Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 18:2

"saying, There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, and regarded not man:" — Luke 18:2 (ASV)

The designation “unjust judge” is similar to the idiom in 16:8, “the dishonest manager.” Therefore we should probably understand the judge to be a “man of the world,” who, though crooked, prided himself on shrewd judicial decisions. The judge is typical of a local Gentile judge known throughout the Hellenistic world. Being easily accessible and having the authority to make quick decisions, he would naturally be besieged by people such as the widow of the story (v.3).