New Testament · Gospels and Acts

Luke chapter 18

Jesus told them a to show that they should always and never give up.“In a certain town there was a who didn’t care about God and didn’t care about people.And there was a in that town who kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me against the one who wronged me.’For a while he refused. But eventually he said to himself, ‘I don’t care about God, and I don’t care about people,but because this widow keeps bothering me, I’ll make sure she gets justice—otherwise she’ll with her constant coming!’”Then the said, “Listen to what this corrupt judge says.Won’t God make sure justice is done for his who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?I’m telling you, he will make sure they get justice, and quickly. But when the comes, will he find that kind of on earth?”He also told this story to some people who were and looked down on everyone else:“Two men went up to the to pray. One was a and the other was a .The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed like this: ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people—cheaters, , people who sleep around—or even like this tax collector.I twice a week and of everything I earn.’But the tax collector stood at a distance. He wouldn’t even look up toward heaven. He beat his chest and said, ‘God, on me—.’I’m telling you, this man went home , not the other one. Because everyone who promotes themselves will be brought low, and the one who humbles themselves will be lifted up.”People were also bringing their babies to Jesus so he would them. When the disciples saw this, they told the people to stop.But Jesus called the children over to him and said, “Let the little ones come to me. Don’t stop them, because belongs to people like these.I’m telling you the truth: anyone who doesn’t receive God’s kingdom the way a child does will never enter it.”One of the asked him, “Good Teacher, what do I need to do to get ?”Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me ? No one is good except God alone.You know the : Don’t sleep with someone else’s spouse. Don’t murder. Don’t steal. Don’t give false testimony. Honor your father and mother.”He replied, “I’ve kept all of these since I was young.”When Jesus heard this, he said, “There’s still one thing you’re missing. Sell everything you own and give it to , and you’ll have . Then come .”When the man heard this, he became deeply sad, because he was extremely wealthy.Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those with wealth to enter God’s kingdom!It’s easier for a to squeeze through the than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.”Those who heard this said, “Then who can possibly be ?”Jesus replied, “What’s impossible for people is possible for God.” said, “Look, we left everything we had to follow you.”“I’m telling you the truth,” Jesus said. “Everyone who has left home, spouse, brothers, sisters, parents, or children because of God’s kingdomwill receive many times more in , and in the age to come, .”Jesus took aside and told them, “Listen, we’re going up to , and everything the wrote about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.He will be handed over to the . They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, him, and kill him. But on the third day, he will .”The disciples didn’t understand any of this. The meaning was from them, and they couldn’t grasp what he was talking about.As Jesus was approaching , a was sitting by the road, begging.When he heard the crowd passing by, he asked what was going on.They told him, “Jesus from is passing through.”So he shouted, “Jesus, , on me!”The people in front told him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”Jesus stopped and had the man brought to him. When the man came close, Jesus asked him,“What do you want me to do for you?” The man said, “, I want to see again.”Jesus said to him, “See again! Your has you.”Immediately he could see, and he Jesus, giving to God. And everyone who saw it praised God too.