119 matching verse commentaries
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And he spoke a parable unto them,.... To his own disciples, as the Ethiopic version reads, in order to encourage them to prayer, with perseverance in it; since such sore times of trial and affliction were coming upon the Jews, of which he had spoken in the preceding chapter; and such times more especially call for prayer; see Psalms 50:15 [to this...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In this chapter we have, I. The parable of the importunate widow, designed to teach us fervency in prayer, ver. 1-8. II. The parable of the Pharisee and publican, designed to teach us humility, and humiliation for sin, in prayer, ver. 9-14. III. Christ's favour to little children that were brought to him, ver. 15-17. IV. The trial of a rich man...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; “Not to faint” in their expectation of answers to their supplications, and therefore give up prayer; but to persevere in presenting their petitions at the throne of grace, because prayer is never lost labour. There may be a time during which God does not...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; An old writer says that many of Christ’s parables need a key to unlock them. Here, the key hangs outside the door; for, at the very beginning of the parable we are told what Christ meant to teach by it: “that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Especially, not to faint in prayer, not to become disheartened, or weary, even if their prayers should, for a long time, remain unanswered.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Saying, there was in a city a judge,.... In every city in the land of Israel, there was a sanhedrim, or court of judicature; in Jerusalem was the great sanhedrim, consisting of seventy one; and in every city where there were an hundred and twenty men, or more, there was a lesser sanhedrim, consisting of twenty three; and in a city in which there...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: He was a most unfit person to be a judge, as many in Eastern cities still are. They are ready enough to take bribes, but they are not so prompt in giving just judgments. They generally attend to the business of the rich and the powerful, but neglect the poor and...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: It is a great pity for any city and for any country where the judges do not fear God, where they feel that they have been put into a high office in which they may do just as they please. There were such judges in the olden times even in this land; God grant that we...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. He would not have interested himself in her case simply because she was a poor widow, he had no bowels of compassion for her; nor would it have concerned him at all that...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And there was a widow in that city,.... Poor and helpless, and none among men to counsel, direct, and assist her, and take her part: now as in the accommodation of this parable, the elect of God answer to this widow; such an one is rather pitched upon to represent the helpless, desolate, and forlorn condition they are in among men in this world,...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. Probably someone had come, and taken away from her the little bit of land that her husband had left her, upon the produce of which she and the children might have lived; and she could not get it back again. So she comes to the judge, and cries, “Avenge...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. She had no friend to plead for her, she had nobody to help her; and, therefore, when she was robbed of her little patrimony, she went to the court, and asked the judge for justice.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And he would not for a while,.... He would give no ear to her cries, nor take her cause in hand, nor right her wrongs, and clear her of her adversary: but afterward he said within himself; as he was considering the matter in his own mind, and reflecting on this woman's case and the frequent application she had made to him: though I fear not God,...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And he would not for a while — He had plenty of applicants who could pay him better than this poor woman could, so he disregarded her petition; but he little knew that, in her, he had to deal with a woman who meant to be heard, and who intended to press her suit until she won it. She was evidently a very determined character. Though a...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
But afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. She came again, and again, and again, and again; she would not leave off coming, for she meant to have the justice she sought, and she did get it. Now that is the way to...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And he would not for a while: He preferred to be unjust; as he could do as he liked, he liked to do as he should not.
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
But afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. She seems to have gone to him so often that he grew quite fatigued and pained by her persistence; the Greek words are very expressive, as though she had beaten him in the...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; He even boasted of the very thing of which he ought to have been ashamed: “’I fear not God, nor regard man;’ I care for nobody, and defy everyone.”
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Yet because this widow troubleth me,.... By often knocking at his door, by loud cries and earnest entreaties, with strong arguments, and floods of tears, and could not easily be removed from his presence, or got out of his house: I will avenge her; I will hear her cause, do her justice, and deliver her from her troublesome adversary: lest by her...