Luke 18
1 He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray and not give up,
Jesus told them this story to encourage them to pray at all times, and not to become discouraged.
2 saying, “There was a judge in a certain city who did not fear God and did not respect man.
“Once there was a judge in this particular town who didn't respect God or care about anyone,” Jesus explained.
3 A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my adversary!’
“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!’
4 He would not for a while; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man,
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,
5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.’”
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.’
6 The Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.
Listen to what even an unjust judge decided,” said the Lord.
7 Will not God avenge his chosen ones who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?
“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?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
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?”
9 He also spoke this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others:
He also told this story about those who are so sure that they are living right, and who put everybody else down.
10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
“Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other 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.
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.
12 I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’
I fast twice a week, and I pay tithe on my income.’
13 But the tax collector, standing far away, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
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.’
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.”
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.”
15 They were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
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.
16 Jesus summoned them, saying, “Allow the little children to come to me, and do not hinder them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these.
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.
17 Most certainly, I tell you, whoever does not receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.”
I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
18 A certain ruler asked him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit consummate (aiōnios g166) life?"
One of the rulers came to Jesus and asked him, “Good Teacher, what do I have to do to inherit eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
19 Jesus asked him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one: God.
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good, 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 your mother.’”
You know the commandments: do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.”
21 He said, “I have observed all these things from my youth up.”
“I've kept all these commandments since I was young,” the man replied.
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.”
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!”
23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.
But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very wealthy.
24 Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!
When he saw his reaction, Jesus said, “How difficult it is for the rich to enter 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 God’s Kingdom.”
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.”
26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”
Those who heard this wondered, “Who can be saved then?”
27 But he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
Jesus replied, “What is impossible in human terms is possible for God.”
28 Peter said, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”
Peter said, “We left everything to follow 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,
“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
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.
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.
32 For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on.
He will be handed over to the foreigners he will be mocked, insulted, and spat upon.
33 They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again.”
They will flog him and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”
34 They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not understand the things that were said.
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.
35 As he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.
As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting beside the road begging.
36 Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.
He heard the crowd going past, so he asked what was happening.
37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
38 He cried out, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!”
He called out, “Jesus, son of David, please 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!”
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!”
40 Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him,
Jesus stopped and told them to bring the blind man to him. As he came over, Jesus asked him,
41 “What do you want me to do?” He said, “Lord, that I may see again.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, please, I want to see,” he pleaded.
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.”
“Then see!” Jesus told him. “Your trust in me has healed you.”
43 Immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God.
Immediately the man could see. He followed Jesus, praising God. Everyone there who saw what happened also praised God.
