Luke 18:1-43
18 And he told them a parable of which the point was that they must always pray and never give up:
2 “Once upon a time there was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor care for public opinion.
3 And there was a widow in that city, and she came to him saying ‘Avenge me on the man I have a case against’;
4 and he would not for a while, but after that he said to himself ‘Even if I do not fear God nor care for public opinion,
5 because of the way this woman worries me I will avenge her, that she may not make a show of me with coming forever.’”
6 And the Lord said “Hear what the unjust judge says;
7 and shall not God do vengeance for his chosen, who clamor to him day and night and he has patience over them?
8 I tell you he will do vengeance for them soon. Yet when the Son of Man comes will he find faith on earth?”
9 And he also told this parable, pointed at certain self-righteous people who scorned the rest:
10 “Two men went up to the temple-precinct to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a customhouse officer.
11 The Pharisee took his stand and made this prayer, talking to himself: ‘O God, I thank thee that I am not as the rest of mankind are, grasping, dishonest, adulterous, or else like this customhouse officer:
12 I fast twice a week, I tithe everything I get’;
13 but the customhouse officer stood at a distance and would not even raise his eyes toward heaven, but beat his breast saying ‘O God, be friendly to sinful me.’
14 I tell you, this man, rather than the other, went down to his home justified; because everyone who lifts himself up will be put down, and he who puts himself down will be lifted up.”
15 And they brought the babies to him to have him touch them; but the disciples, seeing it, rebuked them.
16 But Jesus called the babies to him, saying “Let the children come to me and do not interfere with them; for to such belongs the Reign of God.
17 I tell you verily, anyone who does not receive the Reign of God like a child shall not get into it.”
18 And a certain ruler put the question to him “Good teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 But Jesus said to him “Why do you call me good? nobody is good except one, God.
20 You know the commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery, do not commit murder, do not steal, do not testify falsely, honor your father and mother.’”
21 But he said “All this I have observed ever since my youth.”
22 And Jesus, hearing that, said to him “One thing you still lack: sell everything you have and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have a fund laid by in heaven; and come and follow me.”
23 But at hearing this he grew sad, for he was very rich.
24 And Jesus, seeing him, said “What hard work the wealthy will have to go into the Reign of God!
25 for it is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into the Reign of God.”
26 And those who heard it said “And who can be saved?”
27 but he said “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”
28 And Peter said “We here did leave our own and follow you.”
29 And he said to them “I tell you verily there is no one who has left a house or a wife or brothers or parents or children on account of the Reign of God
30 * who shall not receive many times as much in this time and in the coming age eternal life.”
31 And he took the Twelve with him and said to them “Here we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that has been written through the prophets will be accomplished to the Son of Man.
32 For he will be handed over to the foreigners and abused and outraged and spit upon,
33 and they will flog him and kill him, and on the third day he will rise.”
34 And they did not understand any of these things; and this word was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking of.
35 And as he drew near Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,
36 and, hearing a crowd going along, inquired what that was;
37 and they told him that Jesus the Nazarene was coming along.
38 And he made an outcry, “Jesus, son of David, take pity on me!”
39 And those who were going ahead rebuked him, telling him to be quiet; but he cried out more and more “Son of David, take pity on me!”
40 And Jesus halted and ordered him brought to him; and when he came near he put the question to him
41 “What do you want me to do for you?” And he said “Sir, that I may have my eyesight back.”
42 And Jesus said to him “Have your eyesight back; your faith has made you well,”
43 and immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, seeing it, gave praise to God.
Footnotes
^ 18:30 Var. be paid many times
