Luke 18
1 Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and never despair.
Now he also told them a parable, that we should continually pray and not cease,
2 ‘There was,’ he said, ‘in a certain town a judge, who had no fear of God nor regard for people.
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 there was a widow who went to him again and again, and said “Grant me justice against my opponent.”
But there was a certain widow in that city, and she went to him, saying, ‘Vindicate me from my adversary.’
4 For a time the judge refused, but afterwards he said to himself “Although I am without fear of God or regard for people,
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 yet, as this widow is so troublesome, I will grant her justice, to stop her from plaguing me with her endless visits.”’
yet because this widow is pestering me, I will vindicate her, lest by returning, she may, in the end, wear me out.’”
6 Then the Master added, ‘Listen to what this iniquitous judge says!
Then the Lord said: “Listen to what the unjust judge said.
7 And God – won’t he see that his own people, who cry to him night and day, have justice done them – though he holds his hand?
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 He will, I tell you, give them justice soon enough! Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’
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 Another time, speaking to people who were satisfied that they were religious, and who regarded everyone else with scorn, Jesus told this parable –
Now about certain persons who consider themselves to be just, while disdaining others, he told also this parable:
10 ‘Two men went up into the Temple Courts to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer.
“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 forward and began praying to himself in this way – “God, I thank you that I am not like other men – thieves, rogues, adulterers – or even like this tax-gatherer.
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 give a tenth of everything I get to God.”
I fast twice between Sabbaths. I give tithes from all that I possess.’
13 Meanwhile the tax-gatherer stood at a distance, not venturing even to raise his eyes to heaven, but he kept striking his breast and saying “God, have mercy on me, 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 This man, I tell you, went home pardoned, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, while everyone who humbles himself 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 Some of the people were bringing even their babies to Jesus, for him to touch them; but, when the disciples saw it, they began to find fault with those who had brought 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 Jesus, however, called the little children to him. ‘Let the little children come to me,’ he said, ‘and do not hinder them, for it is to the childlike that the kingdom of God belongs.
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, unless a man receives the kingdom of God like a child, he will not enter it at all.’
Amen, I say to you, whoever will not accept the kingdom of God like a child, will not enter into it.”
18 And one of the leaders asked Jesus this question – ‘Good teacher, what must I do if I am to gain 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?’ answered Jesus. ‘No one is good but 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 kill, Do not steal, Do not say what is false about others, Honour your father and your 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 have observed all these,’ he replied, ‘from childhood.’
And he said, “I have kept all these things from my youth.”
22 Hearing this, Jesus said to him, ‘There is one thing still lacking in you; sell everything that you have, and distribute to the poor, and you will have wealth 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 the man became greatly distressed on hearing this, for he was extremely rich.
When he heard this, he became very sorrowful. For he was very rich.
24 Seeing this, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for the wealthy 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 is easier, indeed, for a camel to get through a needle’s eye 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 ‘Then who can be saved?’ asked those who heard this.
And those who were listening to this said, “Then who is able to be saved?”
27 But Jesus said, ‘What is impossible with people is possible with God.’
He said to them, “Things that are impossible with men are possible with God.”
28 ‘But we,’ said Peter, ‘we left what belonged to us and followed you.’
And Peter said, “Behold, we have left everything, and we have followed you.”
29 ‘I tell you,’ he answered, ‘that there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
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 Gathering the Twelve round him, Jesus said to them, ‘Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem; and there everything that is written in the prophets will be done to the Son of Man.
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 For he will be given up to the Gentiles, mocked, insulted and spat on;
For he will be handed over to the Gentiles, and he will be mocked and scourged and spit upon.
33 they will scourge him, and then put him to death; and 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 The apostles did not comprehend any of this. His meaning was unintelligible to them and they did not understand what he was saying.
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 was getting near Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside, begging.
Now it happened that, as he was approaching Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting beside the way, begging.
36 Hearing a crowd going by, the man asked what was the matter;
And when he heard the multitude passing by, he asked what this was.
37 and, when people told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing,
And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
38 he shouted out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me!’
And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me!”
39 Those who were in front kept telling him to be quiet, but he continued to call out the louder, ‘Son of David, take pity 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 Then Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. And, when he had come close up to him, 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?’ ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I want to recover my sight.’
saying, “What do you want, that I might do for you?” So he said, “Lord, that I may see.”
42 And Jesus said, ‘Recover your sight, your faith has delivered you.’
And Jesus said to him: “Look around. Your faith has saved you.”
43 Instantly he recovered his sight, and began to follow Jesus, praising God. And all the people, on seeing it, gave glory to God.
And immediately he saw. And he followed him, magnifying God. And all the people, when they saw this, gave praise to God.
