Luke 18
1 [Jesus] told [his disciples] a parable to teach them that they always ought to pray confidently and not be discouraged [if God does not immediately answer their prayers].
And he spoke also a parable to them to the purport that they should always pray and not faint,
2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not revere God, and did not care about people, either.
saying, There was a judge in a city, not fearing God and not respecting man:
3 There was a widow in that city who kept coming to him, saying, ‘Please decide what is just [in the dispute between me and] the man who is opposing me [in court!’]
and there was a widow in that city, and she came to him, saying, Avenge me of mine adverse party.
4 For a long time the judge refused [to help her]. But later he thought to himself, ‘I do not revere God and I do not care about people,
And he would not for a time; but afterwards he said within himself, If even I fear not God and respect not man,
5 but this widow keeps bothering me! So I will make sure that she is treated justly. [If I do not do that], she will exhaust me by continually coming to me!’”
at any rate because this widow annoys me I will avenge her, that she may not by perpetually coming completely harass me.
6 Then the Lord [Jesus] said, “[Even though] the judge was not a righteous man, think carefully about what he said!
And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge says.
7 [Similarly], (God will certainly show that [what you] have done has been right!/will God not show that [what you] have done has been right?) [RHQ] He will do this for you whom he has chosen. [He will do this for you] who pray earnestly to him night and day, asking him to [help you]. He may delay [helping you].
And shall not God at all avenge his elect, who cry to him day and night, and he bears long as to them?
8 But I tell you, [some day] he will show that what you did was right, and he will do it quickly. But when [I], the one who came from heaven, return to earth, (there may not be [many people who will still] be trusting [that I will vindicate them] (OR, who will still be trusting in me)./will there be [many people who will still] be trusting [that I will vindicate them] (OR, who will still be trusting in me)?) [RHQ]”
I say unto you that he will avenge them speedily. But when the Son of man comes, shall he indeed find faith on the earth?
9 [Jesus] also told a parable [to warn] people who mistakenly thought that they were doing things that made them acceptable to God. Besides, they also despised other people.
And he spoke also to some, who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and made nothing of all the rest [of men], this parable:
10 [He said this]: “Two men went up to the Temple [in Jerusalem] to pray. One was a Pharisee. The other was a tax collector.
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed silently, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men. [Some] extort money [from others]; some treat others unjustly; some commit adultery. [I do not do such things. And I am certainly not] like this tax collector [who cheats people]!
The Pharisee, standing, prayed thus to himself: God, I thank thee that I am not as the rest of men, rapacious, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax-gatherer.
12 [Our law says that we(exc) should] (fast/abstain from food) [once a week], [but I do more than that. I] fast twice a week! I give [you] ten percent of all that I earn!’
I fast twice in the week, I tithe everything I gain.
13 But the tax collector stood far [from the other people in the Temple courtyard because he felt very unworthy]. He would not even look up toward heaven. Instead, he beat on his chest [to show that he was sorry for his sin]. He said, ‘God, I am a sinner; be merciful to me [and forgive me]!’”
And the tax-gatherer, standing afar off, would not lift up even his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, O God, have compassion on me, the sinner.
14 [Then Jesus said], “I tell you [(pl)] that as the tax collector went home, the record of his sins was erased {[God] erased the record of his sins}, not that of the Pharisee. [Remember this]: Those who exalt themselves will be humbled {[God] will humble all those who exalt themselves}, but those who humble themselves will be exalted {[he] will exalt those who humble themselves}.”
I say unto you, This [man] went down to his house justified rather than that [other]. For every one who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.
15 [One day when many people were coming to Jesus], they were also bringing small children. They wanted him to put his hands on [the children and bless them]. When the disciples saw that, they rebuked [those who were bringing those children].
And they brought to him also infants that he might touch them, but the disciples when they saw [it] rebuked them.
16 But Jesus called the children [to come to him]. He said to his disciples, “Let the children come to me! Do not stop them! It is people who are [humble and trusting] like they are who can experience God ruling [their lives].
But Jesus calling them to [him] said, Suffer little children to come to me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God.
17 Note this: Those who do not [trust God and] allow him to direct [their lives], as children [do], will not enter the [MET] place where God rules.”
Verily I say to you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
18 A [Jewish] leader asked [Jesus], “Good teacher, what shall I do in order to have eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
And a certain ruler asked him saying, Good teacher, having done what, shall I inherit eternal life? (aiōnios g166)
19 Jesus said to him, “Only God is good! No one [else] is good! (So you(sg) should consider carefully what [you are implying by] calling me good!/[Do you realize that you are implying that I am God by] calling me good?) [RHQ]
But Jesus said to him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, God.
20 [But to answer your question], you [(sg)] know the commandments that [God gave Moses. He commanded such things as] ‘do not commit adultery, do not commit murder, do not steal, do not testify falsely [about what you have seen or heard], honor your father and mother.’”
Thou knowest the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
21 The man said, “I have obeyed all those [commandments] ever since I was young. [So] ([there must be something else I have not done./is that enough]?)”
And he said, All these things have I kept from my youth.
22 When Jesus heard [him say] that, he replied to him, “There is one thing that you [(sg)] have not [done] yet. Sell all that you own. Then give [the money] to poor people. [The result will be that] you will have [spiritual] riches in heaven. Then come and be my disciple!”
And when Jesus had heard this, he said to him, One thing is lacking to thee yet: Sell all that thou hast and distribute to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in the heavens, and come, follow me.
23 The man became sad when he heard that, because he was very rich [and he did not want to give everything away].
But when he heard this he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
24 Jesus looked at the man [as he left], and said, “It is very difficult for those who are wealthy [to decide] to let God rule [MET] their [lives].
But when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, he said, How difficultly shall those who have riches enter into the kingdom of God;
25 [You would say] that it is impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. It is [almost] as difficult [HYP] for rich people [to decide] to let God rule their [lives].”
for it is easier for a camel to enter through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 [The Jews thought that God favored rich people, so they thought that if God did not save rich people, he would not save others, either]. So [one of the disciples] who heard him say that replied, “If that is so, it seems that no one will be saved {[that God] will not save anyone} [RHQ]!”
And those who heard it said, And who can be saved?
27 But Jesus said, “It is impossible for people [to save themselves]. But [God can save them, because] God can do anything!”
But he said, The things that are impossible with men are possible with God.
28 Then Peter said, “[You know that we(exc) have left] everything we had and have become your disciples [RHQ]. [So what about us?] (OR, [So will God accept/save us?]”)
And Peter said, Behold, we have left all things and have followed thee.
29 He said to them, “Keep this in mind: Those who have left [their] homes, [their] wives, [their] brothers, [their] parents, [their] children, [or any other family members], [to tell others] about how God wants to rule [MET] [people’s lives],
And he said to them, Verily I say to you, There is no one who has left home, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,
31 [Jesus] took the twelve [disciples] to a place by themselves and said to them, “Listen carefully! We [(inc)] are [now] going up to Jerusalem. [While we are there], everything that has been written by the prophets {that the prophets have written} about [me], the one who came from heaven, will be fulfilled {will occur}.
And he took the twelve to [him] and said to them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written of the Son of man by the prophets shall be accomplished;
32 I will be put into the hands of {[My enemies] will hand me over to} non-Jews. [The non-Jews] will make fun of me and mistreat me and spit on me.
for he shall be delivered up to the nations, and shall be mocked, and insulted, and spit upon.
33 They will whip me, and [then] they will kill me. But on the third day [after that] I will become alive again.”
And when they have scourged [him] they will kill him; and on the third day he will rise again.
34 But [the disciples] did not understand any of those things that [he said]. They were prevented {[Something] prevented them} from understanding the meaning of what [he] was telling [them].
And they understood nothing of these things. And this word was hidden from them, and they did not know what was said.
35 As [Jesus and his disciples] came near to Jericho [city], a blind man was sitting beside the road. [He was] begging [for money].
And it came to pass when he came into the neighbourhood of Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside begging.
36 When he heard the crowd [of people] passing by, he asked someone, “What is happening?”
And when he heard the crowd passing, he inquired what this might be.
37 They told him, “Jesus, [the man] from Nazareth [town], is passing by.”
And they told him that Jesus the Nazaraean was passing by.
38 He shouted, “Jesus, [you who are] descended from [King] David, [the Messiah], pity me!”
And he called out saying, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.
39 Those who were [walking] at the front [of the crowd] scolded the man [and] told him to be quiet. But he shouted more loudly, “You who are descended from [King] David, [the Messiah], pity me!”
And those [who were] going before rebuked him that he might be silent; but he cried out so much the more, Son of David, have mercy on me.
40 Jesus stopped and told [people] to bring the man to him. When [the blind man] came near, Jesus asked him,
And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be led to him. And when he drew nigh he asked him [saying],
41 “What do you [(sg)] want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, enable me to see [again]!”
What wilt thou that I shall do to thee? And he said, Lord, that I may see.
42 Jesus said to him, “[Then] see! Because you have trusted [PRS] [in me], [I] have healed you!”
And Jesus said to him, See: thy faith has healed thee.
43 Immediately he was able to see! And he went with [Jesus], praising God. And when all the people who were [going with Jesus] saw it, they also praised God.
And immediately he saw, and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people when they saw [it] gave praise to God.
