Luke 18
1 Jesus told them this story to encourage them to pray at all times, and not to become discouraged.
And he made a story for them, the point of which was that men were to go on making prayer and not get tired;
2 “Once there was a judge in this particular town who didn't respect God or care about anyone,” Jesus explained.
Saying, There was a judge in a certain town, who had no fear of God or respect for man:
3 “In the same town lived a widow who time and again went to the judge, saying, ‘Give me justice in the case against my enemy!’
And there was a widow in that town, and she kept on coming to him and saying, Give me my right against the man who has done me wrong.
4 For a while he didn't want to do anything about it, but eventually he said to himself, ‘Even though I don't respect God or care about anyone,
And for a time he would not: but later, he said to himself, Though I have no fear of God or respect for man,
5 this widow is so annoying I'll make sure she receives justice. Then she won't wear me out by her coming to see me so often.’
Because this widow is a trouble to me, I will give her her right; for if not, I will be completely tired out by her frequent coming.
6 Listen to what even an unjust judge decided,” said the Lord.
And the Lord said, Give ear to the words of the evil judge.
7 “Don't you think that God will make sure his chosen people receive justice, those who cry out to him day and night? Do you think he will make them wait?
And will not God do right in the cause of his saints, whose cries come day and night to his ears, though he is long in doing it?
8 No, I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. However, when the Son of man comes, will he find people on earth who trust in him?”
I say to you that he will quickly do right in their cause. But when the Son of man comes, will there be any faith on earth?
9 He also told this story about those who are so sure that they are living right, and who put everybody else down.
And he made this story for some people who were certain that they were good, and had a low opinion of others:
10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector.
Two men went up to the Temple for prayer; one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-farmer.
11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed to himself, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—cheats, criminals, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
The Pharisee, taking up his position, said to himself these words: God, I give you praise because I am not like other men, who take more than their right, who are evil-doers, who are untrue to their wives, or even like this tax-farmer.
12 I fast twice a week, and I pay tithe on my income.’
Twice in the week I go without food; I give a tenth of all I have.
13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He wouldn't even look up to heaven. Instead he beat his chest and prayed, ‘God, please be merciful to me. I am a sinner.’
The tax-farmer, on the other hand, keeping far away, and not lifting up even his eyes to heaven, made signs of grief and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
14 I tell you, it was this man who went home right in God's sight and not the other. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, while those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
I say to you, This man went back to his house with God's approval, and not the other: for everyone who makes himself high will be made low and whoever makes himself low will be made high.
15 Parents were bringing their infants to Jesus to have him bless them by his touch. When the disciples saw what was happening, they tried to stop them.
And they took their children to him, so that he might put his hands on them: but when the disciples saw it, they said sharp words to them
16 But Jesus called the children to him. “Let the little children come to me,” he said. “Don't prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like them.
But Jesus sent for them, saying, Let the children come to me, and do not keep them away, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Truly I say to you, Whoever does not put himself under the kingdom of God like a little child, will not come into it at all.
18 One of the rulers came to Jesus and asked him, “Good Teacher, what do I have to do to inherit eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
And a certain ruler put a question to him, saying, Good Master, what have I to do so that I may have eternal life? (aiōnios g166)
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good, only God.
And Jesus said to him, Why do you say that I am good? No one is good, but only God.
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.”
You have knowledge of what the law says: Do not be untrue to your wife, Do not put anyone to death, Do not take what is not yours, Do not give false witness, Give honour to your father and mother.
21 “I've kept all these commandments since I was young,” the man replied.
And he said, All these things I have done from the time when I was a boy.
22 When Jesus heard this he told the man, “You still lack one thing. Go and sell all you have, give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me!”
And Jesus, hearing it, said to him, One thing you still have need of; get money for your goods, and give it away to the poor, and you will have wealth in heaven; and come after me.
23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very wealthy.
But at these words he became very sad, for he had great wealth.
24 When he saw his reaction, Jesus said, “How difficult it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
And Jesus, looking at him, said, How hard it is for those who have wealth to get into the kingdom of God!
25 It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
It is simpler for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a man who has much money to come into the kingdom of God.
26 Those who heard this wondered, “Who can be saved then?”
And those who were present said, Then who may have salvation?
27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible in human terms is possible for God.”
But he said, Things which are not possible with man are possible with God.
28 Peter said, “We left everything to follow you!”
And Peter said, See, we have given up what is ours to come after you.
29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus told them, “anybody who leaves behind their home, wife, brothers, parents, or children for the sake of God's kingdom
And he said to them, Truly I say to you, There is no man who has given up house or wife or brothers or father or mother or children, because of the kingdom of God,
31 Jesus took the twelve disciples aside, and told them, “We're going to Jerusalem, and all that the prophets wrote about the Son of man will be fulfilled.
And he took with him the twelve and said to them, Now we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things which were said by the prophets will be done to the Son of man.
32 He will be handed over to the foreigners he will be mocked, insulted, and spat upon.
For he will be given up to the Gentiles, and will be made sport of and put to shame:
33 They will flog him and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”
And he will be given cruel blows and put to death, and on the third day he will come back to life.
34 But they didn't understand anything Jesus told them. The meaning was hidden from them and they didn't grasp what he was talking about.
But they did not take in the sense of any of these words, and what he said was not clear to them, and their minds were not able to see it.
35 As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting beside the road begging.
And it came about that when he got near Jericho, a certain blind man was seated by the side of the road, making requests for money from those who went by.
36 He heard the crowd going past, so he asked what was happening.
And hearing the sound of a great number of people going by, he said, What is this?
37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
And they said to him, Jesus of Nazareth is going by.
38 He called out, “Jesus, son of David, please have mercy on me!”
And he said in a loud voice, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.
39 Those at the front of the crowd told him to stop shouting and be quiet, but he only shouted louder, “Son of David, please have mercy on me!”
And those who were in front made protests and said to him, Be quiet: but he said all the more, O Son of David, have mercy on me.
40 Jesus stopped and told them to bring the blind man to him. As he came over, Jesus asked him,
And Jesus, stopping, gave orders that he was to come to him, and when he came near, he said to him,
41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, please, I want to see,” he pleaded.
What would you have me do for you? And he said, Lord, that I may be able to see again.
42 “Then see!” Jesus told him. “Your trust in me has healed you.”
And Jesus said, See again: your faith has made you well.
43 Immediately the man could see. He followed Jesus, praising God. Everyone there who saw what happened also praised God.
And straight away he was able to see, and he went after him, giving glory to God; and all the people when they saw it gave praise to God.
