Luke 18

¹Then Jesus told them a parable about the necessity of always praying and not giving up. ²He said, "There was a certain judge in a specific city who did not fear God and had no respect for people. ³There was also a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me justice against my opponent.' ⁴For a long time he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God or respect people, ⁵because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she doesn't eventually wear me out by her constant coming.'"

⁶Then the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. ⁷Will God not surely execute justice for his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay long in their case? ⁸I tell you that he will execute justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he actually find this kind of faith on the earth?"

⁹He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves—convinced that they were just—while they treated everyone else with contempt: ¹⁰"Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed these things: 'God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, unjust, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹²I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I acquire.' ¹³But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift his eyes toward heaven, but kept beating his chest, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' ¹⁴I tell you, this man went down to his house set right with God, rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

¹⁵People were even bringing their infants to him so that he might touch them. When the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. ¹⁶But Jesus called for the children, saying, "Allow the little children to come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁷Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

¹⁸A certain ruler questioned him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit the life of the coming age?" ¹⁹Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. ²⁰You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.'" ²¹The man said, "All these I have kept from my youth." ²²When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing is still missing for you: sell everything you have and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in the heavens; then come, follow me." ²³But when he heard these things, he became deeply distressed, for he was extremely wealthy.

²⁴Seeing him, Jesus said, "How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a sewing needle than for a wealthy person to enter the kingdom of God." ²⁶Those who heard this said, "Then who can be saved?" ²⁷He said, "The things that are impossible for humans are possible for God." ²⁸Peter said, "Look, we have left our own homes and followed you." ²⁹He 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 ³⁰who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come, the life of that age."

³¹Then he took the Twelve aside and said to them, "Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. ³²For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; he will be mocked, insulted, and spit upon. ³³After they have flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again." ³⁴But they understood none of these things. The meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was being said.

³⁵As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. ³⁶Hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this was. ³⁷They told him, "Jesus the Nazarene is passing by." ³⁸Then he shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" ³⁹Those leading the way rebuked him, telling him to be quiet, but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" ⁴⁰Jesus 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 again." ⁴²Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has restored you." ⁴³Immediately he saw again and began following him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.