📖 Biblical Definition
Christ's parable in Luke 18:1-8, given as direct teaching that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. A widow comes repeatedly to an unjust judge demanding justice from her adversary. He refuses for a season, then relents because by her continual coming she weary me. Christ's argument is from the lesser to the greater: if even an unjust judge yields to persistent petition, how much more will the righteous Father avenge His elect?
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
PERSISTENT W, n.
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A scriptural parable of Christ; the persistent widow before the unjust judge.
📖 Key Scripture
Luke 18:1 — "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint."
Luke 18:5 — "Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me."
Luke 18:7 — "Shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?"
Luke 18:8 — "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity quits praying when an answer is delayed; the widow kept coming.
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Luke 18:1 contains Christ's thesis statement for the parable: men ought always to pray, and not to faint. The widow's strategy was simple: come back. Keep coming. Do not stop coming. Eventually even the unjust judge yielded. The Father will not delay forever; the lesser-to-greater logic guarantees the answer.
Modern Christianity often quits praying when answers are delayed. Three weeks of unanswered prayer feels like enough; six months feels like rejection; a year feels like silence. The widow disagreed. Keep coming. The Father is not unjust; He is sovereign over the timing; He will avenge His elect speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? The closing question of the parable presses you: when He returns, will you still be coming?
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek roots below.
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G3895 — parakaleo — to call alongside (related)
G5503 — chera — widow
Usage
"Modern Christianity quits praying when answers delay; the widow kept coming."
"The Father is not unjust; He is sovereign over timing; He will avenge His elect speedily."
"When the Son of man comes, shall He find faith? Keep coming."