The Persistent Widow
For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men, Luke 18:4 · Berean Standard Bible
For a while the judge refused. But then he starts thinking to himself: even though he doesn't care about God or people, this widow is relentless.
He hasn't had a change of heart — he's just tired of dealing with her. And that's the point: if persistence works on a bad judge, imagine what it does with a good God.
The judge's internal monologue shows us his real motivation: not justice, but exhaustion.
She broke him down. Not with money or power, but with sheer, stubborn persistence. He never changed — she just outlasted him.
The judge's initial refusal (ouk ēthelen epi chronon, 'he was unwilling for a time') gives way under the widow's persistence. His internal monologue reveals unchanged character — he still doesn't fear God or respect people.
The 'for a while' detail emphasizes that persistence eventually overcame even this unjust judge's resistance — not through moral conversion but through relentless appeal.
The judge speaks to himself, revealing that his motivation has nothing to do with justice and everything to do with being worn down.
For a while the judge ignores her. But eventually he starts talking to himself: even though he doesn't care about God or people, this woman is wearing him down.
2“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men.
3And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’
4For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men,
5yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Otherwise, she will wear me out with her perpetual requests.’”
6And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge.
Read all of Luke 18 — A stubborn widow, a humble tax collector, and a rich ruler who can't let go. Jesus shows that the kingdom belongs to those who won't give up and won't pretend.
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