Luke 18:1Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,
Luke 18:2saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man.
Luke 18:3"There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.'
Luke 18:4"For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man,
Luke 18:5yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.'"
Luke 18:6And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge *said;
Luke 18:7now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?
Luke 18:8"I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"
Luke 18:9¶ And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
Luke 18:10"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Luke 18:11"The Pharisee stood 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.
Luke 18:12'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.'
Luke 18:13"But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'
Luke 18:14"I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Luke 18:15¶ And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them.
Luke 18:16But 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.
Luke 18:17"Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."
Luke 18:18¶ A ruler questioned Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
Luke 18:19And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
Luke 18:20"You know the commandments, 'DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'"
Luke 18:21And he said, "All these things I have kept from my youth."
Luke 18:22When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
Luke 18:23But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.
Luke 18:24And Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!
Luke 18:25"For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Luke 18:26They who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?"
Luke 18:27But He said, "The things that are impossible with people are possible with God."
Luke 18:28¶ Peter said, "Behold, we have left our own homes and followed You."
Luke 18:29And He said to them, "Truly I say to 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,
Luke 18:30who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life."
Luke 18:31¶ Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.
Luke 18:32"For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon,
Luke 18:33and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again."
Luke 18:34But the 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.
Luke 18:35¶ As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging.
Luke 18:36Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was.
Luke 18:37They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
Luke 18:38And he called out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Luke 18:39Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Luke 18:40And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him,
Luke 18:41"What do you want Me to do for you?" And he said, "Lord, I want to regain my sight!"
Luke 18:42And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well."
Luke 18:43Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.