Luke 18:2 (WEB)
saying, “There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God and didn’t respect man.
Catechism · 2
In the Old Testament
“From this account, the spiritual tradition of the Church has retained the symbol of prayer as a battle of faith and as the triumph of perseverance.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Gen 32:24-30; Lk 18:1-8.
In the Fullness of Time
“To the one who prays like this, the heavenly Father will "give whatever he needs," and above all the Holy Spirit who contains all gifts. - the second, "the importunate widow,"” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Lk 18:1-8.
Fathers and councils · 23
Irenaeus of Lyons
“This is also the unjust judge, whom the Lord mentioned as one “who feared not God, neither regarded man,” to whom the widow fled in her forgetfulness of God,—that is, the earthly Jerusalem,—to be avenged of her adversary.” — editor's note: Luke xviii. 2, etc.
Read the whole comment
Augustine of Hippo
“The widow, by daily importunity, prevailed with him: for the judge said within himself, “Though I fear not God; neither regard man, yet because this woman troubleth me, I will avenge her.”” — editor's note: Luke xviii. 1–8.
Read the whole comment“…from this circumstance, that not even an unjust man can despise those who assail him with unceasing petitions, even were his motive merely to avoid annoyance.” — editor's note: Luke xviii. 2–8.
Read the whole comment““There was,” saith the Lord, “in a city a certain judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man.”” — editor's note: Luke xviii. 2.
Read the whole comment“…we receive what we ask, and seek, and knock for, making use of an example from a contrary case; as of that “judge who neither feared God, nor regarded man,” and yet when a certain widow besought him day by day, overcome by her importunity, he gave her that which he could not in kindness give her, against his will.” — editor's note: Luke xviii. 2.
Read the whole comment
John Chrysostom
“For this cause He told thee also the example of that friend, who came by night, and asked a loaf;and of the judge that feared not God, nor regarded men.” — editor's note: Luke xviii. 1–8.
Read the whole comment
Jerome
“For if the frequent prayers of a woman changed the determination of an unyielding judge, how much more must my constant appeals have softened a fatherly heart like yours?” — editor's note: Luke xviii. 2–5.
Read the whole comment“With an importunacy surpassing that of the widow towards the unjust judge he wrote to me so frequently and put before me so many instances in which I had previously dealt with a similar theme, that he overcame my modest reluctance…” — editor's note: Luke xviii. 1–5.
Read the whole comment
Tertullian
“When He recommends perseverance and earnestness in prayer, He sets before us the parable of the judge who was compelled to listen to the widow, owing to the earnestness and importunity of her requests.” — editor's note: Luke xviii. 1–8.
Read the whole comment“The widow kept asking to be heard by the judge, because she was not admitted; but when her suit was heard, thenceforth she was silent.” — editor's note: Luke xviii. 2, 3.
Read the whole comment
Hippolytus of Rome
“And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her.”” — editor's note: Luke xviii. 2–5.
Read the whole comment
Catena Aurea on Luke
- Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Luke
Our Lord having spoken of the trials and dangers which were coming, adds immediately afterward their remedy, namely, constant and earnest prayer.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
He who hath redeemed thee, hath shewn thee what He would have thee do. He would have thee be instant in prayer, He would have thee ponder in thy heart the blessings thou art praying for, He would have thee ask and…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
We should say that he is always praying, and faints not, who never fails to pray at the canonical hours. Or all things which the righteous man does and says towards God, are to be counted as praying.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
Our Lord utters His parables, either for the sake of the comparison, as in the instance of the creditor, who when forgiving his two debtors all that they owed him was most loved by him who owed him most; or on…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Luke
We may observe, that irreverence towards man is a token of a greater degree of wickedness. For as many as fear not God, yet are restrained by their shame before men, are so far the less sinful; but when a man becomes…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
The widow may be said to resemble the Church, which appears desolate until the Lord shall come, who now secretly watches over her. But in the following words, And she came unto him, saying, Avenge me, &c. we are told…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
Or else; Whenever men inflict injury upon us, we must then think it a noble thing to be forgetful of the evil; but when they offend against the glory of God by taking up arms against the ministers of God’s ordinance,…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
If then with the most unjust judge, the perseverance of the suppliant at length prevailed even to the fulfilment of her desire, how much more confident ought they to feel who cease not to pray to God, the Fountain of…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Luke
As if He said, If perseverance could melt a judge defiled with every sin, how much more shall our prayers incline to mercy God the Father of all mercies! But some have given a more subtle meaning to the parable,…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
Our Lord speaks this of perfect faith, which is seldom found on earth. See how full the Church of God is; were there no faith, who would enter it? Were there perfect faith, who would not move mountains?
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
When the Almighty Creator shall appear in the form of the Son of man, so scarce will the elect be, that not so much the cries of the faithful as the torpor of the others will hasten the world’s fall. Our Lord speaks…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
Our Lord adds this to shew, that when faith fails, prayer dies. In order to pray then, we must have faith, and that our faith fail not, we must pray. Faith pours forth prayer, and the pouring forth of the heart in…
Read the whole comment
Cross-references · 14
Cited together in Against Heresies V.25.
Cited together in On the Sermon on the Mount II.15.
Cited together in Letters Letter 63.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.25.
Cited together in Letters Letter 63.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.25.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.25.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.25.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.25.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.25.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.25.
Cited together in Against Heresies V.25.
Cited together in The Prescription Against Heretics Chapter 10.
Cited together in The Prescription Against Heretics Chapter 10.