Luke 18
1 Jesus told them this story to encourage them to pray at all times, and not to become discouraged.
Now he also told them a parable, that we should continually pray and not cease,
2 “Once there was a judge in this particular town who didn't respect God or care about anyone,” Jesus explained.
saying: “There was a certain judge in a certain city, who did not fear God and did not respect man.
3 “In the same town lived a widow who time and again went to the judge, saying, ‘Give me justice in the case against my enemy!’
But there was a certain widow in that city, and she went to him, saying, ‘Vindicate me from my adversary.’
4 For a while he didn't want to do anything about it, but eventually he said to himself, ‘Even though I don't respect God or care about anyone,
And he refused to do so for a long time. But afterwards, he said within himself: ‘Even though I do not fear God, nor respect man,
5 this widow is so annoying I'll make sure she receives justice. Then she won't wear me out by her coming to see me so often.’
yet because this widow is pestering me, I will vindicate her, lest by returning, she may, in the end, wear me out.’”
6 Listen to what even an unjust judge decided,” said the Lord.
Then the Lord said: “Listen to what the unjust judge said.
7 “Don't you think that God will make sure his chosen people receive justice, those who cry out to him day and night? Do you think he will make them wait?
So then, will not God grant the vindication of his elect, who cry out to him day and night? Or will he continue to endure them?
8 No, I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. However, when the Son of man comes, will he find people on earth who trust in him?”
I tell you that he will quickly bring vindication to them. Yet truly, when the Son of man returns, do you think that he will find faith on earth?”
9 He also told this story about those who are so sure that they are living right, and who put everybody else down.
Now about certain persons who consider themselves to be just, while disdaining others, he told also this parable:
10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector.
“Two men ascended to the temple, in order to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed to himself, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—cheats, criminals, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
Standing, the Pharisee prayed within himself in this way: ‘O God, I give thanks to you that I am not like the rest of men: robbers, unjust, adulterers, even as this tax collector chooses to be.
12 I fast twice a week, and I pay tithe on my income.’
I fast twice between Sabbaths. I give tithes from all that I possess.’
13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He wouldn't even look up to heaven. Instead he beat his chest and prayed, ‘God, please be merciful to me. I am a sinner.’
And the tax collector, standing at a distance, was not willing to even lift up his eyes to heaven. But he struck his chest, saying: ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’
14 I tell you, it was this man who went home right in God's sight and not the other. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, while those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
I say to you, this one descended to his house justified, but not the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled; and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
15 Parents were bringing their infants to Jesus to have him bless them by his touch. When the disciples saw what was happening, they tried to stop them.
And they were bringing little children to him, so that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.
16 But Jesus called the children to him. “Let the little children come to me,” he said. “Don't prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like them.
But Jesus, calling them together, said: “Allow the children to come to me, and do not be an obstacle to them. For of such is the kingdom of God.
17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Amen, I say to you, whoever will not accept the kingdom of God like a child, will not enter into it.”
18 One of the rulers came to Jesus and asked him, “Good Teacher, what do I have to do to inherit eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
And a certain leader questioned him, saying: “Good teacher, what should I do to possess eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good, only God.
Then Jesus said to him: “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
20 You know the commandments: do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.”
You know the commandments: You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony. Honor your father and mother.”
21 “I've kept all these commandments since I was young,” the man replied.
And he said, “I have kept all these things from my youth.”
22 When Jesus heard this he told the man, “You still lack one thing. Go and sell all you have, give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me!”
And when Jesus heard this, he said to him: “One thing is still lacking for you. Sell all the things that you have, and give to the poor. And then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.”
23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very wealthy.
When he heard this, he became very sorrowful. For he was very rich.
24 When he saw his reaction, Jesus said, “How difficult it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
Then Jesus, seeing him brought to sorrow, said: “How difficult it is for those who have money to enter into the kingdom of God!
25 It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
For it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a wealthy man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
26 Those who heard this wondered, “Who can be saved then?”
And those who were listening to this said, “Then who is able to be saved?”
27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible in human terms is possible for God.”
He said to them, “Things that are impossible with men are possible with God.”
28 Peter said, “We left everything to follow you!”
And Peter said, “Behold, we have left everything, and we have followed you.”
29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus told them, “anybody who leaves behind their home, wife, brothers, parents, or children for the sake of God's kingdom
And he said to them: “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has left behind home, or parents, or brothers, or a wife, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
31 Jesus took the twelve disciples aside, and told them, “We're going to Jerusalem, and all that the prophets wrote about the Son of man will be fulfilled.
Then Jesus took the twelve aside, and he said to them: “Behold, we are ascending to Jerusalem, and everything shall be completed which was written by the prophets about the Son of man.
32 He will be handed over to the foreigners he will be mocked, insulted, and spat upon.
For he will be handed over to the Gentiles, and he will be mocked and scourged and spit upon.
33 They will flog him and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”
And after they have scourged him, they will kill him. And on the third day, he will rise again.”
34 But they didn't understand anything Jesus told them. The meaning was hidden from them and they didn't grasp what he was talking about.
But they understood none of these things. For this word was concealed from them, and they did not understand the things that were said.
35 As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting beside the road begging.
Now it happened that, as he was approaching Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting beside the way, begging.
36 He heard the crowd going past, so he asked what was happening.
And when he heard the multitude passing by, he asked what this was.
37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
38 He called out, “Jesus, son of David, please have mercy on me!”
And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me!”
39 Those at the front of the crowd told him to stop shouting and be quiet, but he only shouted louder, “Son of David, please have mercy on me!”
And those who were passing by rebuked him, so that he would be silent. Yet truly, he cried out all the more, “Son of David, take pity on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and told them to bring the blind man to him. As he came over, Jesus asked him,
Then Jesus, standing still, ordered him to be brought to him. And when he had drawn near, he questioned him,
41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, please, I want to see,” he pleaded.
saying, “What do you want, that I might do for you?” So he said, “Lord, that I may see.”
42 “Then see!” Jesus told him. “Your trust in me has healed you.”
And Jesus said to him: “Look around. Your faith has saved you.”
43 Immediately the man could see. He followed Jesus, praising God. Everyone there who saw what happened also praised God.
And immediately he saw. And he followed him, magnifying God. And all the people, when they saw this, gave praise to God.
