Luke 18 — GMV

18 Verse 1 Then Jesus told them a parable about the need for them to pray at all times and not lose heart. ^{Verse 2} He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. ^{Verse 3} There was also a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ ^{Verse 4} For a while he would not do so, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, ^{Verse 5} yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not wear me out by continually coming to me.’ ” ^{Verse 6} Then the Lord said, “Consider what this unrighteous judge said. ^{Verse 7} If even he ultimately rendered a just decision, will not God patiently listen to his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night, and give them justice? ^{Verse 8} I tell you that he will bring about justice for them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” ^{Verse 9} He also told this parable to some who were confident in their own righteous and regarded others with contempt: ^{Verse 10} “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. ^{Verse 11} The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed like this: ‘God, I thank yoʋ that I am not like other people: swindlers, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ^{Verse 12} I fast twice a week, and I give tithes of all that I get.’ ^{Verse 13} But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ^{Verse 14} I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other one. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” ^{Verse 15} Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus so that he might touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who were bringing them, ^{Verse 16} but Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ^{Verse 17} Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will certainly not enter it.” ^{Verse 18} Then a certain ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ^{Verse 19} Jesus said to him, “Why do yoʋ call me good? No one is good except God alone. ^{Verse 20} Yoʋ know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not give false testimony, Honor yoʋr father and yoʋr mother.’ ” ^{Verse 21} The man said, “I have kept all these commandments from the time I was a young boy.” ^{Verse 22} When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing yoʋ still lack: Sell everything yoʋ have and distribute the money to the poor, and yoʋ will have treasure in heaven; then come follow me.” ^{Verse 23} But when the man heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was extremely rich. ^{Verse 24} When Jesus saw that the man had become very sorrowful, he said, “How difficult it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! ^{Verse 25} For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” ^{Verse 26} Those who heard this said, “Who then can be saved?” ^{Verse 27} Jesus said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” ^{Verse 28} Then Peter said, “Behold, we have left everything and followed yoʋ.” ^{Verse 29} Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house, parents, brothers, wife, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, ^{Verse 30} who will not surely receive many times more in this present age—and in the age to come, eternal life.” ^{Verse 31} Then Jesus took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. ^{Verse 32} For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, and he will be mocked, insulted, and spit upon. ^{Verse 33} After flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.” ^{Verse 34} But the disciples did not understand any of these things; this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what was being said. ^{Verse 35} As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. ^{Verse 36} When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. ^{Verse 37} They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. ^{Verse 38} So he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” ^{Verse 39} Then those who were out in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” ^{Verse 40} So Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When the man drew near, Jesus asked him, ^{Verse 41} “What do yoʋ want me to do for yoʋ?” He said, “Lord, I want to receive my sight.” ^{Verse 42} So Jesus said to him, “Receive yoʋr sight; yoʋr faith has healed yoʋ.” ^{Verse 43} Immediately he received his sight and began following Jesus, glorifying God. And when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.