And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
This delightful parable was evidently designed to follow up the subject of the last section, on the Coming of the Son of man (Luke 18:8). In so far as the closing verses directed the thoughts to the Second Personal Appearing of the Lord Jesus, it was as an event which would occur when least expected. But lest this should lead-as it has led-to the inference that it would be very speedy, or was quite near at hand, the more immediate design of this parable was to guard against that impression, by intimating that it might, on the contrary, be so long delayed as nearly to extinguish the expectation of His coming at all. Accordingly, while the duty of persevering prayer in general is here enforced, the more direct subject of the parable is unceasing prayer by the widowed and oppressed Church for redress of all its wrongs, for deliverance out of all its troubles for transition from its widowhood to its wedded state, by the glorious appearing of its heavenly Bridegroom.
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray. Compare Luke 18:7, "His own elect which cry unto Him day and night."
And not to faint, х ekkakein (G1573), or, as the better supported reading, perhaps, is, engkakein (G1457a)] - 'and not to lose heart,' or 'slacken.'