Add parallel Print Page Options

18 ¶ And he spoke a parable unto them to this end, that it behooves us always to pray and not faint,

saying, There was in a city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man;

and there was a widow in that city, and she came unto him, saying, Defend me from my adversary.

And he would not for a while, but afterward he said within himself, Though I do not fear God, nor regard man,

yet because this widow troubles me, I will do her justice, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge says.

And shall not God avenge his own elect who cry day and night unto him though he bears long regarding them?

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?

¶ And he spoke this parable unto some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others:

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are: extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12 I fast two meals every sabbath; I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God, reconcile me, a sinner.

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for anyone that exalts himself shall be humbled, and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.

15 ¶ And they brought unto him also infants that he would touch them; but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

16 But Jesus called them unto him and said, Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.

17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

18 ¶ And a certain prince asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

19 And Jesus said unto him, Why dost thou call me good? No one is good except one, that is, God.

20 Thou knowest the commandments, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not murder, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

21 And he said, All these things I have kept from my youth up.

22 Now when Jesus heard this, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.

23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How difficult it is for those that have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

25 For it is easier to put a cable through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

26 And those that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

28 Then Peter said, Behold, we have left all and followed thee.

29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no one that has left house or parents or brethren or wife or children for the kingdom of God’s sake

30 who shall not receive manifold more in this present time and in the age to come, eternal life.

31 ¶ Then he took unto him the twelve and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles and shall be mocked and spitefully treated and spitted on;

33 and they shall scourge him and put him to death, but the third day he shall rise again.

34 And they understood none of these things, and this word was hid from them, and they did not know what was said.

35 ¶ And it came to pass that as he came near unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat beside the way begging,

36 and hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what this might be.

37 And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth passes by.

38 And he cried out, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

39 And those who went before rebuked him that he should remain silent; but he cried out so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought unto him, and when he was come near, he asked him,

41 saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may see.

42 And Jesus said unto him, See; thy faith has saved thee.

43 And immediately he saw and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.(A) He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice(B) against my adversary.’

“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”(C)

And the Lord(D) said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out(E) to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man(F) comes,(G) will he find faith on the earth?”

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

To some who were confident of their own righteousness(H) and looked down on everyone else,(I) Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray,(J) one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself(K) and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast(L) twice a week and give a tenth(M) of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast(N) and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’(O)

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”(P)

The Little Children and Jesus(Q)

15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child(R) will never enter it.”

The Rich and the Kingdom of God(S)

18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”(T)

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’[a](U)

21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor,(V) and you will have treasure in heaven.(W) Then come, follow me.”

23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!(X) 25 Indeed, 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.”

26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”(Y)

28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”(Z)

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come(AA) eternal life.”(AB)

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time(AC)

31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem,(AD) and everything that is written by the prophets(AE) about the Son of Man(AF) will be fulfilled. 32 He will be delivered over to the Gentiles.(AG) They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; 33 they will flog him(AH) and kill him.(AI) On the third day(AJ) he will rise again.”(AK)

34 The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.(AL)

A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight(AM)

35 As Jesus approached Jericho,(AN) a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”(AO)

38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David,(AP) have mercy(AQ) on me!”

39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”(AR)

40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”(AS) 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.(AT)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 18:20 Exodus 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20