Gospel in Art: The Parable of the Unjust Judge

The Unjust Judge and the Importunate Widow, engraving after Sir John Everett Millais, printed by Dalziel Brothers 1864

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 19 October 2025
Luke 18:1-8

At that time: Jesus told his disciples 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 afterwards 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?'

Reflection on the engraving

The widow in today's parable comes across as a woman of remarkable strength and determination. Faced with injustice, she refuses to remain silent or passive. Instead, she keeps pressing for what is right, even when the odds are against her. A widow at that time was among the most vulnerable in society, yet she dares to challenge a man of power... a judge who ought to embody justice, but does not. In this unequal contest, it is not the judge's authority that prevails but the widow's persistence. She keeps coming back, time and again, until the judge finally gives her what she is due.

Jesus sees in this tenacious woman an example of the faith his disciples will need. It is a faith that does not grow weary, even when confronted with rejection or delay. Such perseverance, Jesus says, is born of prayer. When he asks, "When the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?" it is this kind of enduring trust that he longs to find: the faith that keeps knocking, keeps asking, keeps turning to God. It is not our own strength that sustains such faith but God's gift, poured out on those who continually open their hearts to him in prayer.

Our engraving, issued in 1864, is part of a larger series, illustrating The Parables of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It took Millais seven years to design twenty images inspired by New Testament Parables for the Dalziel Brothers who would publish them. The resulting prints are considered pinnacles of wood engraved illustration. The artist wrote to his publishers, "I can do ordinary drawings as quickly as most men, but these designs can scarcely be regarded in the same light-each Parable I illustrate perhaps a dozen times before I fix [the image]." Millais worked and reworked the designs for each parable over and over again. In our engraving we see the widow pleading before the judge, who turns his face aside with an expression of cold rejection, almost of disgust. A guard begins to pull her away, while the judge sits surrounded by an opulent entourage. Their presence only heightens the sense of his pride and self-importance, in stark contrast to woman's humility and need.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-18-1-8-2025/