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PARABLE: The Widow and the Judge

 {PARABLE} The Widow and the Judge_ 

Luke 18: 1-8 

 
Today many people are suffering from the disease known as “lottery fever”... the gambling craze sparked scratch-cards and multi-million pound prize lotteries. 
A person’s chances of winning are very small, so small that you would think people would soon get discouraged. Yet millions go on playing the lottery unsuccessfully all their lives. They never lose hope. 

 
[Group discussion starter] What, if any, wild and crazy schemes have you put your hope in?  

 
Praying Christians often give up hope. Why? Why do many of us stop expecting anything when we pray “Thy will be done”? In this parable Jesus tells us why we should always pray and never give up.. 

 
[Read Luke 18: 1-8] 

 

In your opinion, what are the key words in verse 1? 
Explain your answer. 
 

 
The characters in the parable are drawn sketchily but vividly.  
What images come to mind when you think about the widow? 
 

 
What images come to mind when you think about the judge? 
 

 

Why do you think the widow is so persistent? 
 

 
How would you define “persistence” or “determination” of this sort? 

 
In verses 4-5, what finally motivates the judge to act? 
 

 
What we believe about God and how we feel about God when we pray may not be the same. For example, I may believe God cares for all my needs, but I may feel resentful that God hasn’t helped me get a job... 
 

 

In what ways do your feelings and beliefs sometimes conflict when you pray? 
 

 
Use your imagination to fill in the details about those praying to God in verses 6-8. 
How would you describe them and their circumstances? 
 

 
Are your prayers as desperate as those described here? 
Why or why not? 
 

 
In what ways can we expect God to do far more for those in verse 7 than the judge did for the widow? 
 

 
Jesus told this parable to show us that we should always pray and not give up (verse 1). How would you explain the uncertainty of his final question in verse 8? 
 

 
When are you most tempted to give up praying about someone or something? 
 

 
How can this parable encourage you to keep on praying?  

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