Luke 18
1 Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and never despair.
And then He told them a parable, the point being that one needs to always pray and not lose heart,
2 ‘There was,’ he said, ‘in a certain town a judge, who had no fear of God nor regard for people.
saying: “There was a judge in a certain town who did not fear God nor regard man.
3 In the same town there was a widow who went to him again and again, and said “Grant me justice against my opponent.”
But there was a widow in that town, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’
4 For a time the judge refused, but afterwards he said to himself “Although I am without fear of God or regard for people,
And for a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I don't fear God nor regard man,
5 yet, as this widow is so troublesome, I will grant her justice, to stop her from plaguing me with her endless visits.”’
yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will defend her, so that her endless coming doesn't wear me out!’”
6 Then the Master added, ‘Listen to what this iniquitous judge says!
Then the Lord said: “Hear what the unjust judge said.
7 And God – won’t he see that his own people, who cry to him night and day, have justice done them – though he holds his hand?
And will not God get justice for His elect who are crying out to Him day and night, indeed being patient with them?
8 He will, I tell you, give them justice soon enough! Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’
I tell you that He will get justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of the Man comes, will He actually find the faith on the earth?”
9 Another time, speaking to people who were satisfied that they were religious, and who regarded everyone else with scorn, Jesus told this parable –
Then He told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised the rest:
10 ‘Two men went up into the Temple Courts to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer.
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood forward and began praying to himself in this way – “God, I thank you that I am not like other men – thieves, rogues, adulterers – or even like this tax-gatherer.
The Pharisee stood and started praying to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like all the rest—robbers, unjust, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of everything I get to God.”
I fast twice a week; I tithe all that I get.’
13 Meanwhile the tax-gatherer stood at a distance, not venturing even to raise his eyes to heaven, but he kept striking his breast and saying “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
The tax collector, staying a good ways off, did not even venture to look up to heaven, but started beating on his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
14 This man, I tell you, went home pardoned, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, while everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.’
I say to you that this one went back home justified rather than that one; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
15 Some of the people were bringing even their babies to Jesus, for him to touch them; but, when the disciples saw it, they began to find fault with those who had brought them.
Then they even started bringing their babies to Him, that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
16 Jesus, however, called the little children to him. ‘Let the little children come to me,’ he said, ‘and do not hinder them, for it is to the childlike that the kingdom of God belongs.
But Jesus summoned them and said: “Allow the little children to come to me, and do not hinder them; because the Kingdom of God is of such.
17 I tell you, unless a man receives the kingdom of God like a child, he will not enter it at all.’
I tell you assuredly, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God the way a little child does will by no means enter it.”
18 And one of the leaders asked Jesus this question – ‘Good teacher, what must I do if I am to gain eternal life?’ (aiōnios g166)
A certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
19 ‘Why do you call me good?’ answered Jesus. ‘No one is good but God.
So Jesus said to him: “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—God.
20 You know the commandments – Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not say what is false about others, Honour 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 your mother.’”
21 ‘I have observed all these,’ he replied, ‘from childhood.’
And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.”
22 Hearing this, Jesus said to him, ‘There is one thing still lacking in you; sell everything that you have, and distribute to the poor, and you will have wealth in heaven; then come and follow me.’
Well upon hearing these things Jesus said to him, “You still lack one thing: sell all you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
23 But the man became greatly distressed on hearing this, for he was extremely rich.
But when he heard this he became very sad, because he was extremely rich.
24 Seeing this, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!
When Jesus saw that he became sad, He said: “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter the Kingdom of God!
25 It is easier, indeed, for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!’
It is actually easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God!”
26 ‘Then who can be saved?’ asked those who heard this.
So the hearers said, “Who then can be saved?”
27 But Jesus said, ‘What is impossible with people is possible with God.’
And He said, “The things that are impossible with men are possible with God.”
28 ‘But we,’ said Peter, ‘we left what belonged to us and followed you.’
Then Peter said, “Notice that we have left all and followed you!”
29 ‘I tell you,’ he answered, ‘that there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
So He said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God,
31 Gathering the Twelve round him, Jesus said to them, ‘Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem; and there everything that is written in the prophets will be done to the Son of Man.
Then He took the Twelve aside and said to them: “Take note, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of the Man will be fulfilled:
32 For he will be given up to the Gentiles, mocked, insulted and spat on;
He will be betrayed to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon,
33 they will scourge him, and then put him to death; and on the third day he will rise again.’
and they will scourge and kill Him. And on the third day He will rise again.”
34 The apostles did not comprehend any of this. His meaning was unintelligible to them and they did not understand what he was saying.
But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know what was being said.
35 As Jesus was getting near Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside, begging.
Then it happened, as He approached Jericho, that a certain blind man was sitting alongside the road begging.
36 Hearing a crowd going by, the man asked what was the matter;
Hearing a crowd going by, he asked what it was.
37 and, when people told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing,
So they told him that Jesus the Natsorean was passing by.
38 he shouted out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me!’
Well he shouted, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 Those who were in front kept telling him to be quiet, but he continued to call out the louder, ‘Son of David, take pity on me!’
Those who led the way started reproving him, to shut him up; but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 Then Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. And, when he had come close up to him, Jesus asked him,
So Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to Him. When he got close He asked him, saying,
41 ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I want to recover my sight.’
“What do you want me to do for you?” So he said, “Lord, that I may see again!”
42 And Jesus said, ‘Recover your sight, your faith has delivered you.’
Then Jesus said to him: “See again! Your faith has made you well.”
43 Instantly he recovered his sight, and began to follow Jesus, praising God. And all the people, on seeing it, gave glory to God.
And immediately he did! and he followed Him, glorifying God. And all who witnessed it gave praise to God.
