18
1 He
also spoke a
parable to them
that they must
always pray and
not give up,
2 saying,
“There was a
judge in a
certain city
who didn’t fear
God and didn’t
respect man.
3 A widow was
in that city,
and she often
came to him,
saying, ‘Defend me
from my adversary!’
4 He wouldn’t for
a while; but
afterward he
said to himself,
‘Though I
neither fear God
nor respect man,
5 yet because
this widow
bothers me, I
will defend her,
or else she
will wear me
out by her
continual coming.’ ”
6 The
Lord said,
“Listen to what
the unrighteous judge
says.
7 Won’t God
avenge his
chosen ones who
are crying out
to him day
and night, and
yet he exercises
patience with
them?
8 I tell you
that he will
avenge them
quickly. Nevertheless,
when the Son
of Man comes,
will he find
faith on the
earth?”
9 He
also spoke this
parable to certain
people who were
convinced of their
own righteousness, and
who despised all
others:
10 “Two men went
up into the
temple to pray;
one was a
Pharisee, and
the other was
a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee
stood and prayed
by himself like
this: ‘God, I
thank you that
I am not
like the rest
of men: extortionists,
unrighteous, adulterers, or
even like this
tax collector.
12 I fast twice
a week. I
give tithes of
all that I
get.’
13 But the tax
collector, standing
far away, wouldn’t
even lift up
his eyes to
heaven, but beat
his chest,
saying, ‘God, be
merciful to me,
a sinner!’
14 I tell you,
this man went
down to his
house justified
rather than the
other; for
everyone who
exalts himself
will be humbled,
but he who
humbles himself
will be
exalted.”
15 They
were also bringing
their babies to
him, that he
might touch them.
But when the
disciples saw it,
they rebuked them.
16 Jesus
summoned them,
saying,
“Allow the little children
to come to
me, and don’t
hinder them, for
God’s Kingdom belongs
to such as
these.
17 Most certainly,
I tell you,
whoever doesn’t
receive God’s Kingdom
like a little
child, he will
in no way
enter into
it.”
18 A
certain ruler asked
him, saying, “Good
Teacher, what
shall I do
to inherit eternal
life?”
19 Jesus
asked him,
“Why do you
call me good?
No one is
good, except one:
God.
20 You know the
commandments: ‘Don’t
commit adultery,’ ‘Don’t
murder,’ ‘Don’t
steal,’ ‘Don’t
give false
testimony,’ ‘Honor
your father and
your mother.’ ”
21 He
said, “I have
observed all these
things from my
youth up.”
22 When
Jesus heard these
things, he said
to him,
“You still lack
one thing. Sell
all that you
have and
distribute it to
the poor. Then
you will have
treasure in
heaven; then
come, follow
me.”
23 But
when he heard
these things, he
became very sad,
for he was
very rich.
24 Jesus,
seeing that he
became very sad,
said,
“How hard it
is for those
who have riches
to enter into
God’s Kingdom!
25 For it is
easier for a
camel to enter
in through
a needle’s eye than
for a rich
man to enter
into God’s Kingdom.”
26 Those
who heard it said,
“Then who can
be saved?”
27 But
he said,
“The things
which are impossible
with men are
possible with
God.”
28 Peter
said, “Look, we
have left everything and followed
you.”
29 He
said to them,
“Most certainly I
tell you, there
is no one
who has left
house, or wife,
or brothers, or
parents, or
children, for
God’s Kingdom’s sake,
30 who will
not receive many
times more in
this time, and
in the world to
come, eternal life.”
31 He
took the twelve
aside and said
to them,
“Behold, we are
going up to
Jerusalem, and
all the things
that are written
through the
prophets concerning
the Son of
Man will be
completed.
32 For he will
be delivered up
to the Gentiles,
will be mocked,
treated shamefully, and spit
on.
33 They will
scourge and kill
him. On the
third day, he
will rise
again.”
34 They
understood none of
these things. This
saying was hidden
from them, and
they didn’t
understand the
things that were
said.
35 As
he came near
Jericho, a certain
blind man sat
by the road,
begging.
36 Hearing a
multitude going by,
he asked what
this meant.
37 They told
him that Jesus
of Nazareth was
passing by.
38 He
cried out, “Jesus,
you son of
David, have mercy
on me!”
39 Those
who led the
way rebuked him,
that he should
be quiet; but
he cried out
all the more, “You
son of David,
have mercy on
me!”
40 Standing
still, Jesus
commanded him to
be brought to
him. When he
had come near,
he asked him,
41 “What do you
want me to
do?”
He said, “Lord,
that I may see
again.”
42 Jesus
said to him,
“Receive your
sight. Your
faith has healed
you.”
43 Immediately
he received his
sight and followed
him, glorifying
God. All the
people, when they
saw it, praised
God.