Bible Strands
Luke 18:6
And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to His disciples immediately after narrating the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge. He addresses them at the conclusion of the parable's dialogue to transition from the story to its underlying lesson.
The words — ἀκοῦσατε (akousate) translates literally to "do hear" or "pay attention to," and κρίτης (kritēs) means "judge." The text literally commands the listeners to observe the conduct and reasoning of the corrupt official.
The thread — The contrast between human reluctance and divine responsiveness continues in Luke 18:7, which questions whether God will delay justice for His elect who cry out day and night. The parable's logic directly informs the promise in Luke 18:8 regarding God's action for those who persist in faith.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to first acknowledge the judge's flawed, self-interested motivation before drawing a comparison to God. It asks the reader to accept that if a corrupt human eventually acts due to persistent demands, God will certainly act promptly for those who continually seek Him.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
Cross-references
- Luke 7:13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.”