegory skips the waiting.Private collection, via Sotheby'sIn private hands; the painting is known from its appearance at auction.Private collection, via Sotheby's
Roman Lectionary
GospelLuke 18:1-8Lk 18:1-8
Second Reading2 Tim. 3:14–4:22 Tm 3:14–4:2
First ReadingExod. 17:8-13Ex 17:8-13
Responsorial PsalmPs. 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (cf. 2)Ps 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (cf. 2)

Overview & Insights

"And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them?" (Luke 18:7)

Jesus tells a parable about a widow who persistently pleads her case before a corrupt judge, who finally grants her justice simply to be rid of her. Jesus uses the comparison from lesser to greater to encourage the disciples to pray always and not lose heart while they wait for God to act.

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Take it further: Luke 18:1-8

Commentary

Luke 18:1 CommentariesLk 18:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Multiple classic commentators side by side on why Jesus told this parable.

Luke 18 Commentary: The Persistent Widow and the PhariseeLk 18 Commentary: The Persistent Widow and the Pharisee Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse by verse commentary on the whole chapter, including this parable.

Luke 17 CommentaryLk 17 Commentary Precept Austin

Detailed word-by-word study notes that carry through into the persistent-widow parable.

Commentary on Luke 18:1-8Commentary on Lk 18:1-8 Working Preacher

A pastoral reading of the parable's lesser-to-greater argument about prayer.

Luke 18:1-18 CommentaryLk 18:1-18 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed preaching commentary on the widow's persistence and the judge's resistance.

Luke 18:1 InterlinearLk 18:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek text with Strong's numbers for 'pray always' and 'lose heart.'

The Persistent Widow, Proper 24 (C) Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church

A full sermon on the widow's persistence, free to adapt or use as is.

Background & Word Study

Luke Overview VideoLk Overview Video BibleProject

An animated walkthrough of the first half of Luke's Gospel and its themes.

The Church Fathers

Catena on Luke 18Catena on Lk 18 Catena

A chain of patristic comments on the whole chapter, verse by verse.

Worship & Prayers

Proper 24, Year C The Lectionary Page

All four readings and the collect for the day laid out on one page.

Art & Music

Year C, Proper 24 Texts and Art Vanderbilt

Public-domain artwork paired with each of this Sunday's readings.

Study Hub

Luke 18:1-8 Resource IndexLk 18:1-8 Resource Index Textweek

A long-running hand-curated index of commentary, sermon and art links for this text.

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