Ultimate Parable of the Persistent Widow Quiz (Luke 18:1-8)

Answer 1: C: Luke states the parable’s purpose before it begins: “that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” This is unusual. Jesus wanted no ambiguity about what the story was meant to teach. Options A, B, D, and E each substitute commands not found in the verse.
KJV Reference: Luke 18:1 — “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”

Answer 2: B: The KJV gives both descriptions in one verse: he feared not God and he regarded not man. Options A, C, D, and E each substitute or alter one of the two terms. The judge answers to nothing above him and nothing beside him.
KJV Reference: Luke 18:2 — “There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man.”

Answer 3: E: The widow’s request is stated in a single phrase: avenge her of her adversary. No mention is made of a son, inherited lands, a formal hearing, or false charges. Every other option adds language the text does not contain.
KJV Reference: Luke 18:3 — “And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.”

Answer 4: B: The KJV uses the phrase “he would not for a while.” Options A, C, D, and E all paraphrase or expand on this, introducing language the text does not use. The brevity of the phrase is part of what makes the question demanding. The exact wording is easily misremembered.
KJV Reference: Luke 18:4 — “And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself…”

Answer 5: E: The KJV uses the exact phrase “he said within himself.” This is the direct speech formula the Gospels use for a character’s inner words. Options A through D each paraphrase or add words not in the text.
KJV Reference: Luke 18:4 — “but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man…”

Answer 6: E: The judge’s exact words are “Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her.” The word “Yet” carries the contrast. “Nevertheless” appears in verse 8, not in the judge’s speech. “Therefore,” “forasmuch,” and “howbeit” do not appear in this passage.
KJV Reference: Luke 18:4-5 — “Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her…”

Answer 7: C: The judge says “this widow troubleth me.” The KJV does not use vex, grieve, burden, or harass here. Option C gives both the correct word and the correct grammatical person: first person, present tense, as the judge speaks about himself.
KJV Reference: Luke 18:5 — “Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her…”

Answer 8: B: The KJV word is “continual,” as in “lest by her continual coming she weary me.” Options A, C, D, and E are modern equivalents a reader might assume, but the KJV uses “continual” precisely.
KJV Reference: Luke 18:5 — “lest by her continual coming she weary me.”

Answer 9: C: The exact phrase is “which cry day and night unto him.” The other options each substitute language not found in the verse (seek, call, bring, wait) and miss the specific pairing of “day and night.”
KJV Reference: Luke 18:7 — “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him…”

Answer 10: D: The judge’s only stated concern is being wearied. The text makes no mention of shame, ruin, exposure, or removal. Her continual coming would wear him out. That is the sole reason he gives for acting.
KJV Reference: Luke 18:5 — “lest by her continual coming she weary me.”

Answer 11: D: The phrase “though he bear long with them” sits within the same verse as the promise of swift vengeance. It is the tension at the heart of the passage. Options A, B, C, and E are interpretive paraphrases not found in the text.
KJV Reference: Luke 18:7 — “though he bear long with them?”

Answer 12: E: The KJV word is “speedily,” as in “he will avenge them speedily.” Swiftly, suddenly, shortly, and quickly are all plausible modern synonyms but none is the word Luke uses.
KJV Reference: Luke 18:8 — “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.”

Answer 13: E: The verse asks specifically about faith: one word. Prayer does not appear in verse 8. Jesus has just told His disciples that God answers those who cry day and night unto Him, then closes not with a further word about prayer but with a question about whether faith itself will be found when He returns. The two are related but the question names faith, not prayer.
KJV Reference: Luke 18:8 — “shall he find faith on the earth?”

Answer 14: B: Jesus uses the phrase “the Son of man,” His regular self-reference throughout the Gospels. The other titles are biblical but do not appear in this verse.
KJV Reference: Luke 18:8 — “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

Answer 15: E: Luke identifies the location only as “a city.” No name, no region, no landmark. The deliberate vagueness makes the parable universal. Options A through D each impose specific geography that Luke deliberately withholds.
KJV Reference: Luke 18:2-3 — “There was in a city a judge… And there was a widow in that city…”