In Luke 18:1-14, we read two parables given by Jesus about three different people who gave different appeals with different perspectives. The first, in verses 1-8 is about a widow with a need for justice against an adversary. Jesus’ reason for this parable, a relatable story with a deeper meaning, is to show the need for continuous, persistent prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says to “pray constantly” (CSB), and this is the attitude the widow shows in her appeal; she was willing to “pester” an unwilling, Godless judge who had no care for anyone. Because of her constant, persistent attitude, the judge gave in and answered her plea, but purely out of annoyance and wanting her to stop asking. When we, in turn, have a plea that needs answering, we can be thankful that our Judge is infinitely greater, more willing, and righteous than the one in the parable. Yahweh cares about us and wants to answer our prayers and wants us to trust in his timing and in his answers. Be bold in your persistence in prayer.
Jesus then tells another parable about two men with completely opposite kinds of prayers. The reason he gives for telling this is because there were “some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else” (vs. 9, CSB). The first prayer is given by an arrogant man who is unaware of his flaws and the second by a humble man who is aware of his dire need for forgiveness from sin. In telling this story, Jesus is very clear on which attitude we are to have when we approach God’s throne in prayer. The parable also gives us the lesson of being careful of who we consider to be righteous. Pharisees, like the first man, were highly regarded spiritual leaders of the time whereas tax collectors, like the second man, were absolutely hated and seen as traitors. But the one who had the genuine, humble attitude in approaching Yahweh was the tax collector. Both men had boldness in their prayers, but the boldness of the Pharisee was arrogance, thinking he was perfect through his own power and law keeping. However, the tax collector was bold because he recognized how wrecked he was by sin and knew that only God could fulfill his needs. Even their postures were different: standing, praying upward versus standing away, head bowed, couldn’t even look up. Be bold in humility in prayer.
Jesus tells us in verse 14, as well as in James 4:6,10 how God will accept and exalt the humble and how he will humble and not accept the ones who exalt themselves. No matter the good you’re doing, it means nothing if our attitudes in action and prayer are self-centered rather than God-centered. In Hebrews 4:16 (CSB), God tells us to “approach his throne of grace with boldness” to be helped in times of need. He wants so badly to give us grace, but we have to come to him in the ways he wants. Be bold in persistence like the widow, and be bold in humility like the tax collector.