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The widow who kept asking

A story about a widow who pesters a judge for justice.
Contributed by Richard Gunther
Story also available on our translated websites: Spanish, Portuguese, German
1
One day Jesus told His disciples a story to encourage them to pray regularly and keep praying until the answer comes. – Slide 1
2
There was a city judge who had no time for God and tended to look down on people who were not as rich and clever as he was. – Slide 2
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His job was to sort out disputes between people according to the law and make sure people were treated fairly. Rich people could afford to pay him a lot to do this for them but poor people could not. – Slide 3
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A poor widow of that city had been treated very unfairly. Others had taken advantage of her and broken the law thinking they could get away with it. So she went to the judge for his help. – Slide 4
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She told him how unfairly she had been treated but he did not have the time to listen. She was just a poor widow and he had more important cases to sort out. – Slide 5
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He just put her off hoping she would go away and not come back. – Slide 6
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But the widow would not be put off. ‘People have broken the law and think they can get away with it because I am a poor widow.’ – Slide 7
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‘It’s not fair,’ she shouted. ‘I have been treated badly. I want justice and it’s your job to sort this matter out.’ <br/>The judge just ignored her. – Slide 8
9
But the widow would not go away. She shouted down at him from her flat roof as he passed by. – Slide 9
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She yelled down at him whenever she saw him, ‘Give me justice.’ – Slide 10
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When the judge went to bed … – Slide 11
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… she called out to him from the street. – Slide 12
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And in the morning she was waiting by his door as he left for work. – Slide 13
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‘I am a poor widow and I have been treated very unfairly, she pleaded. ‘Those who have treated me badly have broken the law. And it’s your job to make sure the law is obeyed’ – Slide 14
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When the judge went to buy fruit at the market … – Slide 15
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… guess who was there? <br/>‘When are you going to listen and give me justice,’ she demanded. – Slide 16
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Everywhere the judge went … – Slide 17
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… the poor widow was there insisting the judge take on her case. – Slide 18
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At last the judge gave in. ‘OK, OK, I give in’ he gasped. ‘I’ll judge your case and make sure you are treated fairly according to the law.’ – Slide 19
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The poor woman was pleased. At last she would have the matter sorted out and justice would be done. – Slide 20
21
Then Jesus said, ‘If an evil judge can be worn down like that, don’t you think that God who loves you will give justice to His people who plead with him day and night? Yes! He will answer them quickly! But the question is: When I, the Messiah, return, how many will I find who have faith and are praying?’ – Slide 21
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Slide 22