Luke 18
18
Justice for the faithful
1Jesus was telling them a parable about their need to pray continuously and not to be discouraged. 2He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people. 3In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him, asking, ‘Give me justice in this case against my adversary.’ 4For a while he refused but finally said to himself, I don’t fear God or respect people, 5but I will give this widow justice because she keeps bothering me. Otherwise, there will be no end to her coming here and embarrassing me.” 6The Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7Won’t God provide justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he be slow to help them? 8I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. But when the Human One#18.8 Or Son of Mancomes, will he find faithfulness on earth?”
The Pharisee and the tax collector
9Jesus told this parable to certain people who had convinced themselves that they were righteous and who looked on everyone else with disgust: 10“Two people went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself with these words, ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like everyone else—crooks, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week. I give a tenth of everything I receive.’ 13But the tax collector stood at a distance. He wouldn’t even lift his eyes to look toward heaven. Rather, he struck his chest and said, ‘God, show mercy to me, a sinner.’ 14I tell you, this person went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. All who lift themselves up will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up.”
Jesus blesses children
15People were bringing babies to Jesus so that he would bless them. When the disciples saw this, they scolded them. 16Then Jesus called them to him and said, “Allow the children to come to me. Don’t forbid them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people like these children. 17I assure you that whoever doesn’t welcome God’s kingdom like a child will never enter it.”
A rich man’s question
18A certain ruler asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to obtain eternal life?”
19Jesus replied, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except the one God. 20You know the commandments:Don’t commit adultery. Don’t murder. Don’t steal. Don’t give false testimony. Honor your father and mother.”#18.20 Deut 5:16-20; Exod 20:12-16
21Then the ruler said, “I’ve kept all of these things since I was a boy.”
22When Jesus heard this, he said, “There’s one more thing. Sell everything you own and distribute the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.” 23When he heard these words, the man became sad because he was extremely rich.
24When Jesus saw this, he said, “It’s very hard for the wealthy to enter God’s kingdom! 25It’s easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.”
26Those who heard this said, “Then who can be saved?”
27Jesus replied, “What is impossible for humans is possible for God.”
28Peter said, “Look, we left everything we own and followed you.”
29Jesus said to them, “I assure you that anyone who has left house, husband, wife, brothers, sisters, parents, or children because of God’s kingdom 30will receive many times more in this age and eternal life in the coming age.”
Jesus predicts his death and resurrection
31Jesus took the Twelve aside and said, “Look, we’re going up to Jerusalem, and everything written about the Human One#18.31 Or Son of Manby the prophets will be accomplished. 32He will be handed over to the Gentiles. He will be ridiculed, mistreated, and spit on. 33After torturing him, they will kill him. On the third day, he will rise up.” 34But the Twelve understood none of these words. The meaning of this message was hidden from them and they didn’t grasp what he was saying.
A blind man is healed
35As Jesus came to Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting beside the road begging. 36When the man heard the crowd passing by, he asked what was happening. 37They told him, “Jesus the Nazarene is passing by.”
38The blind man shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, show me mercy.” 39Those leading the procession scolded him, telling him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, show me mercy.”
40Jesus stopped and called for the man to be brought to him. When he was present Jesus asked, 41“What do you want me to do for you?”
He said, “Lord, I want to see.”
42Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” 43At once he was able to see, and he began to follow Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they praised God too.
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Luke 18: CEB
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