And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
LUKE 18:6KJVWhat does Luke 18:6 mean?
Luke 18:6 records Jesus telling his listeners to pay attention to what the "unjust judge" in his story has said. Jesus is drawing attention to the judge’s words as an important point in the lesson he is teaching about persistence in prayer.
In this scene, Jesus is speaking to a crowd and has just finished telling a parable about a widow who kept asking a corrupt judge for justice. The judge finally gives in, not because he is righteous, but because he is tired of her persistence. Jesus now urges his listeners to notice the judge’s response, setting up a contrast between the flawed human judge and God’s character in the verses that follow.
The Greek behind Luke 18:6
- κύριος (kyrios, "Lord"): This term is used here for Jesus, emphasizing his authority as the one teaching and interpreting the parable.
- ἄδικος (adikos, "unjust"): This word describes the judge, highlighting his lack of fairness or moral integrity. The focus on his injustice makes the lesson about God’s justice even sharper.
- κριτής (kritēs, "judge"): The judge is the central figure in the parable, representing someone with power but without compassion or righteousness. This sets up a strong contrast with God, who is just.
Why Luke 18:6 matters
- Luke 18:6 makes clear that Jesus wants his listeners to focus on the words and actions of the unjust judge, not just the widow’s persistence.
- The verse sets up a contrast between human injustice and God’s perfect justice, preparing readers for the assurance that God responds to persistent prayer in a way far better than the judge.
- Understanding this verse helps clarify that the parable is not saying God is like the unjust judge, but rather that God is much more willing to respond to those who call out to him.