Jesus, Justice and Repentance

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. ²He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. ³In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my opponent.' ⁴For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, ⁵yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'" ⁶And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. ⁷And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? ⁸I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Introduction


Today, we delve into the well-known parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8). In this short but profound passage, Jesus teaches us about the nature of God’s justice, the call to persistent prayer, and the transformative power of repentance. Drawing from the riches of the Holy Spirit, let us seek God’s truth, trusting that He is both just and merciful.

Point 1: The Call to Persistent Prayer and Trust in God’s Justice


Jesus introduces us to a widow—powerless in society, yet relentless in her plea for justice from an unjust judge. Her persistence prevails, not because the judge is righteous, but out of his weariness. Christ’s message is clear: our God is infinitely more just and attentive than any earthly judge. As John Calvin explains, “Prayer is not so much for God’s sake as for ours, to exercise our faith, relying wholly on His promises” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, III.20).

Persistent prayer shapes us—it aligns our hearts to God’s will, refines our faith, and builds reliance on His timing. As Paul writes: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12). God invites us into a living relationship, assuring us that our cries for justice are not ignored. As believers, we persist, not to wear God down but to be drawn closer to Him, being transformed by His Spirit.  

Point 2: Repentance and the Assurance of Divine Justice


Jesus asks, “Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?” (Luke 18:7). The answer is found at the cross, where divine justice and mercy perfectly meet (Romans 3:21-26).

The Heidelberg Catechism, one of the confessions in the PC(USA) Book of Confessions, addresses repentance (or “conversion”) in Question 88: “What is involved in genuine repentance or conversion?” A. “Two things: the dying-away of the old self, and the rising-to-life of the new.”

Further, Questions 89 and 90 explain: “What is the dying-away of the old self?” A. “To be genuinely sorry for sin and more and more to hate and run away from it.” And “What is the rising-to-life of the new self?” A. “Wholehearted joy in God through Christ and a love and delight to live according to the will of God in all good works. The Catechism teaches that this process is not our own work but is accomplished by God’s Spirit. This is echoed in the Confession of 1967 (9.21): “The new life takes shape in a community in which people know that God loves and accepts them in spite of what they are. They therefore accept themselves and love others, knowing that no one has any ground on which to stand, except God’s grace.” Both confessions affirm that repentance is a Spirit-enabled turning from sin, grounded in grace and centered on Christ.

Never lose heart. God’s justice may seem delayed, but it is never denied. As Peter affirms: “The Lord is not slow about His promise… He is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). True justice, according to God’s economy, is bound up with repentance—a humble turning back to Him, finding forgiveness, and being empowered to seek justice for others.

Conclusion

This parable is a lesson in lessons. Jesus packs so much into this little story that it’s hard to land on just a straightforward point.

1. We are called to Persistent Prayer:

• The widow’s relentless appeals to the unjust judge symbolize the call for believers to pray persistently. Just as she refused to give up until she received justice, Jesus encourages us to continually bring our needs to God, trusting in His attention and care.

• The widow’s persistence is not about wearing God down, but about growing in faith, dependence, and alignment with His will, as highlighted in point one. Her example shows that faithful persistence is transformative for the one who prays.

2. Jesus calls us to trust in Divine Justice:

• Unlike the unjust judge in the parable, God is perfectly just and compassionate. The widow’s struggle accentuates our assurance that God hears and acts on behalf of His people—even if the answer seems delayed. The point about God’s justice being sure, though sometimes delayed, directly mirrors the widow’s eventual vindication.

3. Jesus calls us to Repentance and Transformation:

• The widow is a model of someone who refuses passivity—she actively seeks justice, which aligns with the scripture’s emphasis on the transformative nature of repentance. Just as the widow’s actions eventually move the judge to act, genuine repentance (turning to God) moves us into alignment with His justice and mercy.

4. Jesus calls us to encourage others; Not to Lose Heart:

• Jesus prefaces the parable by telling His followers not to lose heart in prayer. The widow’s story is given as a practical example, affirming that God’s justice will come and that His people should persist in hope and prayer, even when the situation feels hopeless.

In summary, the widow exemplifies the persistent, faith-filled response Jesus desires from us: to continually seek God’s justice, to be transformed through prayer and repentance. Our resolve, through the Spirit, might change others, like the Judge, but it will most definitely change us. I will leave you to reflect on your own persistence in prayerful petition to God.

Bibliography

Calvin, J. (1960). Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion (Vol. I&II). (J. T. McNeill, Ed., & F. L. Battles, Trans.) Philadephia: The Westminster Press.

NRSVue. (2021). Holy Bible With Deuterocanonical/Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament., Updated Edition. Washington, D.C., USA: Zondervan.