1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ALuke 11:5-10ought to pray and not to B2 Cor 4:1lose heart, 2 saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not ALuke 18:4; 20:13; Heb 12:9respect man. 3  “There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘1Lit Do me justiceGive me legal protection from my opponent.’ 4  “For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor ALuke 18:2; 20:13; Heb 12:9respect man, 5 yet ALuke 11:8because this widow bothers me, I will 1Lit do her justicegive her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will 2Lit hit me under the eyeB1 Cor 9:27wear me out.’ ” 6 And ALuke 7:13the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge *said; 7 now, will not God ARev 6:10bring about justice for His BMatt 24:22; Rom 8:33; Col 3:12; 2 Tim 2:10; Titus 1:1elect who cry to Him day and night, 1Or and yet He is very patient toward themand will He C2 Pet 3:9delay long over them? 8  “I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, ALuke 17:26ffwill He find 1Lit the faithfaith on the earth?”

9 And He also told this parable to some people who ALuke 16:15trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and BRom 14:3, 10viewed others with contempt: 10 “Two men A1 Kin 10:5; 2 Kin 20:5, 8; Acts 3:1went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11  “The Pharisee AMatt 6:5; Mark 11:25; Luke 22:41stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12  ‘I AMatt 9:14fast twice a week; I BLuke 11:42pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13  “But the tax collector, AMatt 6:5; Mark 11:25; Luke 22:41standing some distance away, BEzra 9:6was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but CLuke 23:48was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be 1Or propitiousmerciful to me, the sinner!’ 14  “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; AMatt 23:12; Luke 14:11for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

15 ALuke 18:15-17: Matt 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. 16 But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17  “Truly I say to you, AMatt 18:3; 19:14; Mark 10:15; 1 Cor 14:20; 1 Pet 2:2whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

18 ALuke 18:18-30: Matt 19:16-29; Mark 10:17-30;Luke 10:25-28A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 20  “You know the commandments, ‘AEx 20:12-16; Deut 5:16-20Do ɴoᴛ coᴍᴍɪᴛ ᴀᴅᴜʟᴛᴇʀʏ, Do ɴoᴛ ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ, Do ɴoᴛ sᴛᴇᴀʟ, Do ɴoᴛ ʙᴇᴀʀ ꜰᴀʟsᴇ wɪᴛɴᴇss, Hoɴoʀ ʏoᴜʀ ꜰᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍoᴛʜᴇʀ.’ ” 21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; AMatt 19:21; Luke 12:33sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have BMatt 6:20treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 23 But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 And Jesus looked at him and said, “AMatt 19:23; Mark 10:23fHow hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! 25  “For AMatt 19:24; Mark 10:25it is easier for a camel to 1Lit entergo through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But He said, “AMatt 19:26The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”

28 Peter said, “Behold, ALuke 5:11we have left 1Lit our own thingsour own homes and followed You.” 29 And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, AMatt 6:33; 19:29; Mark 10:29fthere is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times as much at this time and in AMatt 12:32the age to come, eternal life.”

31 ALuke 18:31-33: Matt 20:17-19; Mark 10:32-34Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, BLuke 9:51we are going up to Jerusalem, and CPs 22; Is 53all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32  “AMatt 16:21For He will be 1Or betrayedhanded over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, 33 and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.” 34 But AMark 9:32; Luke 9:45the disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.

35 ALuke 18:35-43: Matt 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52As 1Lit HeBMatt 20:29; Mark 10:46; Luke 19:1Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. 36 Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. 37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he called out, saying, “Jesus, AMatt 9:27; Luke 18:39Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, “ALuke 18:38Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, 41 “What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, I want to regain my sight!” 42 And Jesus said to him, “1Lit Regain your sightReceive your sight; AMatt 9:22your faith has 2Lit saved youmade you well.” 43 Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, AMatt 9:8glorifying God; and when BLuke 9:43; 13:17; 19:37all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.