Luke 18
1 [Jesus] told [his disciples] a parable to teach them that they always ought to pray confidently and not be discouraged [if God does not immediately answer their prayers].
He also taught them by a parable that they must always pray and never lose heart.
2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not revere God, and did not care about people, either.
"In a certain town," He said, "there was a judge who had no fear of God and no respect for man.
3 There was a widow in that city who kept coming to him, saying, ‘Please decide what is just [in the dispute between me and] the man who is opposing me [in court!’]
And in the same town was a widow who repeatedly came and entreated him, saying, "'Give me justice and stop my oppressor.'
4 For a long time the judge refused [to help her]. But later he thought to himself, ‘I do not revere God and I do not care about people,
"For a time he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, "'Though I have neither reverence for God nor respect for man,
5 but this widow keeps bothering me! So I will make sure that she is treated justly. [If I do not do that], she will exhaust me by continually coming to me!’”
yet because she annoys me I will give her justice, to prevent her from constantly coming to pester me.'"
6 Then the Lord [Jesus] said, “[Even though] the judge was not a righteous man, think carefully about what he said!
And the Lord said, "Hear those words of the unjust judge.
7 [Similarly], (God will certainly show that [what you] have done has been right!/will God not show that [what you] have done has been right?) [RHQ] He will do this for you whom he has chosen. [He will do this for you] who pray earnestly to him night and day, asking him to [help you]. He may delay [helping you].
And will not God avenge the wrongs of His own People who cry aloud to Him day and night, although He seems slow in taking action on their behalf?
8 But I tell you, [some day] he will show that what you did was right, and he will do it quickly. But when [I], the one who came from heaven, return to earth, (there may not be [many people who will still] be trusting [that I will vindicate them] (OR, who will still be trusting in me)./will there be [many people who will still] be trusting [that I will vindicate them] (OR, who will still be trusting in me)?) [RHQ]”
Yes, He will soon avenge their wrongs. Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"
9 [Jesus] also told a parable [to warn] people who mistakenly thought that they were doing things that made them acceptable to God. Besides, they also despised other people.
And to some who relied on themselves as being righteous men, and looked down upon all others, He addressed this parable.
10 [He said this]: “Two men went up to the Temple [in Jerusalem] to pray. One was a Pharisee. The other was a tax collector.
"Two men went up to the Temple to pray," He said; "one being a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed silently, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men. [Some] extort money [from others]; some treat others unjustly; some commit adultery. [I do not do such things. And I am certainly not] like this tax collector [who cheats people]!
The Pharisee, standing erect, prayed as follows by himself: "'O God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people--I am not a thief nor a cheat nor an adulterer, nor do I even resemble this tax-gatherer.
12 [Our law says that we(exc) should] (fast/abstain from food) [once a week], [but I do more than that. I] fast twice a week! I give [you] ten percent of all that I earn!’
I fast twice a week. I pay the tithe on all my gains.'
13 But the tax collector stood far [from the other people in the Temple courtyard because he felt very unworthy]. He would not even look up toward heaven. Instead, he beat on his chest [to show that he was sorry for his sin]. He said, ‘God, I am a sinner; be merciful to me [and forgive me]!’”
"But the tax-gatherer, standing far back, would not so much as lift his eyes to Heaven, but kept beating his breast and saying, "'O God, be reconciled to me, sinner that I am.'
14 [Then Jesus said], “I tell you [(pl)] that as the tax collector went home, the record of his sins was erased {[God] erased the record of his sins}, not that of the Pharisee. [Remember this]: Those who exalt themselves will be humbled {[God] will humble all those who exalt themselves}, but those who humble themselves will be exalted {[he] will exalt those who humble themselves}.”
"I tell you that this man went home more thoroughly absolved from guilt than the other; for every one who uplifts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be uplifted."
15 [One day when many people were coming to Jesus], they were also bringing small children. They wanted him to put his hands on [the children and bless them]. When the disciples saw that, they rebuked [those who were bringing those children].
On one occasion people also brought with them their infants, for Him to touch them; but the disciples, noticing this, proceeded to find fault with them.
16 But Jesus called the children [to come to him]. He said to his disciples, “Let the children come to me! Do not stop them! It is people who are [humble and trusting] like they are who can experience God ruling [their lives].
Jesus however called the infants to Him. "Let the little children come to me," He said; "do not hinder them; for it is to those who are childlike that the Kingdom of God belongs.
17 Note this: Those who do not [trust God and] allow him to direct [their lives], as children [do], will not enter the [MET] place where God rules.”
I tell you in solemn truth that, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will certainly not enter it."
18 A [Jewish] leader asked [Jesus], “Good teacher, what shall I do in order to have eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
The question was put to Him by a Ruler: "Good Rabbi, what shall I do to inherit the Life of the Ages?" (aiōnios g166)
19 Jesus said to him, “Only God is good! No one [else] is good! (So you(sg) should consider carefully what [you are implying by] calling me good!/[Do you realize that you are implying that I am God by] calling me good?) [RHQ]
"Why do you call me good?" replied Jesus; "there is no one good but One, namely God.
20 [But to answer your question], you [(sg)] know the commandments that [God gave Moses. He commanded such things as] ‘do not commit adultery, do not commit murder, do not steal, do not testify falsely [about what you have seen or heard], honor your father and mother.’”
You know the Commandments: 'Do not commit adultery;' 'Do not murder;' 'Do not steal;' 'Do not lie in giving evidence;' 'Honour thy father and thy mother.'"
21 The man said, “I have obeyed all those [commandments] ever since I was young. [So] ([there must be something else I have not done./is that enough]?)”
"All of those," he replied, "I have kept from my youth."
22 When Jesus heard [him say] that, he replied to him, “There is one thing that you [(sg)] have not [done] yet. Sell all that you own. Then give [the money] to poor people. [The result will be that] you will have [spiritual] riches in heaven. Then come and be my disciple!”
On receiving this answer Jesus said to him, "There is still one thing wanting in you. Sell everything you possess and give the money to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven; and then come, follow me."
23 The man became sad when he heard that, because he was very rich [and he did not want to give everything away].
But on hearing these words he was deeply sorrowful, for he was exceedingly rich.
24 Jesus looked at the man [as he left], and said, “It is very difficult for those who are wealthy [to decide] to let God rule [MET] their [lives].
Jesus saw his sorrow, and said, "With how hard a struggle do the possessors of riches ever enter the Kingdom of God!
25 [You would say] that it is impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. It is [almost] as difficult [HYP] for rich people [to decide] to let God rule their [lives].”
Why, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."
26 [The Jews thought that God favored rich people, so they thought that if God did not save rich people, he would not save others, either]. So [one of the disciples] who heard him say that replied, “If that is so, it seems that no one will be saved {[that God] will not save anyone} [RHQ]!”
"Who then can be saved?" exclaimed the hearers.
27 But Jesus said, “It is impossible for people [to save themselves]. But [God can save them, because] God can do anything!”
"Things impossible with man," He replied, "are possible with God."
28 Then Peter said, “[You know that we(exc) have left] everything we had and have become your disciples [RHQ]. [So what about us?] (OR, [So will God accept/save us?]”)
Then Peter said, "See, we have given up our homes and have followed you."
29 He said to them, “Keep this in mind: Those who have left [their] homes, [their] wives, [their] brothers, [their] parents, [their] children, [or any other family members], [to tell others] about how God wants to rule [MET] [people’s lives],
"I solemnly tell you," replied Jesus, "that there is no one who has left house or wife, or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of God's Kingdom,
31 [Jesus] took the twelve [disciples] to a place by themselves and said to them, “Listen carefully! We [(inc)] are [now] going up to Jerusalem. [While we are there], everything that has been written by the prophets {that the prophets have written} about [me], the one who came from heaven, will be fulfilled {will occur}.
Then He drew the Twelve to Him and said, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything written in the Prophets which refers to the Son of Man will be fulfilled.
32 I will be put into the hands of {[My enemies] will hand me over to} non-Jews. [The non-Jews] will make fun of me and mistreat me and spit on me.
For He will be given up to the Gentiles, and be mocked, outraged and spit upon.
33 They will whip me, and [then] they will kill me. But on the third day [after that] I will become alive again.”
They will scourge Him and put Him to death, and on the third day He will rise to life again."
34 But [the disciples] did not understand any of those things that [he said]. They were prevented {[Something] prevented them} from understanding the meaning of what [he] was telling [them].
Nothing of this did they understand. The words were a mystery to them, nor could they see what He meant.
35 As [Jesus and his disciples] came near to Jericho [city], a blind man was sitting beside the road. [He was] begging [for money].
As Jesus came near to Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the way-side begging.
36 When he heard the crowd [of people] passing by, he asked someone, “What is happening?”
He heard a crowd of people going past, and inquired what it all meant.
37 They told him, “Jesus, [the man] from Nazareth [town], is passing by.”
"Jesus the Nazarene is passing by," they told him.
38 He shouted, “Jesus, [you who are] descended from [King] David, [the Messiah], pity me!”
Then, at the top of his voice, he cried out, "Jesus, son of David, take pity on me."
39 Those who were [walking] at the front [of the crowd] scolded the man [and] told him to be quiet. But he shouted more loudly, “You who are descended from [King] David, [the Messiah], pity me!”
Those in front reproved him and tried to silence him; but he continued shouting, louder than ever, "Son of David, take pity on me."
40 Jesus stopped and told [people] to bring the man to him. When [the blind man] came near, Jesus asked him,
At length Jesus stopped and desired them to bring the man to Him; and when he had come close to Him He asked him,
41 “What do you [(sg)] want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, enable me to see [again]!”
"What shall I do for you?" "Sir," he replied, "let me recover my sight."
42 Jesus said to him, “[Then] see! Because you have trusted [PRS] [in me], [I] have healed you!”
"Recover your sight," said Jesus: "your faith has cured you."
43 Immediately he was able to see! And he went with [Jesus], praising God. And when all the people who were [going with Jesus] saw it, they also praised God.
No sooner were the words spoken than the man regained his sight and followed Jesus, giving glory to God; and all the people, seeing it, gave praise to God.
