Teks -- Luke 18:7 (NET)

18:7 Won’t God give justice to his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay long to help them?

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Robertson: Luk 18:7 - And he is longsuffering

And he is longsuffering ( makrothumei ).

This present active indicative comes in awkwardly after the aorist subjunctive poiēsēi after ou mē , but this part of the question is positive. Probably kai here means "and yet"as so often (Joh 9:30; Joh 16:32, etc.). God delays taking vengeance on behalf of his people, not through indifference, but through patient forbearance.

Vincent: Luk 18:7 - And shall not God

And shall not God

The emphasis is on God. In the Greek order, " and God, shall he not," etc.

Vincent: Luk 18:7 - Though he bear long with them

Though he bear long with them

A very difficult passage, and interpretations vary greatly.

(1.) The verb μακροθυμέω means to be long-suffering, or to endure patiently. Such is its usual rendering in the New Testament.

(2.) Them (αὐτοῖς ) refers not to the persecutors of God's elect, but to the elect themselves. The Rev. cuts the knot by the most literal of renderings: " and he is long-suffering over (ἐπι ) them."

(3.) The secondary meaning of restraining or delaying may fairly be deduced from the verb, and explained either (a) of delaying punishment, or (b) of delaying sympathy or help.

The Am. Rev. adopts the former, and throws the sentence into the form of a question: " And is he slow to punish on their behalf" ( ἐπ ' αὐτοῖς ) ? I venture to suggest the following: Καὶ not infrequently has the sense of yet, or and yet. So Euripides' " Thou art Jove-born, and yet (καὶ ) thy utterance is unjust " (" Helena," 1147). Aristophanes: " O crown, depart, and joy go with thee: yet (καὶ ) I part from thee unwillingly" (" Knights," 1249). So Joh 9:30 : " Ye know not from whence he is, and yet (καὶ ) he hath opened my eyes." Joh 16:32 : " Ye shall leave me alone, and yet (καὶ ) I am not alone," etc. Render, then, " Shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry unto him day and night; yet he delayeth help on their behalf," even as the unjust judge delayed to avenge the widow? Surely he will, and that ere long. This rendering, instead of contrasting God with the judge, carries out the parallel. The judge delays through indifference. God delays also, or seems to delay, in order to try his children's faith, or because his purpose is not ripe; but he, too, will do justice to the suppliant. Tynd., Yea, though he defer them .

" He hides himself so wondrously,

As though there were no God;

He is least seen when all the powers

Of ill are most abroad.

O there is less to try our faith,

In our mysterious creed,

Than in the godless look of earth

In these our hours of need.

It is not so, but so it looks;

And we lose courage then;

And doubts will come if God hath kept

His promises to men."

Faber.

Wesley: Luk 18:7 - And shall not God

The most just Judge, vindicate his own elect - Preserve the Christians from all their adversaries, and in particular save them out of the general destruction, and avenge them of the Jews? Though he bear long with them - Though he does not immediately put an end, either to the wrongs of the wicked, or the sufferings of good men.

JFB: Luk 18:6-8 - the Lord

A name expressive of the authoritative style in which He interprets His own parable.

JFB: Luk 18:7 - shall not God

Not unjust, but the infinitely righteous Judge.

JFB: Luk 18:7 - avenge

Redeem from oppression.

JFB: Luk 18:7 - his own elect

Not like this widow, the object of indifference and contempt, but dear to Him as the apple of the eye (Zec 2:8).

JFB: Luk 18:7 - cry day and night

Whose every cry enters into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth (Jam 5:4), and how much more their incessant and persevering cries!

JFB: Luk 18:7 - bear long with them

Rather, "in their case," or "on their account" (as) Jam 5:7, "for it"), [GROTIUS, DE WETTE, &c.].

Clarke: Luk 18:7 - And shall not God avenge his own elect

And shall not God avenge his own elect - And will not God the righteous Judge do justice for his chosen? Probably this may refer to the cruel usage which his disciples had met with, and were still receiving, from the disobedient and unbelieving Jews; and which should be finally visited upon them in the destruction of their city, and the calamities which should follow. But we may consider the text as having a more extensive meaning. As God has graciously promised to give salvation to every soul that comes unto him through his Son, and has put his Spirit in their hearts, inducing them to cry unto him incessantly for it; the goodness of his nature and the promise of his grace bind him to hear the prayers they offer unto him, and to grant them all that salvation which he has led them by his promise and Spirit to request

Clarke: Luk 18:7 - Which cry day and night unto him, etc.

Which cry day and night unto him, etc. - This is a genuine characteristic of the true elect or disciples of Christ. They feel they have neither light, power, nor goodness, but as they receive them from him; and, as he is the desire of their soul, they incessantly seek that they may be upheld and saved by him

Clarke: Luk 18:7 - Though he bear long with them?

Though he bear long with them? - Rather, and He is compassionate towards Them, and consequently not at all like to the unrighteous judge. Instead of μακροθυμων, and be long-suffering, as in our translation, I read μακροθυμει, he is compassionate, which reading is supported by ABDLQ, and several others. The reason which our Lord gives for the success of his chosen, is

1.    They cry unto him day and night

2.    He is compassionate towards Them

In consequence of the first, they might expect justice even from an unrighteous judge; and, in consequence of the second, they are sure of salvation, because they ask it from that God who is towards them a Father of eternal love and compassion. There was little reason to expect justice from the unrighteous judge

1.    Because he was unrighteous; an

2.    Because he had no respect for man: no, not even for a poor desolate widow

But there is all the reason under heaven to expect mercy from God

1.    Because he is righteous, and he has promised it; an

2.    Because he is compassionate towards his creatures; being ever prone to give more than the most enlarged heart can request of him

Every reader must perceive that the common translation is so embarrassed as to be almost unintelligible; while that in this note, from the above authorities, is as plain as possible, and shows this beautiful parable to be one of the most invaluable pieces in the word of God.

Calvin: Luk 18:7 - And shall not God avenge his elect?

7.And shall not God avenge his elect? That judge, whom Christ has described to us as altogether desperate, as not only hardened against the contemplation of God, but so entirely devoid of shame, that he had no anxiety about his reputation, at length opened his eyes to the distresses of the widow We have no reason to doubt that believers will derive, at least, equal advantage from their prayers, provided they do not cease to plead earnestly with God. Yet it must be observed that, while Christ applies the parable to his subject, he does not make God to resemble a wicked and cruel judge, but points out a very different reason why those who believe in him are kept long in suspense, and why he does not actually and at once stretch out his hand to them: it is because he forbears If at any time God winks at the injuries done to us longer than we would wish, let us know that this is done with a fatherly intention—to train us to patience. A temporary overlooking of crimes is very different from allowing them to remain for ever unpunished. The promise which he makes, that God will speedily avenge them, must be referred to his providence; for our hasty tempers and carnal apprehension lead us to conclude that he does not come quickly enough to grant relief. But if we could penetrate into his design, we would learn that his assistance is always ready and seasonable, as the case demands, and is not delayed for a single moment, but comes at the exact time.

But it is asked, How does Christ instruct his disciples to seek vengeance, while he exhorts them on another occasion, pray for those who injure and persecute you, (Mat 5:44.) I reply: what Christ says here about vengeance does not at all interfere with his former doctrine. God declares that he will avenge believers, not for the purpose of giving a loose rein to their carnal affections, but in order to convince them that their salvation is dear and precious in his sight, and in this manner to induce them to rely on his protection. If, laying aside hatred, pure and free from every wicked desire of revenge, and influenced by proper and well-regulated dispositions, they implore divine assistance, it will be a lawful and holy wish, and God himself will listen to it. But as nothing is more difficult than to divest ourselves of sinful affections, if we would offer pure and sincere prayers, we must ask the Lord to guide and direct our hearts by his Spirit. Then shall we lawfully call on God to be our avenger, and he will answer our prayers.

TSK: Luk 18:7 - shall // avenge // which // though

shall : Luk 11:13; Mat 7:11

avenge : 1Sa 24:12-15, 1Sa 26:10,1Sa 26:11; Psa 9:8, Psa 10:15-18, Psa 54:1-7; Jer 20:11-13; 2Th 1:6; Rev 6:10, Rev 18:20

which : Luk 2:37; Psa 88:1; 1Th 3:10; 1Ti 5:5; 2Ti 1:3; Rev 7:15

though : Psa 13:1, Psa 13:2; Hab 2:3; Heb 10:35-37

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Luk 18:2-8 - There was in a city a judge, which feared not God // Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Ver. 2-8. We have here the parable, and the interpretation thereof, both, Luk 18:1 , in the proparabole, or the words immediately going before it, and also in an epiparabole, or some words following it, which sufficiently explain our Saviour’ s scope and intention in it, viz. To assure his people, that though the Lord show a great deal of patience towards wicked men, who are the enemies of his people, and doth not presently answer their cries for a deliverance of them out of their hand; yet if they go on crying to him, he will most certainly at length deliver them. To this purpose he tells them a matter of fact, which either had happened, or might happen in the world.

There was in a city a judge, which feared not God & c.: from hence he concludes, arguing from the lesser to the greater, and indeed there is an emphasis in every part of the comparison.

1. This was an unjust judge; God is a righteous Judge.

2. He did this for a stranger; God’ s people are his own elect.

Then he assures them, that God would avenge them speedily. We may from this discourse of our Saviour observe several things.

1. That all the wrongs and injuries which the people of God suffer in this life should make them fervent and frequent in prayer to God for redressing them.

2. That notwithstanding their prayers, God may bear with their enemies long, for so much time as they shall think a long time.

3. If God’ s people do not faint, but continue night and day crying to him, God will hear them, and avenge them of their adversaries.

The power that importunity hath upon sinful men, may confirm us in this thing, and ought to engage us to pray without ceasing and fainting.

Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? When Christ shall come to judgment, he will find very few whose hearts have not fainted; there will be multitudes who are fallen away, through the power that temptations have upon the frailty of human nature. By faith here seems to be understood the true and proper effects of faith, growing out of it as the fruit out of the root. This premonition of our Saviour also served for an excellent caution to his disciples, that they would watch, and take care that they might be none of that part of the stars of heaven, which by the dragon’ s tail should be cast down to the earth.

Lightfoot: Luk 18:7 - Though he bear long with them

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?   

[Though he bear long with them.] So 2Pe 3:9; is longsuffering to us-ward. In both places the discourse is concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, and the times immediately preceding it; in which the Lord exercised infinite patience towards his elect. For in that slippery and unsteady state of theirs, when apostasy prevailed beyond measure, and it was a hard thing to abandon Judaism, people were very difficultly gained over to the faith, and as difficultly retained in it, when they had once embraced it. And yet, after all this longsuffering and patience, shall he find faith on earth?

Gill: Luk 18:7 - And shall not God avenge his own elect // which cry unto him day and night // though he bear long with them

And shall not God avenge his own elect,.... Who are a select number, a special people, whom he has loved with an everlasting love, so as of his own sovereign good will and pleasure to choose in his Son Jesus Christ unto everlasting life and salvation, through certain ways and means of his own appointing, hence they are peculiarly his: and these he will avenge and vindicate, right their wrongs, do them justice, and deliver them from their adversaries, and take vengeance on them; as may be concluded from his hatred of sin, his justice, and his holiness, from his promises, and from his power, and from the efficacy of prayer, and the regard he has to it: for it follows,

which cry unto him day and night; whose prayers he always hears; whose tears he puts up in his bottle; and whose importunity must surely be thought to have more regard with him, than that of the poor widow with the unjust judge:

though he bear long with them? either with their adversaries, their oppressors, and persecutors, who are vessels of wrath, fitted for destruction, whom he endures with much longsuffering, till the sufferings of his people are accomplished, and the iniquities of these men are full; or rather with the elect, for the words may be rendered, "and is longsuffering towards them": delays his coming, and the execution of vengeance, as on the Jewish nation, so upon the whole world of the ungodly, till his elect are gathered in from among them; see 2Pe 3:9.