Luke 18

1 And he was telling them a parable about the need for them always to pray and not to lose heart, 2 saying, “There was a certain judge in a certain city who did not fear God and had no regard for man. 3 And there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Avenge me against my adversary.’ 4 And for a time he was not willing; but after these things he said within himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor have regard for man, 5 yet because this widow causes me trouble, I will avenge her, so that she does not in the end come and give me a black eye.’” [a]

6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the judge of wrongdoing says. 7 And will God not carry out the vengeance of his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night — and is he patient over them? [b] 8 I tell you that he will carry out their vengeance quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find the faith on the earth?” [c]

9 And he also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised the rest: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed these things to himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men — plunderers, unrighteous, adulterers — or even like this tax collector. [d] 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’ [e] 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, was not willing even to lift his eyes to heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner.’ [f] † 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house set right rather than that one; because everyone who lifts himself up will be brought low, and the one who brings himself low will be lifted up.” [g]

15 Now they were bringing even the infants to him so that he might touch them; but when the disciples saw it they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to himself, saying, “Let the children come to me and do not stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Amen, I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, “Good teacher, what am I to do to inherit everlasting life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one — God. 20 You know the commands: ‘You are not to commit adultery,’ ‘You are not to murder,’ ‘You are not to steal,’ ‘You are not to give false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” [h] 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.”

22 And when Jesus heard he said to him, “One thing you still lack: sell everything you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in the heavens; and come, follow me.” † 23 But when he heard these things he became deeply grieved, for he was extremely rich. 24 And Jesus, seeing him, said, “How hard it is for those who have money to go into the kingdom of God! [i] 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go into the kingdom of God.”

26 And those who heard said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 And he said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” 28 And Peter said, “Look, we have left our own things and have followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Amen, I tell 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 30 who will not receive many times as much in this time, and in the coming age everlasting life.”

31 And taking the twelve aside he said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be completed. 32 For he will be handed over to the nations and will be mocked and insulted and spat on, 33 and after they have flogged him they will kill him; and on the third day he will rise.” 34 And they understood none of these things, and this word was hidden from them, and they did not know what was said.

35 And it happened, as he was drawing near to Jericho, that a certain blind man was sitting beside the road begging. 36 And hearing a crowd going through, he was asking what this might be. 37 And they reported to him that Jesus the Nazorean is passing by. 38 And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those going ahead were rebuking him so that he would be quiet; but he was crying out much more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40 And Jesus stopped and ordered him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, that I may see again.” 42 And Jesus said to him, “See again; your faith has saved you.” 43 And at once he saw again, and he was following him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.