Luke 18
1 And he spoke a parable to them, that they ought always to pray, and not to become weary,
[Jesus] told [his disciples] a parable to teach them that they always ought to pray confidently and not be discouraged [if God does not immediately answer their prayers].
2 saying: There was in a certain city a judge, who neither feared God nor regarded man.
He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not revere God, and did not care about people, either.
3 And there was a widow in that city, and she came to him, and said: Avenge me on my opponent at law.
There was a widow in that city who kept coming to him, saying, ‘Please decide what is just [in the dispute between me and] the man who is opposing me [in court!’]
4 And for a while he refused. But afterward he said within himself: Though I fear not God, nor regard man,
For a long time the judge refused [to help her]. But later he thought to himself, ‘I do not revere God and I do not care about people,
5 yet, because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
but this widow keeps bothering me! So I will make sure that she is treated justly. [If I do not do that], she will exhaust me by continually coming to me!’”
6 And the Lord said: Hear what the unjust judge says;
Then the Lord [Jesus] said, “[Even though] the judge was not a righteous man, think carefully about what he said!
7 and will not God avenge his elect, who cry to him day and night, though he delay long in respect to them?
[Similarly], (God will certainly show that [what you] have done has been right!/will God not show that [what you] have done has been right?) [RHQ] He will do this for you whom he has chosen. [He will do this for you] who pray earnestly to him night and day, asking him to [help you]. He may delay [helping you].
8 I say to you, that he will avenge them speedily. Yet, when the Son of man comes, will he find the faith on the earth?
But I tell you, [some day] he will show that what you did was right, and he will do it quickly. But when [I], the one who came from heaven, return to earth, (there may not be [many people who will still] be trusting [that I will vindicate them] (OR, who will still be trusting in me)./will there be [many people who will still] be trusting [that I will vindicate them] (OR, who will still be trusting in me)?) [RHQ]”
9 And he spoke this parable to some, who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and who despised others.
[Jesus] also told a parable [to warn] people who mistakenly thought that they were doing things that made them acceptable to God. Besides, they also despised other people.
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
[He said this]: “Two men went up to the Temple [in Jerusalem] to pray. One was a Pharisee. The other was a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself: God, I thank thee that I am not as other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed silently, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men. [Some] extort money [from others]; some treat others unjustly; some commit adultery. [I do not do such things. And I am certainly not] like this tax collector [who cheats people]!
12 I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess.
[Our law says that we(exc) should] (fast/abstain from food) [once a week], [but I do more than that. I] fast twice a week! I give [you] ten percent of all that I earn!’
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying: God, be merciful to me a sinner.
But the tax collector stood far [from the other people in the Temple courtyard because he felt very unworthy]. He would not even look up toward heaven. Instead, he beat on his chest [to show that he was sorry for his sin]. He said, ‘God, I am a sinner; be merciful to me [and forgive me]!’”
14 I say to you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For every one that exalts himself, shall be humbled; but he that humbles himself, shall be exalted.
[Then Jesus said], “I tell you [(pl)] that as the tax collector went home, the record of his sins was erased {[God] erased the record of his sins}, not that of the Pharisee. [Remember this]: Those who exalt themselves will be humbled {[God] will humble all those who exalt themselves}, but those who humble themselves will be exalted {[he] will exalt those who humble themselves}.”
15 And they brought to him infants also, that he might touch them. But when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
[One day when many people were coming to Jesus], they were also bringing small children. They wanted him to put his hands on [the children and bless them]. When the disciples saw that, they rebuked [those who were bringing those children].
16 And Jesus called them to him, and said: Let the little children come to me, and hinder them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.
But Jesus called the children [to come to him]. He said to his disciples, “Let the children come to me! Do not stop them! It is people who are [humble and trusting] like they are who can experience God ruling [their lives].
17 Verily I say to you, Whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God, as a little child, shall in no way enter into it.
Note this: Those who do not [trust God and] allow him to direct [their lives], as children [do], will not enter the [MET] place where God rules.”
18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying: Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (aiōnios g166)
A [Jewish] leader asked [Jesus], “Good teacher, what shall I do in order to have eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
19 And Jesus said to him: Why do you call me good? None is good but one, that is God.
Jesus said to him, “Only God is good! No one [else] is good! (So you(sg) should consider carefully what [you are implying by] calling me good!/[Do you realize that you are implying that I am God by] calling me good?) [RHQ]
20 You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery; Do not kill; Do not steal; Do not bear false testimony; Honor your father and your mother.
[But to answer your question], you [(sg)] know the commandments that [God gave Moses. He commanded such things as] ‘do not commit adultery, do not commit murder, do not steal, do not testify falsely [about what you have seen or heard], honor your father and mother.’”
21 He replied: All these have I kept from my youth.
The man said, “I have obeyed all those [commandments] ever since I was young. [So] ([there must be something else I have not done./is that enough]?)”
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him: One thing you yet lack; sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
When Jesus heard [him say] that, he replied to him, “There is one thing that you [(sg)] have not [done] yet. Sell all that you own. Then give [the money] to poor people. [The result will be that] you will have [spiritual] riches in heaven. Then come and be my disciple!”
23 And when he heard this, he was very sad, for he was very rich.
The man became sad when he heard that, because he was very rich [and he did not want to give everything away].
24 When Jesus saw that he was very sad, he said: How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
Jesus looked at the man [as he left], and said, “It is very difficult for those who are wealthy [to decide] to let God rule [MET] their [lives].
25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom, of God.
[You would say] that it is impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. It is [almost] as difficult [HYP] for rich people [to decide] to let God rule their [lives].”
26 And those who heard it said: Who, then, can be saved?
[The Jews thought that God favored rich people, so they thought that if God did not save rich people, he would not save others, either]. So [one of the disciples] who heard him say that replied, “If that is so, it seems that no one will be saved {[that God] will not save anyone} [RHQ]!”
27 He replied: Things that are impossible with men, are possible with God.
But Jesus said, “It is impossible for people [to save themselves]. But [God can save them, because] God can do anything!”
28 Then Peter said: Behold, we have left all and followed thee.
Then Peter said, “[You know that we(exc) have left] everything we had and have become your disciples [RHQ]. [So what about us?] (OR, [So will God accept/save us?]”)
29 And he said to them: Verily I say to you, There is no one that has left house, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
He said to them, “Keep this in mind: Those who have left [their] homes, [their] wives, [their] brothers, [their] parents, [their] children, [or any other family members], [to tell others] about how God wants to rule [MET] [people’s lives],
31 And he took the twelve aside, and said to them: Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.:
[Jesus] took the twelve [disciples] to a place by themselves and said to them, “Listen carefully! We [(inc)] are [now] going up to Jerusalem. [While we are there], everything that has been written by the prophets {that the prophets have written} about [me], the one who came from heaven, will be fulfilled {will occur}.
32 For he shall be delivered to the Gentiles, and shall be derided and insulted and spit upon;
I will be put into the hands of {[My enemies] will hand me over to} non-Jews. [The non-Jews] will make fun of me and mistreat me and spit on me.
33 and they shall scourge him, and put him to death, and on the third day he shall rise again.
They will whip me, and [then] they will kill me. But on the third day [after that] I will become alive again.”
34 And they understood none of these things; and this saying was concealed from them; and they understood not the things that were spoken.
But [the disciples] did not understand any of those things that [he said]. They were prevented {[Something] prevented them} from understanding the meaning of what [he] was telling [them].
35 And it came to pass, that, as he came near to Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road begging.
As [Jesus and his disciples] came near to Jericho [city], a blind man was sitting beside the road. [He was] begging [for money].
36 And when he heard the multitude passing by, he asked what this meant.
When he heard the crowd [of people] passing by, he asked someone, “What is happening?”
37 And they told him that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by.
They told him, “Jesus, [the man] from Nazareth [town], is passing by.”
38 And he cried out and said: Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.
He shouted, “Jesus, [you who are] descended from [King] David, [the Messiah], pity me!”
39 And those who went before rebuked him, that he should be silent. But he cried so much the more: Son of David, have mercy on me.
Those who were [walking] at the front [of the crowd] scolded the man [and] told him to be quiet. But he shouted more loudly, “You who are descended from [King] David, [the Messiah], pity me!”
40 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him,
Jesus stopped and told [people] to bring the man to him. When [the blind man] came near, Jesus asked him,
41 saying: What do you wish me to do for you? he replied: Lord, that I may receive my sight.
“What do you [(sg)] want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, enable me to see [again]!”
42 And Jesus said to him: Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.
Jesus said to him, “[Then] see! Because you have trusted [PRS] [in me], [I] have healed you!”
43 And he immediately received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
Immediately he was able to see! And he went with [Jesus], praising God. And when all the people who were [going with Jesus] saw it, they also praised God.
