Lukas 18

1 Now he was speaking a mashal to them about how it is necessary always for them to daven and not to lose chozek, [YESHAYAH 40:31]2 Saying, An aza (certain) Shofet was in a certain town. Now this Shofet had no fear of Hashem nor any respect for Bnei Adam.3 Now an almanah was in that town and she was coming to him saying, Grant me yashrus (justice) against my ish riv (opponent in a lawsuit). [YESHAYAH 1:17]4 And for a zman (time) the Shofet was not willing. But after these things, he said to himself, If indeed Hashem I do not fear nor do Bnei Adam I respect,5 Yet because this almanah (widow) causes me tzoros and is such a nudzh (pest), I will grant yashrus (justice) to her, lest in the end she may wear me out by her constant coming.6 Now Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu said, Listen to what the unrighteous shofet says.7 Now will not Hashem by all means do mishpat for his Bechirim crying out to him yomam valailah? Will he delay long in bringing them help? [Ex 22:23; Ps 88:1]8 I say to you that Hashem will bring about their yashrus (justice) swiftly, but when the Ben HaAdam (Moshiach, DANIEL 7:13-14) comes, will he then find emunah (faith) on haaretz?9 And he said this mashal also to some, who have become soimech (confident, putting their trust and being dependent) on themselves that they are tzaddikim and who are despising others. [YESHAYAH 65:5]10 Shnei anashim (two men) went up to the Beis Hamikdash to daven, one was a Perush and the other, a moches (tax collector).11 The Perush was standing by himself, shawkling (ritual swaying while davening), and his tefillah went like this: Adonoi, Modeh Ani that I am not like other men, swindlers, reshaim, menaafim, or even this moches.12 I undergo a tzom (fast) twice during the week, I give the ma'aser (tithe) of everything as much as I get. [YESHAYAH 58:3, MALACHI 3:8]13 But the moches (tax collector) stood at a distance and was not willing even to lift up his eynayim to Shomayim but was beating his chest, saying, Adonoi, rachem na al choteh kamoni! (L-rd, have mercy on a sinner like me!) [YESHAYAH 66:2; YIRMEYAH 31:19]14 I say to you, this one, rather than the other one, went down to his bais having been made yitzdak im Hashem (justified with G-d). Because everyone lifting himself up will be brought low, but the one bringing himself low will be uplifted.15 Now also they were bringing to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach yeladim that he might place his hands on them. But having seen this, the talmidim were rebuking them.16 But Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach called for them saying, Permit the yeladim to come to me and do not hinder them, for of such ones is the Malchut Hashem.17 Omein, I say to you, whoever does not welcome the Malchut Hashem as a yeled would, may by no means enter into it.18 And a certain one of the manhigim (leaders, one of the wealthier Baale-Battishe Jews) questioned Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, saying, Mori HaTov (Good Teacher), what mitzvah must I do to inherit Chayyei Olam?19 And Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach said to him, Why do you call me tov? No one is tov except Hashem alone, nu?20 You have daas of the Mitzvot. LO TINAF, LO TIRTZACH, LO TIGNOV, LO TAANEH VREIACHAH ED SHAKER, KABEID ES AVICHA VES IMMECHAH. [SHEMOT 20:12-16; DEVARIM 5:16-20]21 And he said, In all these things I have been shomer mitzvot and frum from my kinder-yoren.22 And having heard, Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach said to him, Still one thing for you is lacking. Everything as much as you have, sell and distribute to the aniyim, and you will have otzar in Himel; and come follow me.23 But having heard these things, he fell into agmat nefesh (grief, sadness). For he had much kesef.24 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, when he saw him fall into agmat nefesh, said, How difficult it is for the ones having osher (riches) to enter into the Malchut Hashem. [MISHLE 11:28]25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for an oisher (rich man) to enter into the Malchut Hashem.26 But the ones, having heard, said, Then who is able to come to Yeshu'at Eloheinu?27 And he said, The things impossible with Bnei Adam are possible with Hashem.28 And Kefa said, Hinei, we have left everything to follow you.29 And he said to them, Omein, I say to you, that there is no one who left bais or isha or achim or horim (parents) or yeladim because of the Malchut Hashem,30 Who will not receive many times as much in this zman (time) and in the Olam HaBah, Chayyei Olam.31 And having taken the Shneym Asar (Twelve) aside in a yechidus, he said to them, Hinei, we are making another aliyah leregel (pilgrimage) to Yerushalayim, and all the things having been written by the Nevi'im about the Ben HaAdam (Moshiach, DANIEL 7:13-14) will be fulfilled. [TEHILLIM 118:22]32 For he (the Ben HaAdam Moshiach) will be delivered up to the Goyim and he will be ridiculed and he will be mistreated and he will be spat upon,33 And, having laid the shot (whip) on him, they will kill him and after his histalkus (passing), on the Yom HaShlishi there will be Techiyas HaMoshiach.34 And they had binah (understanding, comprehension) regarding none of these things, and this dvar was nistar (concealed) from them, and they had no understanding of the things being said.35 And it came about while Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach drew near to Yericho, a certain ivver (blind man) was sitting beside the road begging.36 And having heard a multitude traveling through, he was asking what this might be.37 And they reported to him that Yehoshua from Natzeret is passing by.38 And he cried out saying, Ben Dovid! Chaneni! (Have mercy on me!)39 And the ones going past him were rebuking him that he should be silent, but he just so much the more was crying out, Ben Dovid, chaneni!40 And stopping, Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach commanded the ivver to be led to him. Having drawn near, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach asked him, What do you wish that I may do for you?41 And he said, Adoni, that I may regain my sight.42 And Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach said to him, Regain your sight; your emunah (faith) has brought you refuah (healing).43 And at once he saw again and was following Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, shouting, Baruch Hashem! And all the people, who were edei reiyah (eyewitnesses) of this, shouted, Baruch HaShem!

LUKE 18

A Widow and a Judge

1 Jesus told his disciples a story about how they should keep on praying and never give up:
2 In a town there was once a judge who didn't fear God or care about people.

3 In that same town there was a widow who kept going to the judge and saying, “Make sure that I get fair treatment in court.”
4 For a while the judge refused to do anything. Finally, he said to himself, “Even though I don't fear God or care about people,

5 I will help this widow because she keeps on bothering me. If I don't help her, she will wear me out.”

6 The Lord said:
Think about what that crooked judge said. 7 t Won't God protect his chosen ones who pray to him day and night? Won't he be concerned for them?

8 He will surely hurry and help them. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find on this earth anyone with faith?

A Pharisee //and a Tax Collector

9 Jesus told a story to some people who thought they were better than others and who looked down on everyone else:
10 Two men went into the temple to pray.t One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.t 11 The Pharisee stood over by himself and prayed, t “God, I thank you that I am not greedy, dishonest, and unfaithful in marriage like other people. And I am really glad that I am not like that tax collector over there.

12 I go without eatingt for two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all I earn.”

13  t The tax collector stood off at a distance and did not think he was good enough even to look up toward heaven. He was so sorry for what he had done that he pounded his chest and prayed, “God, have pity on me! I am such a sinner.”

14  t Then Jesus said, “When the two men went home, it was the tax collector and not the Pharisee who was pleasing to God. If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.”

Jesus Blesses Little Children

(Matthew 19.13-15; Mark 10.13-16)

17 You will never get into God's kingdom unless you enter it like a child!”

A Rich and Important Man

(Matthew 19.16-30; Mark 10.17-31)

18 An important man asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to have eternal life?”
19 Jesus said, “Why do you call me good? Only God is good.

20 t You know the commandments: ‘Be faithful in marriage. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not tell lies about others. Respect your father and mother.’ ”

21 He told Jesus, “I have obeyed all these commandments since I was a young man.”
22 When Jesus heard this, he said, “There is one thing you still need to do. Go and sell everything you own! Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and be my follower.”

23 When the man heard this, he was sad, because he was very rich.
24 Jesus saw how sad the man was. So he said, “It's terribly hard for rich people to get into God's kingdom!

25 In fact, it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into God's kingdom.”

26 When the crowd heard this, they asked, “How can anyone ever be saved?”

27 Jesus replied, “There are some things that people cannot do, but God can do anything.”

28 Peter said, “Remember, we left everything to be your followers!”
29 Jesus answered, “You can be sure that anyone who gives up home or wife or brothers or family or children because of God's kingdom

30 will be given much more in this life. And in the future world they will have eternal life.”

Jesus Again Tells about //His Death

(Matthew 20.17-19; Mark 10.32-34)

31 Jesus took the twelve apostles aside and said:
We are now on our way to Jerusalem. Everything that the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will happen there. 32 He will be handed over to foreigners, t who will make fun of him, mistreat him, and spit on him.

33 They will beat him and kill him, but three days later he will rise to life.

34 The apostles did not understand what Jesus was talking about. They could not understand, because the meaning of what he said was hidden from them.

Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar

(Matthew 20.29-34; Mark 10.46-52)

39 The people who were going along with Jesus told the man to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have pity on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and told some people to bring the blind man over to him. When the blind man was getting near, Jesus asked,

41 “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord, I want to see!” he answered.
42 Jesus replied, “Look and you will see! Your eyes are healed because of your faith.” 43 At once the man could see, and he went with Jesus and started thanking God. When the crowds saw what happened, they praised God.