Luke 18
Prayer and the Parable of the Persistent Widow
18:1 Then1 Jesus2 told them a parable to show them they should always3 pray and not lose heart.4 18:2 He said,5 “In a certain city6 there was a judge7 who neither feared God nor respected people.8 18:3 There was also a widow9 in that city10 who kept coming11 to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 18:4 For12 a while he refused, but later on13 he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor have regard for people,14 18:5 yet because this widow keeps on bothering me, I will give her justice, or in the end she will wear me out15 by her unending pleas.’”16 18:6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says!17 18:7 Won’t18 God give justice to his chosen ones, who cry out19 to him day and night?20 Will he delay21 long to help them? 18:8 I tell you, he will give them justice speedily.22 Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith23 on earth?”
The Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector
18:9 Jesus24 also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down25 on everyone else. 18:10 “Two men went up26 to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee27 and the other a tax collector.28 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this:29 ‘God, I thank30 you that I am not like other people:31 extortionists,32 unrighteous people,33 adulterers – or even like this tax collector.34 18:12 I fast twice35 a week; I give a tenth36 of everything I get.’ 18:13 The tax collector, however, stood37 far off and would not even look up38 to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful39 to me, sinner that I am!’40 18:14 I tell you that this man went down to his home justified41 rather than the Pharisee.42 For everyone who exalts43 himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus and Little Children
18:15 Now people44 were even bringing their babies45 to him for him to touch.46 But when the disciples saw it, they began to scold those who brought them.47 18:16 But Jesus called for the children,48 saying, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God49 belongs to such as these.50 18:17 I tell you the truth,51 whoever does not receive52 the kingdom of God like a child53 will never54 enter it.”
The Wealthy Ruler
18:18 Now55 a certain ruler56 asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”57 18:19 Jesus58 said to him, “Why do you call me good?59 No one is good except God alone. 18:20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”60 18:21 The man61 replied, “I have wholeheartedly obeyed62 all these laws63 since my youth.”64 18:22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have65 and give the money66 to the poor,67 and you will have treasure68 in heaven. Then69 come, follow me.” 18:23 But when the man70 heard this he became very sad,71 for he was extremely wealthy. 18:24 When Jesus noticed this,72 he said, “How hard73 it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!74 18:25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle75 than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 18:26 Those who heard this said, “Then76 who can be saved?”77 18:27 He replied, “What is impossible78 for mere humans79 is possible for God.” 18:28 And Peter said, “Look, we have left everything we own80 to follow you!”81 18:29 Then82 Jesus83 said to them, “I tell you the truth,84 there is no one who has left home or wife or brothers85 or parents or children for the sake of God’s kingdom 18:30 who will not receive many times more86 in this age87 – and in the age to come, eternal life.”88
Another Prediction of Jesus’ Passion
18:31 Then89 Jesus90 took the twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem,91 and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.92 18:32 For he will be handed over93 to the Gentiles; he will be mocked,94 mistreated,95 and spat on.96 18:33 They will flog him severely97 and kill him. Yet98 on the third day he will rise again.” 18:34 But99 the twelve100 understood none of these things. This101 saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp102 what Jesus meant.103
Healing a Blind Man
18:35 As104 Jesus105 approached106 Jericho,107 a blind man was sitting by the road begging. 18:36 When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was going on. 18:37 They108 told him, “Jesus the Nazarene is passing by.” 18:38 So109 he called out,110 “Jesus, Son of David,111 have mercy112 on me!” 18:39 And those who were in front113 scolded114 him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted115 even more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 18:40 So116 Jesus stopped and ordered the beggar117 to be brought to him. When the man118 came near, Jesus119 asked him, 18:41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied,120 “Lord, let me see again.”121 18:42 Jesus122 said to him, “Receive123 your sight; your faith has healed you.”124 18:43 And immediately he regained125 his sight and followed Jesus,126 praising127 God. When128 all the people saw it, they too129 gave praise to God.