Luke 18:1

Luke 18:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
• New International Version (NIV)Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

Context of Luke 18:1

Then Jesus told his disciples a story. He wanted to teach them that they must go on praying always. They must not get tired. 2He said to them, ‘In a certain city, there was a judge. He was not afraid of God. He did not respect people. 3A woman lived in that same city. Her husband had died. She came to the judge many times with a problem. “Somebody is doing bad things against me. Please keep me safe from that person,” she was saying.

Luke 18:1 word by word

Ἔλεγεν δὲ παραβολὴν αὐτοῖς πρὸς τὸ δεῖν πάντοτε προσεύχεσθαι αὐτοὺς καὶ μὴ ἐγκακεῖνRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• he spakeλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• ·καίkai · andG2532
• a parableπαραβολήparabolē · parableG3850
• unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• ·πρόςpros · to/withG4314
• that men oughtδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• alwaysπάντοτεpantote · alwaysG3842
• to prayπροσεύχομαιproseuchomai · to prayG4336
• notμήmē · notG3361
• to faintἐκκακέωekkakeō · to lose heartG1573

Cross-references for Luke 18:1

• Luke 11:5Jesus then told a story to teach them how to pray. He said, ‘Let me tell you about someone who goes to a friend's home at midnight. “My friend,” he says, “please give me three loaves of bread.
• Luke 21:36So watch all the time! Continue to pray that you will be strong. Then you will be safe through all these things! You will stand in front of the Son of Man and you will not be afraid.’
• Genesis 32:9Then Jacob prayed, ‘God of my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac, Lord, you said to me, “Go back to your country and to your relatives. I will do good things for you there.”
• Job 27:8When God chooses to remove wicked people, they cannot hope for any good thing. God will cause them to die.
• Psalms 55:16But I will call to God for help. The Lord will make me safe.
• Psalms 65:2You answer our prayers. All of us must come to you,
• Psalms 86:3My Lord, be kind to me. All through the day, I am calling to you for help.
• Psalms 102:17He will answer the prayers of poor people who have nothing. He will not refuse to help them.
• Psalms 142:5Yes Lord, I am calling to you to help me. You are my safe place where I can hide. You are all that I need in this world where I live.
• Jeremiah 29:12At that time, when you call out to me for help, I will hear your prayers.
• Romans 12:12Be happy, because you can trust God to do what he says. Be patient when you have troubles. Always continue to pray.
• Ephesians 6:18As you stand strongly like that, always pray for God's help. Pray about everything as God's Spirit helps you to pray. For this purpose, watch carefully all the time. Also, continue to pray for all God's people everywhere.
• Philippians 4:6Do not worry about anything. Instead, pray to God about everything. Ask him to help you with the things that you need. And thank him for his help.
• Colossians 4:2Continue to pray seriously. Stay awake, like people who watch carefully. And remember to thank God.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:17Pray at all times.
• Psalms 27:13But I surely believe that I will see how good the Lord is! I will know his love while I still live in this world.

Commentaries on Luke 18:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Men ought always to pray - Therefore the plain meaning and moral of the parable are evident; viz. that as afflictions and desolations were coming on the land, and they should have need of much patience and continual fortitude, and the constant influence and protection of the Almighty, therefore they should be instant in prayer. It states, farther, that men should never cease praying for that the necessity of which God has given them to feel, till they…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1A parable - See the notes at Matthew 13:3. To this end - To show this. Always - At all times. That is, we must not neglect regular stated seasons of prayer; we must seize on occasions of remarkable providences as afflictions or signal blessings to seek God in prayer; we must “always” maintain a spirit of prayer, or be in a proper frame to lift up our hearts to God for his blessing, and we must not grow weary though our prayer seems not to be answered. Not…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The parable of the importunate widow. (1-8) The Pharisee and the publican. (9-14) Children brought to Christ. (15-17) The ruler hindered by his riches. (18-30) Christ foreshows his death. (31-34) A blind man restored to sight. (35-43) Verses 1-8 All God's people are praying people. Here earnest steadiness in prayer for spiritual mercies is taught. The widow's earnestness prevailed even with the unjust judge: she might fear lest it should set him more…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-8The parable of the persistent widow follows naturally from the teaching of Jesus about coming troubles (17:20–37). Believers can face trials and persevere through persistent prayer.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-81-5. always--Compare Lu 18:7, "night and day." faint--lose heart, or slacken.Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 18:1

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Constancy
• Despondency
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Prayer

In the dictionaries

• Admiration
• Bear
• Elect
• Luke, Gospel according to
• Agrapha
• End
• Faint
• Jesus Christ
• Luke, the Gospel of
• Mark, the Gospel According to

Commentaries on Luke 18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings