Luke 18
1 Jesus told them this story to encourage them to pray at all times, and not to become discouraged.
And then He told them a parable, the point being that one needs to always pray and not lose heart,
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 judge in a certain town who did not fear God nor regard 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 widow in that town, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Get justice for 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 for a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I don't fear God nor regard 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 keeps bothering me, I will defend her, so that her endless coming doesn't wear me out!’”
6 Listen to what even an unjust judge decided,” said the Lord.
Then the Lord said: “Hear 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?
And will not God get justice for His elect who are crying out to Him day and night, indeed being patient with 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 get justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of the Man comes, will He actually find the faith on the earth?”
9 He also told this story about those who are so sure that they are living right, and who put everybody else down.
Then He told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised the rest:
10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector.
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other 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.
The Pharisee stood and started praying to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like all the rest—robbers, unjust, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week, and I pay tithe on my income.’
I fast twice a week; I tithe all that I get.’
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.’
The tax collector, staying a good ways off, did not even venture to look up to heaven, but started beating on his chest, saying, ‘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 that this one went back home justified rather than that one; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who 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.
Then they even started bringing their babies to Him, that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, 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 summoned them and said: “Allow the little children to come to me, and do not hinder them; because the Kingdom of God is of such.
17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
I tell you assuredly, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God the way a little child does will by no means enter 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)
A certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good, only God.
So Jesus said to him: “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—God.
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: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and your mother.’”
21 “I've kept all these commandments since I was young,” the man replied.
And he said, “All these I have kept 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!”
Well upon hearing these things Jesus said to him, “You still lack one thing: sell all you have and distribute to the poor, and 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.
But when he heard this he became very sad, because he was extremely rich.
24 When he saw his reaction, Jesus said, “How difficult it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
When Jesus saw that he became sad, He said: “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter 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.”
It is actually easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God!”
26 Those who heard this wondered, “Who can be saved then?”
So the hearers said, “Who then can be saved?”
27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible in human terms is possible for God.”
And He said, “The things that are impossible with men are possible with God.”
28 Peter said, “We left everything to follow you!”
Then Peter said, “Notice that we have left all and 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
So He said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or 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 He took the Twelve aside and said to them: “Take note, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of the Man will be fulfilled:
32 He will be handed over to the foreigners he will be mocked, insulted, and spat upon.
He will be betrayed to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon,
33 They will flog him and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”
and they will scourge and 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; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know what was being said.
35 As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting beside the road begging.
Then it happened, as He approached Jericho, that a certain blind man was sitting alongside the road begging.
36 He heard the crowd going past, so he asked what was happening.
Hearing a crowd going by, he asked what it was.
37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
So they told him that Jesus the Natsorean was passing by.
38 He called out, “Jesus, son of David, please have mercy on me!”
Well he shouted, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy 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!”
Those who led the way started reproving him, to shut him up; but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and told them to bring the blind man to him. As he came over, Jesus asked him,
So Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to Him. When he got close He asked him, saying,
41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, please, I want to see,” he pleaded.
“What do you want me to do for you?” So he said, “Lord, that I may see again!”
42 “Then see!” Jesus told him. “Your trust in me has healed you.”
Then Jesus said to him: “See again! Your faith has made you well.”
43 Immediately the man could see. He followed Jesus, praising God. Everyone there who saw what happened also praised God.
And immediately he did! and he followed Him, glorifying God. And all who witnessed it gave praise to God.
