Luke 18

1He was telling them a parable about their need to pray always and not lose heart,

2saying, “There was a certain judge in a certain city who did not fear God and did not respect people.

3And there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

4And for a time he was unwilling, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect anyone,

5yet because this widow keeps causing me trouble, I will give her justice, so that by continually coming she may not wear me out.”

6And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says.”

7And will not God bring justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?

8I tell you that he will bring about justice for them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he really find faith on the earth?

9And he also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated the rest with contempt:

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

11The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying these things: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men—extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.’

12I fast twice a week; I tithe everything I acquire.

13But the tax collector, standing far off, was not willing even to lift up his eyes to heaven, but kept beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner.’

14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

15They were even bringing infants to him so that he might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

16But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children 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 child will certainly not enter it.

18And a ruler asked him, saying, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—God.”

20You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.

21And he said, “I have kept all these things from my youth.”

22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing still lacks for you: sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

23But when he heard these things, he became very sorrowful, for he was extremely rich.

24And Jesus, seeing him, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter into the kingdom of God!”

25For it is easier for a camel to enter through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

26Then those who heard it said, “And who can be saved?”

27But he said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”

28Then Peter said, “Look, we have left our own and followed you.”

29And he said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left a house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God,”

30who will certainly receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come, eternal life.

31Then taking the twelve aside, he 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 and will be mocked and insulted and spit on,

33And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.

34And they understood none of these things, and this saying was hidden from them, and they did not understand the things being said.

35As he was approaching Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting beside the road, begging.

36And hearing a crowd passing by, he was asking what this meant.

37And they told him, “Jesus the Nazarene is passing by.”

38And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39And those going ahead were rebuking him so that he would be silent; but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40So Jesus stood still and ordered that he be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him,

41“What do you want me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, that I may see again.”

42And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.”

43And immediately he received his sight, and he followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.