Squeaky wheel

Jesus of Nazareth also delivered a short speech about persistence. We are told that this was a parable that Jesus told his disciples "to show them that should always pray and not give up" (18:1). But at the centre of Jesus' message was not some belief in the self nor hope for personal success. The hope that Jesus preaches depends on the God in whom we are to hope. What is he like? This parable shows us what he is like; but in a very strange way.

It's a parable about two characters. At first we meet a judge. What we learn about the judge is not exactly complimentary: (vs 2) he "neither feared God nor cared about men". This man has no regard for the justice of God nor any compassion for human beings. His job serves only to build up his own power and prestige – in fact he is a travesty of a judge, really.

The second character is a lowly widow, who kept on coming to see him. She was a real pest, clogging up his appointments dairy, badgering his secretary and filling up his answering machine. Someone had wronged her – we aren't told the details – and she wants justice. This she should have had: in the law of Israel widows and orphans were supposed to be given special consideration in matters of justice.

But at first he ignores her. "Perhaps she'll go away!" he thought to himself. But he underestimated the sticking power of the widow. Finally he gives in; though not, notice, out of compassion, or because his conscience was pricking him. Look what he says to himself: "Even though I don't fear God or care about people, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't continually wear me out with her coming!" The widow is causing him such inconvenience that he gives her justice just to shut her up in the end. Her nagging has worn him out. The squeaky wheel, as we say, has got the grease.