Luke 18

1 Now he also told them a parable, that we should continually pray and not cease,2 saying: “There was a certain judge in a certain city, who did not fear God and did not respect man.3 But there was a certain widow in that city, and she went to him, saying, ‘Vindicate me from my adversary.’4 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 because this widow is pestering me, I will vindicate her, lest by returning, she may, in the end, wear me out.’ ”6 Then the Lord said: “Listen to what the unjust judge said.7 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 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 Now about certain persons who consider themselves to be just, while disdaining others, he told also this parable:10 “Two men ascended to the temple, in order to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.11 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 between Sabbaths. I give tithes from all that I possess.’13 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 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 And they were bringing little children to him, so that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.16 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 Amen, I say to you, whoever will not accept the kingdom of God like a child, will not enter into it.”18 And a certain leader questioned him, saying: “Good teacher, what should I do to possess eternal life?”19 Then Jesus said to him: “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.20 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 And he said, “I have kept all these things from my youth.”22 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 When he heard this, he became very sorrowful. For he was very rich.24 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 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 And those who were listening to this said, “Then who is able to be saved?”27 He said to them, “Things that are impossible with men are possible with God.”28 And Peter said, “Behold, we have left everything, and we have followed you.”29 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,30 who will not receive much more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”31 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 handed over to the Gentiles, and he will be mocked and scourged and spit upon.33 And after they have scourged him, they will kill him. And on the third day, he will rise again.”34 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 Now it happened that, as he was approaching Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting beside the way, begging.36 And when he heard the multitude passing by, he asked what this was.37 And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.38 And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me!”39 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, standing still, ordered him to be brought to him. And when he had drawn near, he questioned him,41 saying, “What do you want, that I might do for you?” So he said, “Lord, that I may see.”42 And Jesus said to him: “Look around. Your faith has saved you.”43 And immediately he saw. And he followed him, magnifying God. And all the people, when they saw this, gave praise to God.

Luke 18

Prayer and the Parable of the Persistent Widow

1 Thent Jesust told them a parable to show them they should alwayst pray and not lose heart.s2 He said,t “In a certain cityt there was a judges who neither feared God nor respected people.t3 There was also a widows in that cityt who kept comingt to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’4 Fort a while he refused, but later ont he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor have regard for people,t5 yet because this widow keeps on bothering me, I will give her justice, or in the end she will wear me outt by her unending pleas.’”t6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says!s7 Won’tt God give justice to his chosen ones, who cry outs to him day and night?t Will he delays long to help them?

8 I tell you, he will give them justice speedily.t Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faiths on earth?”

The Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector

9 Jesust also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked downt on everyone else.10 “Two men went ups to the temple to pray, one a Pharisees and the other a tax collector.s11 The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this:t ‘God, I thanks you that I am not like other people:t extortionists,t unrighteous people,s adulterers – or even like this tax collector.s12 I fast twices a week; I give a tentht of everything I get.’13 The tax collector, however, stoodt far off and would not even look upt to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be mercifult to me, sinner that I am!’t

14 I tell you that this man went down to his home justifieds rather than the Pharisee.t For everyone who exaltss himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus and Little Children

15 Now peoplet were even bringing their babiest to him for him to touch.t But when the disciples saw it, they began to scold those who brought them.t16 But Jesus called for the children,t saying, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of Gods belongs to such as these.s

17 I tell you the truth,t whoever does not receives the kingdom of God like a childs will nevert enter it.”

The Wealthy Ruler

18 Nowt a certain rulers asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”s19 Jesust said to him, “Why do you call me good?s No one is good except God alone.20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”s21 The mant replied, “I have wholeheartedly obeyedt all these lawsts since my youth.”s22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you haves and give the moneyt to the poor,s and you will have treasures in heaven. Thent come, follow me.”23 But when the mant heard this he became very sad,t for he was extremely wealthy.24 When Jesus noticed this,st he said, “How hards it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!s25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needles than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”26 Those who heard this said, “Thent who can be saved?”s27 He replied, “What is impossibles for mere humanst is possible for God.”28 And Peter said, “Look, we have left everything we ownt to follow you!”t29 Thent Jesust said to them, “I tell you the truth,t there is no one who has left home or wife or brotherst or parents or children for the sake of God’s kingdom

30 who will not receive many times mores in this aget – and in the age to come, eternal life.”s

Another Prediction of Jesus’ Passion

31 Thent Jesust took the twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem,s and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.t32 For he will be handed overs to the Gentiles; he will be mocked,s mistreated,t and spat on.s33 They will flog him severelyt and kill him. Yett on the third day he will rise again.”

34 Butt the twelvet understood none of these things. Thist saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasps what Jesus meant.t

Healing a Blind Man

35 Ast Jesust approachedt Jericho,s a blind man was sitting by the road begging.36 When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was going on.37 Theyt told him, “Jesus the Nazarene is passing by.”38 Sot he called out,t “Jesus, Son of David,s have mercys on me!”39 And those who were in fronts scoldedt him to get him to be quiet, but he shouteds even more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”40 Sot Jesus stopped and ordered the beggart to be brought to him. When the mant came near, Jesust asked him,41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied,t “Lord, let me see again.”t42 Jesust said to him, “Receivet your sight; your faith has healed you.”t

43 And immediately he regainedt his sight and followed Jesus,t praisings God. Whent all the people saw it, they toot gave praise to God.