Luke 18
1 Jesus told them a parable about the need to pray always and not lose heart.
2 He said, “There was a judge in a certain city who did not fear God or respect people.
3 There was also a widow in that city who kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’
4 For some time he was unwilling. But later he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God or respect people,
5 still, because this widow is troubling me, I will give her justice, so that she won’t wear me out by coming again and again.’”
6 Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.
7 And will God not give justice to his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay in helping them?
8 I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves because they were righteous, and looked down on others:
10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed this way to himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, unjust people, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I acquire.’
13 But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift his eyes to heaven; he beat his chest, saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’
14 I tell you, this man went home justified, rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
15 People were also bringing babies to him so that he might touch them; when the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.
16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them; for the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like them.
17 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
18 A ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one: God.
20 You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and your mother.”
21 He replied, “I have kept all these from my youth.”
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing: sell everything you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come and follow me.”
23 But when he heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely rich.
24 Seeing him like this, Jesus said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!
25 For it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.”
26 Those who heard said, “Then who can be saved?”
27 He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible for God.”
28 Peter said, “Look, we have left what was ours and followed you.”
29 He said to them, “Truly I tell you, no one who has left home, wife, brothers, parents, or children for the sake of the Kingdom of God will fail to receive many times more in this present age, and eternal life in the age to come.”
30 He will receive many times more in this present age and, in the age to come, eternal life.”
31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.
32 For he will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked, insulted, and spat upon.
33 After they flog him, they will kill him; and on the third day he will rise again.”
34 But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not understand what was being said.
35 As he was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside, begging.
36 When he heard the crowd passing by, he asked what was happening.
37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
38 Then he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 Those walking ahead rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. When the blind man came near, Jesus asked him:
41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me see again.”
42 Jesus said to him, “See again; your faith has healed you.”
43 At once he saw again and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw this, praised God.
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