Jesus' Parable Of The Persistent Widow For Kids Introduction
Meta Description: Join Jesus as He shares the simple yet profound Parable of the Persistent Widow. Learn about faith, persistent prayer, and ancient customs in a story for children (3+) that teaches us to always talk to God.
Jesus began His parable with these words, "my dear children, gather close around me, find a comfy spot, whether on the ground or snuggled beside a friend. I want to tell you a story from a place not so far from here, a story about a judge, a widow, and a very important lesson about talking to our Heavenly Father."
Parable of the Persistent Widow Scriptures: Luke 18: 1 - 8
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.
And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’
For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man,
yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.
And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says.
And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?
I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?
A Story From My Heart to Yours: The Widow Who Wouldn't Give Up
Do you know what it’s like to really, really have a problem? Like someone bullying you at school? Or children who laugh at you? Sometimes, it feels like our problems are very big, and we are very small. But I want to tell you about someone who was small and seemed to have no power, yet who taught us a very big lesson.
Long ago, in a city where dusty paths wound between homes made of sun-baked mud bricks and stone, there lived a judge. The duty of the judge was to listen to complaints and pass sentences against people who did wrong to others.
Now, he was not a fair judge. He was unjust. Often he let wrongdoers get away with their evil deeds. This judge sat at the city gate, which was like the main office or meeting place for everyone in town (De Vaux, 1961, p. 165). People would come there for business, to chat, and sometimes, to ask for fairness when there was a problem. This judge, sadly, did not care much about what God wanted, and he didn't care much about people either. He just did what he pleased. Was that right? No, it was not.
The Widow’s Daily Journey
In that same city lived a woman who had lost her husband. When a woman's husband dies, she is called a widow. Being a widow meant she often had no one to help her. There was no strong man to look after her and the family, as was the custom (De Vaux, 1961, p. 39). She might have had to work very hard just to get enough food, perhaps grinding grain with heavy stones to make flour for bread, or gathering firewood in the hot sun. Life was very difficult for her.
This poor widow had a big problem. Someone had been unfair to her. Maybe the person had robbed her or taken something that was rightfully hers. That person was "adversary," someone who was against her. So, what do you think she did? Did she give up? Did she cry and stay home? No!
Every single day, she walked all the way to the city gate. Perhaps she passed by the busy market where merchants called out about their olives and figs. Maybe she passed by children playing with wooden tops in the narrow streets. Although she saw them, her mind was on one thing: justice.
The Widow's Persistent Plea
When she reached the gate, she would see the judge sitting there. She would go right up to him and say, loudly and clearly, for everyone to hear, “Please, Judge! Give me justice against my adversary! Make things right for me!”
Day after day, she would come. The judge would see her coming. He would hear her voice. Maybe he would groan inside when he saw her. For a long, long time, he just ignored the widow's cry for justice. He refused to listen. He pretended not to hear. He might even have waved her away with his hand. "Go away!" he might have thought.
But did she go away? No! She kept coming. And coming. And coming. Like a little donkey that keeps nudging your hand for a treat, she just wouldn’t stop going to the judge and crying for justice.
She knew the way to the city gate by heart. She knew every dusty path of the town, and every humble home where families shared their evening meals by oil lamp light. She refused to allow the judge to ignore her.
The Judge Changes His Mind
Finally, after many, many days, after many, many times of hearing her voice, the grumpy judge started talking to himself. Now, this judge didn’t fear God, and he didn't care what people thought of him. He wasn't fair. He said to himself, “Even though I don’t care about God or people, this widow is really starting to bother me. She just won’t stop! If I don't give her justice, she will just keep coming back and wear me out with her constant bothering!” (Luke 18:4-5).
So, do you know what he did? He gave her justice! He decided to make things right for her, not because he was kind, but because she was persistent. She kept on asking, asking, asking for help!
The Big Lesson for Us
Now, why do I tell you this story, my dear ones? Because it teaches us something so important about talking to our Heavenly Father. The grumpy, unfair judge listened eventually just because the widow kept asking for justice. In the same way, our good, loving Heavenly Father listens to us when we pray and will answer even if it seems pray for a long time about problems.
God loves you more than you can ever imagine. He is not like that grumpy judge. He is always good, always kind, and always listening. So, when you have something on your heart, big or small, something you need, or something that is a problem what should you do?
You should always pray and never give up (Luke 18:1). Just keep talking to your Heavenly Father. He hears every single prayer, and He cares for you deeply. He will always do what is right and good for you, in His perfect time.
Keep praying, little ones. Keep talking to God. He loves to hear from you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is a "judge" in this story? A1: In ancient times, a judge was a very important person in a city. The judge sat at the city gate (De Vaux, 1961, p. 165) and helped people solve their disagreements and make sure things were fair, like a wise elder or a court today. This particular judge was not a good one, though.
Q2: Why was it hard for the widow to get justice? A2: In ancient Israel, widows often didn't have a strong family protector, like a husband or adult son, to speak for them or help them in legal matters. This made them very vulnerable and dependent on the kindness of others or the justice system (De Vaux, 1961, p. 39).
Q3: What does "persistent" mean? A3: "Persistent" means to keep trying and not give up, even when things are difficult or someone says no. The widow was persistent because she kept going back to the judge every day.
Q4: What is the main message Jesus wants us to learn? A4: The main message is that we should always pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1). If even an unfair judge gave in because of persistence, our loving God, who is always good, will surely listen to our prayers and give us what is right in His time.
Q5: Can children really talk to God? A5: Yes, absolutely! God loves to hear from children of all ages. You can talk to Him about anything – your joys, your worries, your thanks, or what you need help with. Just like you talk to your parents, you can talk to God.
Conclusion: Keep Praying, Little Ones!
So, my dear children, remember the story of the persistent widow. Just like she kept going to the judge until she got what was fair, you should keep talking to our Heavenly Father. He is always listening, always loving, and always good. Never think your voice is too small or your prayer isn't important. God loves to hear from you. Keep praying, keep believing, and keep trusting in His great love for you.
References
De Vaux, R. (1961). Ancient Israel: Its Life and Institutions. Darton, Longman & Todd.
Luke 18:1-5. (n.d.). English Standard Version Bible. Crossway Bibles.
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