Luke 18

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

1 Then Jesus told them a parable to show they should always pray and not give up.

2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not care about people.

3 There was also a widow in that city who kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my opponent.’

4 For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God or care about people,

5 this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice so she does not wear me out with her constant coming.’”

6 The Lord said, “Listen to what that unjust judge said.

7 Will not God bring justice for His chosen ones who cry out to Him day and night, Will He keep putting them off,

8 I am telling you, He will see that they get justice quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on others:

10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11 The Pharisee stood by himself 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 twice a week and give a tenth of everything I get.’

13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 I am telling you, this man went home justified before God, not the other. Because everyone who lifts themselves up will be humbled, and the one who humbles themselves will be lifted up.”

Jesus Blesses Little Children

15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus so He could touch them. When the disciples saw it, they tried to stop them.

16 But Jesus called them over and said, “Let the children come to Me, do not stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to those like these.

17 I am telling you the truth, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

The Rich Ruler

18 A certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 Jesus said, “Why do you call Me good, No one is good except God alone.

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.”

21 He said, “I have kept all these since I was young.”

22 When Jesus heard this, He said, “You still lack one thing, sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

23 When the man heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.

24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God.

25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.”

26 Those who heard this said, “Then who can be saved?”

27 Jesus said, “What is impossible with people is possible with God.”

28 Peter said, “We have left everything we had to follow You.”

29 Jesus said to them, “I am telling you the truth, no one who has left house, wife, brothers, parents, or children for the sake of the kingdom of God

30 will fail to receive many times more in this age, and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time

31 Then He took the twelve aside and said, “Listen, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

32 He will be handed over to the Gentiles, mocked, mistreated, and spit on.

33 They will flog Him and kill Him, and on the third day He will rise again.”

34 But the disciples did not understand any of this. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what He was saying.

A Blind Beggar Receives Sight

35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging.

36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

38 He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39 Those leading the way told him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

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?” He said, “Lord, I want to see.”

42 Jesus said, “Receive your sight, your faith has healed you.”

43 Immediately he could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. All the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.