Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I think that the point that Jesus is making is that, if even obstinate, unjust, or hostile humans can be influenced by the persistence of a person who is seeking some desired outcome that is within their power to grant, then God -- whose predisposition toward His followers (unlike the judge in Jesus' parable) is one of love and mercy -- will be much more willing and expeditious in responding to those who come to Him in prayer with their requests.

At the same time, however, I would also say that this teaching is not meant to indicate that God will uncondiitonally grant all such requests, or always grant them in the form or timeframe that the petitioner may have in mind. In His omniscience (as well as His love), He will respond to them in the manner that He knows is for the petitioner's greatest eternal benefit -- which may not necessarily coincide in all respects with that person's temporal benefit (or with what the person perceives that greatest temporal benefit to be).

Nevertheless, Christians are encouraged to persist in prayer, while at the same time heeding Jesus' caution against simply "piling up words" in the belief that they will have greater effect (Matthew 6:7-8).

August 26 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report