When we’re deep into the study of the Bible, we don’t want to get so hung up on the main teaching of a passage that we overlook any of the jewels God buried in it for us to uncover. To fully appreciate the power of God’s word we need to slow down and digest all of what He says to us. We’ll see an example of how this works in the following Bible Study.

_ Read the passage Luke 18:1-8. In your own words describe the main idea of what this parable is about.

_ Read Luke 18:1 again. According to this verse, what is the reason why Jesus tells the parable?

If you didn’t state the reason in two parts above, write the second reason in the area below.

The usual teaching of this passage emphasizes the need for our being persistent in our praying. Jesus teaches the same principle in Luke 11:5-10, so let’s take a look at that passage:

_ Read 1 Luke 11:5-10. The words that are translated by the English “ask,” “seek,” and “knock” are in the Greek present tense. This verb tense denotes an action in the present that continues into the future. It is something that is repeated. Based on the verb tense, then how should you understand Jesus’ imperative that we ask, seek and knock?

That is exactly the same principle as the first reason He gave in the Luke 18 passage for giving the parable–that the disciples “always pray”; i.e., be persistent in their praying. Now let’s look at the second reason He gave:

_ Read Luke 18:4-5 again. What was the unjust judge’s response to the widow persistent requests?

_ Read Luke 18:6-8 again. How did Jesus tie the parable about the widow’s persistent request with the believer’s persistent prayer?

_ Read Luke 18:1 again. So when Jesus says “Don’t lose heart” when you are persistently praying, what does this mean to you? What do we know that we can count on?