Luke 18
Parables on Prayer
18Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they aought to pray and not to blose heart, 2saying, “In a certain city there was a certain judge who did not fear God and did not arespect man. 3“Now there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice from my opponent.’ 4“And for a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor arespect man, 5yet abecause this widow is bothering me, I will give her justice, lest by continually coming she 1,bwears me out.’” 6And athe Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge *said. 7“Now, will God not abring about justice for His belect who cry to Him day and night, 1and will He cdelay long over them? 8“I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, awill He find that faith on the earth?”
9And He also told this parable to some people who atrusted in themselves that they were righteous, and bviewed others with contempt: 10“Two men awent up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11“The Pharisee astood and was praying these things to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12‘I afast twice a week; I bpay tithes of all that I get.’ 13“But the tax collector, astanding some distance away, bwas even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but cwas 1beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be 2merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14“I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other, afor everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
15aAnd they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they were rebuking them. 16But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17“Truly I say to you, awhoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
The Rich Young Ruler
18aAnd a ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 19And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 20“You know the commandments, ‘aDo not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” 21And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” 22And when Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack: asell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have btreasure in heaven. And come, follow Me.” 23But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24And Jesus looked at him and said, “aHow hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! 25“For ait is easier for a camel to 1go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26And those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27But He said, “aThe things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”
28And Peter said, “Behold, awe have left all that is our own and followed You.” 29And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, athere is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30who will not receive many times more at this time and in athe age to come, eternal life.”
31aBut when He took the twelve aside, He said to them, “Behold, bwe are going up to Jerusalem, and call things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be 1completed. 32“aFor He will be 1delivered over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, 33and after they have flogged Him, they will kill Him, and the third day He will rise again.” 34But athe disciples understood none of these things, and this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.
Bartimaeus Regains His Sight
35aNow it happened that as 1,bJesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. 36Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. 37They reported to him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38And he called out, saying, “Jesus, aSon of David, have mercy on me!” 39And those who went ahead were rebuking him so that he would be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “aSon of David, have mercy on me!” 40And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him, and when he came near, He questioned him, 41“What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, I want to regain my sight!” 42And Jesus said to him, “1Receive your sight; ayour faith has 2saved you.” 43Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, aglorifying God. And when ball the people saw it, they gave praise to God.