Chapter 18
1 He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray and not give up ,
2 saying , " There was a judge in a certain city who didn’ t fear God and didn’ t respect man .
3 A widow was in that city , and she often came to him , saying , ‘Defend me from my adversary!’
4 He wouldn’ t for a while ; but afterward he said to himself , ‘ Though I neither fear God nor respect man ,
5 yet because this widow bothers me , I will defend her , or else she will wear me out by her continual coming .’"
6 The Lord said , "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says .
7 Won’ t God avenge his chosen ones who are crying out to him day and night , and yet he exercises patience with them ?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them quickly . Nevertheless , when the Son of Man comes , will he find faith on the earth ?"
9 He also spoke this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others :
10 " Two men went up into the temple to pray ; one was a Pharisee , and the other was a tax collector .
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed by himself like this : ‘ God , I thank you that I am not like the rest of men : extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers , or even like this tax collector .
12 I fast twice a week . I give tithes of all that I get .’
13 But the tax collector , standing far away , wouldn’ t even lift up his eyes to heaven , but beat his chest , saying , ‘ God , be merciful to me , a sinner!’
14 I tell you , this man went down to his house justified rather than the other ; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled , but he who humbles himself will be exalted ."
15 They were also bringing their babies to him , that he might touch them . But when the disciples saw it , they rebuked them .
16 Jesus summoned them , saying , "Allow the little children to come to me , and don’ t hinder them , for God ’s Kingdom belongs to such as these .
17 Most certainly , I tell you , whoever doesn’ t receive God ’s Kingdom like a little child , he will in no way enter into it ."
18 A certain ruler asked him , saying , " Good Teacher , what shall I do to inherit eternal life ?"
19 Jesus asked him , " Why do you call me good ? No one is good , except one : God .
20 You know the commandments : ‘Don’ t commit adultery ,’ ‘Don’ t murder ,’ ‘Don’ t steal ,’ ‘Don’ t give false testimony ,’ ‘ Honor your father and your mother .’"
21 He said , " I have observed all these things from my youth up ."
22 When Jesus heard these things , he said to him , " You still lack one thing . Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor . Then you will have treasure in heaven ; then come , follow me ."
23 But when he heard these things , he became very sad , for he was very rich .
24 Jesus , seeing that he became very sad, said , " How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into God ’ s Kingdom!
25 For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God ’s Kingdom."
26 Those who heard it said , " Then who can be saved ?"
27 But he said , " The things which are impossible with men are possible with God ."
28 Peter said , " Look , we have left everything and followed you ."
29 He said to them , " Most certainly I tell you , there is no one who has left house , or wife , or brothers, or parents , or children , for God ’s Kingdom’s sake ,
30 who will not receive many times more in this time , and in the world to come , eternal life ."
31 He took the twelve aside and said to them , " Behold , we are going up to Jerusalem , and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed .
32 For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles , will be mocked , treated shamefully, and spit on .
33 They will scourge and kill him . On the third day , he will rise again ."
34 They understood none of these things . This saying was hidden from them , and they didn’ t understand the things that were said .
35 As he came near Jericho , a certain blind man sat by the road , begging .
36 Hearing a multitude going by , he asked what this meant .
37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by .
38 He cried out , " Jesus , you son of David , have mercy on me !"
39 Those who led the way rebuked him , that he should be quiet ; but he cried out all the more , " You son of David , have mercy on me !"
40 Standing still , Jesus commanded him to be brought to him . When he had come near , he asked him ,
41 " What do you want me to do ?" He said , " Lord , that I may see again."
42 Jesus said to him , " Receive your sight . Your faith has healed you ."
43 Immediately he received his sight and followed him , glorifying God . All the people , when they saw it , praised God .