ISV - Luke - 18

18:1  The Parable about the Judge and the WidowJesusLit. He told his disciplesLit. them a parable about their need to pray all the time and never give up.

18:2  He said, “In a city there was a judge who didn't fear God or respect people.

18:3  In that city there was also a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

18:4  For a while the judgeLit. he refused. But later he said to himself, ‘I don't fear God or respect people.

18:5  Yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice. Otherwise, she will keep coming and wear me out.’”

18:6  Then the Lord added, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.

18:7  Won't God grant his chosen people justice when they cry out to him day and night? Is he slow to help them?

18:8  I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

18:9  The Parable about the Pharisee and the Tax CollectorJesusLit. He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves because they were righteous, but who looked down on everyone else:

18:10  “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.

18:11  The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘O God, I thank you that I'm not like other people—thieves, dishonest people, adulterers, or even this tax collector.

18:12  I fast twice a week, and I give a tenth of my entire income.’

18:13  “But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even look up to heaven. Instead, he continued to beat his chest and said, ‘O God, be merciful to me, the sinner that I am!’The Gk. lacks that I am

18:14  I tell you, this man, rather than the other, went down to his home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the person who humbles himself will be exalted.”

18:15  Jesus Blesses the Little Children Now some peopleLit. they were even bringing their infants to JesusLit. him to have him touch them. But when the disciples saw this, they sternly told the peopleLit. them not to do that.

18:16  Jesus, however, called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away. For the kingdom of God belongs to people like these.

18:17  Truly I tell you, whoever doesn't receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never get into it at all.”

18:18  An Official Comes to Jesus Then an official asked Jesus,Lit. him “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18:19  Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? Nobody is good except for one—God.

18:20  You know the commandments: ‘Never commit adultery.Exod 20:14; Deut 5:18 Never murder.Exod 20:13; Deut 5:17 Never steal.Exod 20:15; Deut 5:19 Never give false testimony.Exod 20:16; Deut 5:20 Honor your father and mother.’”Exod 20:12; Deut 5:16

18:21  The officialLit. He replied, “I have kept all of these since I was a young man.”

18:22  When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still need one thing. Sell everything you have and give the moneyThe Gk. lacks the money to the destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me.”

18:23  But when the officialLit. he heard this he became sad, because he was very rich.

18:24  So when Jesus saw how sad he was, heOther mss. read So Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for rich people to get into the kingdom of God!

18:25  Indeed, it is easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into the kingdom of God.”

18:26  Those who heard him said, “Then who can be saved?”

18:27  JesusLit. He replied, “The things that are impossible for people are possible for God.”

18:28  Then Peter said, “See, we have left everything we have and followed you.”

18:29  JesusLit. He said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left his home, wife, brothers, parents, or children because of the kingdom of God

18:30  who will not receive many times as much in this world, as well as eternal life in the age to come.”

18:31  Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection a Third Time JesusLit. He took the twelve aside and said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. Everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

18:32  For he will be handed over to the Gentiles and will be mocked, insulted, and spit on.

18:33  After they have whipped him, they will kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”

18:34  But they didn't understand any of this. What he said was hidden from them, and they didn't know what he meant.

18:35  Jesus Heals a Blind Man As JesusLit. he was approaching Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the road begging.

18:36  When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

18:37  They told him that Jesus from NazarethNazareth. 18:37 Or Jesus the Nazarene; the Gk. Nazoraios may be a word play between Heb. netser, meaning branch (see Isa 11:1), and the name was coming by.

18:38  Then he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

18:39  The people at the front of the crowdLit. at the front sternly told himLit. him to be quiet, but he started shouting even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

18:40  Then Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When heLit. he came near, JesusLit. he asked him,

18:41  “What do you want me to do for you?”HeLit. He said, “Lord, I want to see again!”

18:42  Jesus told him, “Receive your sight! Your faith has made you well.”

18:43  Immediately the manLit. he could see again and began to follow Jesus,Lit. him glorifying God. All the people saw this and gave praise to God.