Hey Bible readers, I'm Tara Lee Cobble, and I'm your host for the Bible recap.

Today Jesus starts out by encouraging his disciples to pray about what's really on their hearts

to not give up asking.

He tells a story about a wicked judge who finally caves to the persistent nagging of a local

widow.

I'm really glad Jesus is not drawing a direct parallel here.

Similar to the parable he told about the dishonest manager two days ago in Luke 16.

With that parable, he was illustrating how a worldly person handles things and was saying

the kingdom mentality and reality is better than that.

And we have that idea showing up again today.

For instance, the judge in this parable doesn't fear God or man, so if even he will relent

and hear the widow's cry, then how much more would a loving father hear and respond

to the cries of his kids?

It's also helpful to back up a chapter and see where this falls in the overall narrative

of what Jesus is saying here.

The last thing he talked to them about in Luke 17 was the coming of his kingdom.

He talked about times of judgment and persecution, times of loss and perseverance, so it's fitting

that he would follow that kind of story with a reminder that God is always listening

to their needs.

Because when trials come, they need to remember where their hope is.

The promise that God hears their prayers is a far way to your promise than, say, getting

them a promotion or finding them a spouse.

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