I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

LUKE 18:8KJV
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Luke 18:8 (KJV)

What does Luke 18:8 mean?

Luke 18:8 says that God will bring justice quickly for those who cry out to Him, but Jesus then wonders aloud whether, when He returns, He will find people who still trust and believe in Him on earth. The verse highlights both God's faithfulness and the question of whether people will remain faithful in difficult times.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to His disciples after telling them a parable about a persistent widow who kept asking a judge for justice. The point of the story is to encourage people to keep praying and not lose heart. Jesus ends by raising a searching question: even though God answers, will there be genuine faith left when He comes back?

The Greek behind Luke 18:8

  • ταχὺ (tachy, "speedily" — G5034): This word means "quickly" or "without delay." It emphasizes that God's justice may come faster than people expect, even if it feels delayed from a human perspective.
  • πίστις (pistis, "faith" — G4102): This word refers to trust, belief, or faithfulness. The question about finding "faith" on earth is not just about belief in general, but about a deep, enduring trust in God, especially under pressure.

Why Luke 18:8 matters

  • Luke 18:8 clarifies that God is not indifferent or slow to respond to those who seek Him, even if the answer does not come in the way or timing people expect.
  • The verse shifts the focus from God's reliability to human response, challenging readers to consider whether they will persist in faith, especially when answers seem delayed.
  • Luke 18:8 ties the parable to a bigger theme in Luke’s Gospel: the importance of perseverance in prayer and faithfulness until Jesus returns.

Where else these words appear

“when” Greek G687 · used in 3 verses

  • Acts 8:30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
  • Galatians 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

“speedily” Greek G5034 · used in 7 verses

  • Acts 12:7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
  • Acts 25:4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.
  • Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

“avenge” Greek G1557 · used in 9 verses

  • Luke 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
  • Acts 7:24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
  • 2 Thessalonians 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

“Nevertheless” Greek G4133 · used in 31 verses

  • Matthew 11:22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
  • Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
  • Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.