Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Luke 18:5

διά γε, etc.: similar expression in Luke 11:8. The parable before us is a companion to that of the Selfish Neighbour. The two should be studied together vide The Parabolic Teaching of Christ. κόπον : the power of the petitioner in both parables lies in their ability and determination to disturb the comfort of those they address. The neighbour and the judge are both selfish, care only for their own ease, and it is that very quality that gives the suppliants their opportunity. They can annoy the reluctant into granting their requests success certain. εἰς τέλος : interpreters differ as to the meaning of this phrase, and whether it should be connected with ἐρχομένη or with ὑπωπιάζῃ. The two ways of rendering the last clause of Luke 18:5 are: lest coming continually, she weary me to death, or lest coming and coming, she at last give me black eyes; of course meant in a humorous sense. The latter rendering does more justice to the humour of the situation, but the other seems more in harmony with the scope of the parable, which is to enforce persistence in prayer continual coming. The present tense in participle and verb also seems to demand the first rendering: it points to a process in the coming and in its effect on the judge, the two keeping pace with each other. As she keeps coming, he gets more and more bored. If a final act, the use of fists (seriously or humorously meant) were pointed at by ὑπωπ., the aorist would have been more suitable. (So Field in Ot. Nor.) The philological commentators differ in regard to the sense of εἰς τέλος, some taking it = perpetuo, indesinenter (Grotius, Kypke); others = tandem (Palairet); others = omnino (Raphel); all citing examples.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Luke 18:5

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