The Wicked Judge and God Luke 18:1-9
Growing up God was often portrayed in one of two ways: one as a sort of cosmic Santa Claus in the sky God knows if you have been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake, so God can give you what you want. Or two like the judge in Luke 18:1-9. If you demonstrate how strong your faith is, by continually asking God for what you want or need, then God will eventually give in. God, like the wicked judge, will eventually cater to your desires if you badger God enough times. If you don’t receive your blessing-it's most likely because you didn’t have enough faith and so God isn’t going to reward you, or God is testing you even more, and you just need to persevere more.
That interpretation of Luke 18:1-9 is disturbing for numerous reasons. 1) it’s highly individualistic in the sense that if something good or bad happens to an individual, it’s the result of their faith or lack thereof not because of larger systems of injustice. That interpretation of this passage is saying If only you tried hard enough and prayed hard enough, things would be ok. Conversely, if things aren't ok, well then it’s your fault. 2) prayer is treated like a cosmic wishlist 3) a keyword in the text is ignored: justice. The idea that one would have to beg God for justice, is kind of sketchy. Also, justice does not necessarily equate to getting whatever one wants anytime one wants it.
So what is another interpretation that doesn't require us to portray God as a heavenly Santa Claus or to equate God with the wicked judge who only acts out of annoyance rather than compassion?
First, it helps to briefly look at the previous chapter. In the chapter before, chapter 17, Jesus tells the disciples that they are about to experience difficult days: they are going to be mocked like Noah and they will face persecution while everyone else around them seems to be having a grand old time.
Luke 18:1-9 is meant to be viewed as a continuation of that chapter, it’s really only modern divisions of chapters and subheadings that create a stark separation of the texts. In today’s gospel reading Jesus is encouraging the disciples to hold on. To continue praying, not because they need to annoy or threaten God into caring about them or giving them justice. God is not in fact the wicked judge. But because God is compassionate. God is already moved to act.
In addition, let’s note who the person asking for justice is: a widow. Theologian Gusto L. Gonzalez points out in his commentary on this section, that Jewish listeners of this parable would immediately recall the Hebrew scriptures repeated commands to care for the widow out of love and respect for God. They would then note how this judge was acting contrary to these scriptures. This judge eventually responds to the widow not out of love-either for God or the person, but because of annoyance or perhaps fear of a physical attack or damage to their reputation.
Hebrew scriptures and by extension Jesus, have made it clear that God sides with the marginalized and suffering. The disciples, hearing this story, and perhaps knowing the background of the Hebrew scriptures, should take comfort in that reminder when they face persecution. As well as perhaps be careful to avoid becoming like the wicked judge.
God is not as some Christians portray, a heavenly Santa Claus gleefully watching over humanity ready to punish or reward at will. Nor is God a wicked judge that needs to be badgered into doing the right thing. Instead, Jesus is reminding the disciples that God is just and compassionate. The wicked judge sees the suffering of the widow and is like, “eh. Whatever.” Until forced either by annoyance or fear for his physical safety or reputation to act.
In contrast, God is moved to act simply by the pleas and prayers of God’s children-especially those experiencing hardships and oppression. God feels and experiences our suffering. That even when all hope seems lost, when injustice reigns, God is there.
Today, just like the disciples we need that reminder. For those of us who are in positions of power-prayer should serve as a way to move our hearts with compassion to those suffering because let’s be honest, many of us act like the wicked judge. We only help others because we are annoyed into doing it or we are afraid of the legal, social, or even afterlife consequences for not doing it.
For those of us who are suffering, who are feeling abandoned by God and others this passage reminds us to not lose hope. God hears cries for help. This passage isn’t meant to be a guilt trip that says: if you haven’t gotten what you want or need, it’s because you don’t have enough faith. But instead, it’s to inspire us to hold onto the God whose love for us inspires God to act on our behalf. Things may not seem good now, the gospel is saying, but hold on because justice is coming.
Reflection questions:
What stood out to you about this parable?
What interpretations have you heard?
Image: Gavel. Text: God is not as some Christians portray, a heavenly Santa Claus gleefully watching over humanity ready to punish or reward at will. Nor is God a wicked judge that needs to be badgered into doing the right thing