Luke 18
1 Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and never despair.
And he spoke a parable to them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 ‘There was,’ he said, ‘in a certain town a judge, who had no fear of God nor regard for people.
Saying, There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, neither regarded 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.”
And there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, Avenge me of 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 would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard 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 troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 Then the Master added, ‘Listen to what this iniquitous judge says!
And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
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?
And shall not God avenge his own elect, who cry day and night to him, though he beareth long with 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 avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the 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 –
And he spoke this parable to certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 ‘Two men went up into the Temple Courts to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer.
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other 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.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of everything I get to God.”
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of 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 afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, 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 tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall 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 brought to him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, 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 called them to him, and said, Permit the little children to come to me, and forbid them not: 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.’
Verily I say to you, Whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall by no means 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 ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (aiōnios g166)
19 ‘Why do you call me good?’ answered Jesus. ‘No one is good but God.
And Jesus said to him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, except one, that is, God.
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.’
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
21 ‘I have observed all these,’ he replied, ‘from childhood.’
And he said, All these have I kept 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.’
Now when Jesus heard these things, he said to him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
23 But the man became greatly distressed on hearing this, for he was extremely rich.
And when he heard this, he was 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!
And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hard it is for them that have riches 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 go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 ‘Then who can be saved?’ asked those who heard this.
And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
27 But Jesus said, ‘What is impossible with people is possible with God.’
But he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
28 ‘But we,’ said Peter, ‘we left what belonged to us and followed you.’
Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
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, Verily I say to you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or 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 he took the twelve, and said to them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
32 For he will be given up to the Gentiles, mocked, insulted and spat on;
For he shall be delivered to the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully treated, and spitted on:
33 they will scourge him, and then put him to death; and on the third day he will rise again.’
And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall 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.
And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
35 As Jesus was getting near Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside, begging.
And it came to pass, that as he had come near to Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
36 Hearing a crowd going by, the man asked what was the matter;
And hearing the multitude passing by, he asked what it meant.
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, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy 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 they who went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy 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,
And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought to him: and when he had come near, he asked him,
41 ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I want to recover my sight.’
Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do to thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
42 And Jesus said, ‘Recover your sight, your faith has delivered you.’
And Jesus said to him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
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 received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
