Luke 18

The Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge

1Then Jesus#18.1 Gk he told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my accuser.’ 4For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’ ”#18.5 Or so that she may not finally come and slap me in the face 6And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12#Mt 9.14; Lk 11.42I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ 13#Lk 23.48But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14#Mt 23.12; Lk 14.11; 1 Pet 5.6I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other, for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Jesus Blesses Little Children

15People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them, and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. 16But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 17#Mt 18.3Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”

The Rich Ruler

18 # Lk 10.25 A certain ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 20#Ex 20.12–16; Deut 5.16–20; Rom 13.9You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery. You shall not murder. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother.’ ” 21He replied, “I have kept all these since my youth.” 22#Mt 19.21; Lk 12.33When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money#18.22 Gk lacks the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 23But when he heard this, he became sad, for he was very rich. 24#Prov 11.28Jesus looked at him#18.24 Other ancient authorities read saw that he had become sad and said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

26Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27#Gen 18.14; Job 42.2; Jer 32.17; Lk 1.37He replied, “What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.”

28 # Lk 5.11 Then Peter said, “Look, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30#Mt 12.32who will not get back very much more in this age and in the age to come eternal life.”

A Third Time Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

31 # Ps 22; Lk 9.51 Then he took the twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32#Mt 16.21; 27.2; Lk 23.1For he will be handed over to the gentiles, and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon. 33After they have flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.” 34#Mk 9.32; Lk 9.45But they understood nothing about all these things; in fact, what he said was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar Near Jericho

35As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth#18.37 Gk the Nazorean is passing by.” 38#Mt 9.27Then he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39#v 38Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him, and when he came near, he asked him, 41“What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me see again.” 42#Mt 9.22; Mk 5.34; Lk 17.19Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.” 43#Mt 9.8; Lk 13.17Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God, and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.

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