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

Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not become discouraged, 2saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect any person. 3Now there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my opponent.’

Luke 18:1 word by word

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

• Nowδέde · thenG1161
• He was tellingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• to showπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• that at allπάντοτεpantote · alwaysG3842
• oughtδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• to prayπροσεύχομαιproseuchomai · to prayG4336

Cross-references for Luke 18:1

• Luke 11:5And He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves,
• Luke 21:36But stay alert at all times, praying that you will have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
• Genesis 32:9Then Jacob said, “God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, Lord, who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’
• Job 27:8For what is the hope of the godless when he makes an end of life, When God requires his life?
• Psalms 55:16As for me, I shall call upon God, And the Lord will save me.
• Psalms 65:2You who hear prayer, To You all mankind comes.
• Psalms 86:3Be gracious to me, Lord, For I call upon You all day long.
• Psalms 102:17He has turned His attention to the prayer of the destitute And has not despised their prayer.
• Psalms 142:5I cried out to You, Lord; I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.
• Jeremiah 29:12Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
• Romans 12:12rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
• Ephesians 6:18With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,
• Philippians 4:6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
• Colossians 4:2Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
• 1 Thessalonians 5:17pray without ceasing,
• Psalms 27:13I certainly believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.

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