Luke 18:1–8
Jesus gives us a parable of an unjust judge in Luke 18. At first glance, we might think that the judge is going to be torn down by the end of the parable, but Jesus, instead, lifts him up.
It would be convenient, from an abolitionist perspective, to have Jesus directly exhort unjust judges to change their ways. Then, we could map the parable directly on to our legal system and point to how unjust judges need to change their ways today. But something else is going on here.
Jesus does not lift up the unjust judge as an example to which we should aspire. The unjust judge marks a reality to which we must face. Jesus, instead, lifts up the widow who comes back to the judge again and again. She doesn’t tear him down or remark about how ill-suited he is for his position. Instead she seeks justice. She asks, again and again, grant me justice.
We don’t know how long it took for the unjust judge to respond and finally be sick of her and grant her claim. It was probably a long time, yet she continued.
Jesus lifts up this parable as a call for us to seek justice from the God who is just and good. We are to seek justice continually, not just now and then. We are to seek justice until justice comes.
This parable offers us an example of how to seek justice. To seek it from God first of all. As well, to seek it from structures in this world that lack justice. This parable offers us encouragement to continue even when faced with an unjust judge, and that if our call is first to God, justice will be done.
Let us be encouraged in seeking prison abolition. Our goal is not to find the perfect judge on earth and use them to further our ends. Our goal is to seek justice with the just and the unjust of this world. To seek God’s righteousness faithfully and continually and to receive Christ’s encouragement in this. God is with us and God will hear us.
Wilson Pruitt is a Methodist pastor and translator in Spicewood, TX.