Luke 18
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
1
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought
to pray and not lose heart,
2 saying:
“There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear
God nor regard man.
3 Now
there was a widow in that city; and she came to him,
saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’
4 And he
would not for a while; but afterward he said within
himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,
5 yet
because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest
by her continual coming she weary me.’”
6 Then
the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.
7 And
shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and
night to Him, though He bears long with them?
8 I tell
you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless,
when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on
the earth?”The Parable of the Pharisee and
the Tax Collector
9
Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in
themselves that they were righteous, and despised
others: 10
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee
and the other a tax collector.
11 The
Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I
thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners,
unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
12 I fast
twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
13 And
the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much
as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast,
saying, ‘God, be merciful to me 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, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus Blesses Little Children
15
Then they also brought infants to Him that He might
touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they
rebuked them.
16 But Jesus called them to Him and said,
“Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid
them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
17
Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the
kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter
it.”Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler
18
Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher,
what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 So
Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one
is good but One, that is, God.
20 You
know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do
not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false
witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”
21
And he said, “All these things I have kept from my
youth.”
22 So
when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You
still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and
distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven; and come, follow Me.”
23 But
when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was
very rich.With God All Things Are Possible
24
And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He
said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter
the kingdom of God!
25 For it
is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 And
those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”
27 But He
said, “The things which are impossible with men are
possible with God.”
28 Then
Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
29 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,
30 who
shall not receive many times more in this present time,
and in the age to come eternal life.”Jesus a
Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection
31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them,
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things
that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of
Man will be accomplished.
32 For He
will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and
insulted and spit upon.
33 They
will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day
He will rise again.”
34 But
they understood none of these things; this saying was
hidden from them, and they did not know the things which
were spoken.A Blind Man Receives His Sight
35 Then it happened, as He was coming near
Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road
begging. 36
And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it
meant. 37
So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
38 And he
cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on
me!” 39
Then those who went before warned him that he should be
quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David,
have mercy on me!”
40 So
Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to
Him. And when he had come near, He asked him,
41
saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said,
“Lord, that I may receive my sight.”
42 Then
Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has
made you well.”
43 And immediately he received his sight, and
followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when
they saw it, gave praise to God.
