Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Reading

Main and Plain

“The main things are the plain things and the plain things are the main things.”

I like that principle and I try to keep it in mind whenever reading the bible.

It certainly apples to our Parable for today.

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The main and plain is clearly stated right there in the first verse.

“Men” is actually translated “they”, “them” or “disciples” in most modern versions, which is the correct modern meaning.

So in the ESV we read,

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

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So we ought always to pray and not lose heart.

Such an introduction implies that we can loose heart and give up praying.

“We ought always to pray and not lose heart”

This implies that we can lose heart

And that we can give up praying.

The Judge and the Widow

Jesus uses a parable to illustrate the point.

It involves two Characters.

They are interesting choices.

They are interesting choices.

A Judge and A Widow.

They

An Unjust Judge

The Judge

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This judge neither fears God, nor cares for others, or what they think of him.

It is significant that Jesus describes him this way.

Remember Jesus’ answer to the Scribe about the greatest commandement,

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This Judge did neither-of those things most important.

He did not love God.

He did not love or care about his neighbour.

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This Judge neither feared God or man.

And this Judge was in the position of privilege, power and prestige, with the full weight of the authorities behind him.

The Widow

Then we have the Widow.

It is an interesting choice.

But if we keep in mind the key lesson, the story presents a situation where it would have been very understandable for one the Widow to give up.

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Cultural Considerations

Luke 18

Jesus use of a Widow is intentional.

Given that they were one of the most vulnerable members of society at this time.

Open to exploitation of various kinds,

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Even now this can happen.

Widows were not necessarily old, given male life expectancy at Jesus time.

Some historians have said, based on the contemporary writings of the time, that the average age of a male was around “Thirty-something”.

In the Widow, we have here represented one of the most insignificant, alone and vulnerable members of society in Jesus time, coming to an uncaring, could not be bothered, narcissistic, just leave me alone, Judge.

To say the odds are stacked against the Widow in a vast under statement.

To say the odds are stacked against her in a vast under statement.

But if we keep in mind the key lesson, the story presents a situation where it would have been very understandable for the Widow to throw up her hands, shake her head in disgust and just give up.

And yet she prevails!

And yet she prevails!.

The Widow Prevails

The Parable presents a situation where it would have been very understandable for the Widow to throw up her hands, shake her head in disgust and just give up.

But what is the point Jesus makes at the beginning?

And Jesus

The Parable continues,

How many times does the widow come to the Judge?

How long is a while?

Why did she not just throw up her hands and give up?

Remember, the point Jesus is making, “We ought always to pray and not give up” or “Still Praying”

The Judges motives for seeing that the Widows get justice are not made very clear.

were purely selfish.

So I can have a quieter life.

So she does not “weary me”.

The greek word here for weary has a similar construction to where we get the word, hypnotise.

The reasons and motives for the Judge avenging the widow is not that important in this story.

Rather the point is that we don’t give up, and that God will bring justice for his people .

Rather, what the parable seeks to teach is not why God will bring justice for his people but that he will bring Justice.

What the parable seeks to teach is not why God will bring justice for his people (18:8) but that he will.

What the parable seeks to teach is not why God will bring justice for his people (18:8) but that he will.

The unjust vs the just judge, the widow who the judge does not care about vs those who are God’s very own elect, the selfish motives of the judge vs the selfless act of the Son of Man, the unnecessary delay of the judge vs the speedy, right time (implies some delay) and certain response of the Lord.

God will vindicate His Saints

We should always pray and not give up because God will vindicate his Saints.

God will only allow things to do so far.

Prayer Meeting story.

Pastoral Visits

I am learning as a Pastor that we get to see people at the best of times and the very worst of times, and everything in-between.

I have to say this week had some difficult moments.

Norma and I went to see some people who are going through difficult seasons in their lives.

Many are physical health related and others are also mental health related.

Without using names, we went to see a person this week who is in a secure facility.

We knew this person was having a bad day, a bad week, a bad month and were warned the person may not see us.

We were escorted into the room where we were to meet the person, but the person did not want to see us.

On the way out we actually meet the person in the corridor and then came a one way conversation from that person all about the devil this and the devil that.

That the devil had basically won.

I tried to say something, but it went nowhere.

I left feeling totally discouraged and powerless as a Pastor, and that Satan had just “kicked my butt”.

I shared that with Norma and we got back into our car and we prayed.

It is not by accident that this week the theme is “that we should always pray and not lose heart”.

We will go back to see that person.

And we will keep going back and we will keep praying.

God is greater than our enemy, that roaring lion, that great seducer, who looks for those at the rear to pick off.

We need to remember who the real enemy is, and that He who is on our side is greater.

do you feel like you are getting kicked