Luke 18

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

1 He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged: 2 "There was a judge in a certain town who didn't fear God or respect man.

3 And a widow in that town kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.'
4 "For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or respect man,

5 yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice, so she doesn't wear me out by her persistent coming.'"
6 Then the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 Will not God grant justice to His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay [to help] them?

8 I tell you that He will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find that faith on earth?"

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else: 10 "Two men went up to the temple complex to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee took his stand and was praying like this: 'God, I thank You that I'm not like other people-greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.'
13 "But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, 'God, turn Your wrath from me-a sinner!'

14 I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

Blessing the Children

15 Some people were even bringing infants to Him so He might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 Jesus, however, invited them: "Let the little children come to Me, and don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

17 I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

The Rich Young Ruler

18 A ruler asked Him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
19 "Why do you call Me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good but One-God.

20 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 kept all these from my youth," he said.

22 When Jesus heard this, He told him, "You still lack one thing: Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me."

23 After he heard this, he became extremely sad, because he was very rich.

Possessions and the Kingdom

24 Seeing that he became sad, Jesus said, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!

25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

26 Those who heard this asked, "Then who can be saved?"

27 He replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

28 Then Peter said, "Look, we have left what we had and followed You."
29 So He said to them, "I assure you: There is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers, parents or children because of the kingdom of God,

30 who will not receive many times more at this time, and eternal life in the age to come."

The Third Prediction of His Death

31 Then He took the Twelve aside and told them, "Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. Everything that is written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and He will be mocked, insulted, spit on;

33 and after they flog Him, they will kill Him, and He will rise on the third day."

34 They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

A Blind Man Receives His Sight

35 As He drew near Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. 36 Hearing a crowd passing by, he inquired what this meant.

37 "Jesus the Nazarene is passing by," they told him.
38 So he called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

39 Then those in front told him to keep quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
40 Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him. When he drew near, He asked him,

41 "What do you want Me to do for you?"
"Lord," he said, "I want to see!"
42 "Receive your sight!" Jesus told him. "Your faith has healed you."

43 Instantly he could see, and he began to follow Him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Luke 18

1 And he spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint;2 saying, There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, and regarded not man:3 and there was a widow in that city; and she came oft unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;5 yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out by her continual coming.6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unrighteous judge saith.7 And shall not God avenge his elect, that cry to him day and night, and yet he is longsuffering over them?8 I say unto you, that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?9 And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.12 I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I get.13 But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner.14 I say unto you, This man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.15 And they were bringing unto him also their babes, that he should touch them: but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.16 But Jesus called them unto him, saying, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for to such belongeth the kingdom of God.17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein.18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, even God.20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor thy father and mother.21 And he said, All these things have I observed from my youth up.22 And when Jesus heard it, he said unto him, One thing thou lackest yet: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.23 But when he heard these things, he became exceeding sorrowful; for he was very rich.24 And Jesus seeing him said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!25 For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.26 And they that heard it said, Then who can be saved?27 But he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.28 And Peter said, Lo, we have left our own, and followed thee.29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or wife, or brethren, or parents, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,30 who shall not receive manifold more in this time, and in the world to come eternal life.31 And he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets shall be accomplished unto the Son of man.32 For he shall be delivered up unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and shamefully treated, and spit upon:33 and they shall scourge and kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.34 And they understood none of these things; and this saying was hid from them, and they perceived not the things that were said.35 And it came to pass, as he drew nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:36 and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant.37 And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.39 And they that went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,41 What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight; thy faith hath made thee whole.43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.