Luke 18
1 Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and never despair.
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:
2 “There was,” he said, “in a certain town a judge, who had no fear of God nor regard for people.
“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men.
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 town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’
4 For a time the judge refused, but afterward he said to himself ‘Although I am without fear of God or regard for people,
For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men,
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 keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Then she will stop wearing me out with her perpetual requests.’”
6 Then the Master added, “Listen to what this iniquitous judge says!
And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge.
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?
Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He continue to defer their help?
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, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He 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 –
To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told 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 went up to the temple to pray. One was 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 by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of everything I get to God.’
I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’
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.’
But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on 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, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who 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.
Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who brought 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 the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
17 I tell you, unless a man receives the kingdom of God like a child, he will not enter it at all.”
Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter 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)
Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
19 “Why do you call me good?” answered Jesus. “No one is good but God.
“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “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, Honor your father and your mother.”
You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”
21 “I have observed all these,” he replied, “from childhood.”
“All these I have kept from my youth,” he said.
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.”
On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
23 But the man became greatly distressed on hearing this, for he was extremely rich.
But when the ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.
24 Seeing this, Jesus said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!
Seeing the man’s sadness, Jesus said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter 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!”
Indeed, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 “Then who can be saved?” asked those who heard this.
Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”
27 But Jesus said, “What is impossible with people is possible with God.”
But Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
28 “But we,” said Peter, “we left what belonged to us and followed you.”
“Look,” said Peter, “we have left all we had to follow 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,
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God
31 Gathering the Twelve around 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 said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything the prophets have written about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.
32 For he will be given up to the Gentiles, mocked, insulted and spat on;
He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.
33 they will scourge him, and then put him to death; and on the third day he will rise again.”
They will flog Him and 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 the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.
35 As Jesus was getting near Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside, begging.
As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting beside the road, begging.
36 Hearing a crowd going by, the man asked what was the matter;
When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.
37 and, when people told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing,
“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.
38 he shouted out, “Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me!”
So he called out, “Jesus, 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!”
Those who led the way admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “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,
Jesus stopped and directed that the man be brought to Him. When he had been brought near, Jesus asked him,
41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Master,” he said, “I want to recover my sight.”
“What do you want Me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “let me see again.”
42 And Jesus said, “Recover your sight, your faith has delivered you.”
“Receive your sight!” Jesus replied. “Your faith has healed 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.
Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God. And all the people who saw this gave praise to God.
