SEV Biblia, Chapter 18:1
¶ Y les dijo tambin una parbola sobre que es necesario orar siempre, y no desmayar,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Luke 18:1
Verse 1. Men ought always to pray] Therefore the plain meaning and moral of the parable are evident; viz. that as afflictions and desolations were coming on the land, and they should have need of much patience and continual fortitude, and the constant influence and protection of the Almighty, therefore they should be instant in prayer. It states, farther, that men should never cease praying for that the necessity of which God has given them to feel, till they receive a full answer to their prayers. No other meaning need be searched for in this parable: St. Luke, who perfectly knew his Master's meaning, has explained it as above.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. And he spoke a parable unto them , etc.] To his own disciples, as the Ethiopic version reads, in order to encourage them to prayer, with perseverance in it; since such sore times of trial and affliction were coming upon the Jews, of which he had spoken in the preceding chapter; and such times more especially call for prayer; (see Psalm 50:15) [to this end], that men ought always to pray . This is opposed to them, who pray not at all, or have left off prayer before God, or who pray only in distress; and suggests, that a man should pray as often as he has an opportunity; should be constant and assiduous at the throne of grace, and continue putting up his requests to God, though he does not presently return an answer: and not to faint ; by reason of afflictions, temptations, desertions, and delays in answering prayer; and prayer itself is an admirable antidote against fainting under afflictive providences: it is with the Jews an affirmative precept that a man should pray, wy lkb , every day f562 ; it was usual with them to pray three times a day; (see Psalm 55:17 Daniel 6:10) there is no set time fixed by Christ; men should be always praying. This is not to be understood, that a man should be always actually engaged in the work of prayer; that he should be continually either in his closet, in private devotion to God, or attending exercises of more public prayer, with the saints; for there are other religious exercises to be performed, besides prayer; and besides, there are many civil affairs of life, it is every man's indispensable duty to regard: nor does our Lord mean in the least to break in upon, or interrupt the natural and civil duties of life; but his meaning is, that a man should persevere in prayer, and not leave off, or be dejected, because he has not an immediate answer; and this is clear from the following case.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - All God's people are praying people. Here earnest steadiness in praye for spiritual mercies is taught. The widow's earnestness prevailed eve with the unjust judge: she might fear lest it should set him mor against her; but our earnest prayer is pleasing to our God. Even to the end there will still be ground for the same complaint of weakness of faith.
Greek Textus Receptus
ελεγεν 3004 5707 V-IAI-3S δε 1161 CONJ και 2532 CONJ παραβολην 3850 N-ASF αυτοις 846 P-DPM προς 4314 PREP το 3588 T-ASN δειν 1163 5903 V-PQN παντοτε 3842 ADV προσευχεσθαι 4336 5738 V-PNN και 2532 CONJ μη 3361 PRT-N εκκακειν 1573 5721 V-PAN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. To the end that men ought (prov to dein). Lit., with reference to its being necessary always to pray, etc.Faint (egkakein). To turn coward or lose heart.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
18:1 {To the end that} (pros to dein). {With a view to the being necessary}, pros and the articular infinitive. The impersonal verb dei here is in the infinitive and has another infinitive loosely connected with it proseucesqai, to pray. {Not to faint} (me enkakein). Literally, not to give in to evil (en, kakew, from kakos, bad or evil), to turn coward, lose heart, behave badly. A late verb used several times in the N.T. (#2Co 4:1,16, etc.).
