1 Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray  * 18:1 Lk 11:5–13; 21:36; 1Th 5:17 always and not give up.  * 18:1 2Co 4:12 "There was a judge in a certain town who didn’t fear God* 18:2 Ps 147:11; Pr 1:7; Ac 10:2; Rv 14:7or respect people.3 And a widow* 18:3 Lk 2:37; 4:26; 7:12; 21:2in that town kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

4 "For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect people,5 yet because this widow keeps* 18:5 Lk 11:8pestering me,* 18:5 Lit widow causes me troubleI will give her justice, so that she doesn’t wear me out* 18:5 Or doesn’t ruin my reputationby her persistent coming.’ "

6 Then the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.7 Will not God grant justice* 18:7 Is 63:4; Rv 6:10to his elect* 18:7 Mt 24:22; Rm 8:33; 2Tm 2:10; Ti 1:1who cry out to him day and night?* 18:7 Ps 88:1Will he delay* 18:7 2Pt 3:9helping them?* 18:7 Or Will he put up with them?8 I tell you that he will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes,* 18:8 Dn 7:13; Lk 9:26; 12:40will he find faith on earth? "

9 He  * 18:9–14 Mt 18:4; 23:12; Lk 14:11 also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves  * 18:9 Mt 5:20; 2Co 1:9 that they were righteous  * 18:9 Lk 16:15 and looked down  * 18:9 Lk 23:11; Ac 4:11; Rm 14:3,10 on everyone else: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray,* 18:10 1Kg 10:5; 2Kg 20:5,8; Ac 3:1one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.11 The Pharisee was standing* 18:11 Mt 6:5; Mk 11:25and praying like this about himself:* 18:11 Or by himself‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people — greedy,* 18:11 Mt 7:15; 1Co 5:10–11; 6:10unrighteous,* 18:11 Lk 16:10adulterers,* 18:11 Ex 20:14; 1Co 6:9; Heb 13:4or even like this tax collector.12 I fast* 18:12 Lk 5:33–35; Ac 13:2–3twice a week; I give a tenth* 18:12 Or give tithes,* 18:12 Lk 11:42of everything I get.’

13 "But the tax collector, standing far off,* 18:13 Lk 17:12would not even raise his eyes to heaven* 18:13 Ezr 9:6but kept striking his chest* 18:13 Lk 23:48and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me,* 18:13 Or God, turn your wrath from me,* 18:13 Heb 2:17a sinner! ’* 18:13 1Tm 1:1514 I tell you, this one went down to his house justified* 18:14 Lk 16:15; Php 3:8rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."* 18:14 Is 2:11; Lk 1:52; 3:5; 14:11

15 People  * 18:15–17 Mt 18:3; 19:13–15; Mk 10:13–16 were bringing infants to him so that he might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 Jesus, however, invited them: "Let the little children come to me,* 18:16 Lk 14:26and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.17 Truly I tell you,* 18:17 Ps 72:19; Rv 22:21whoever does not receive* 18:17 Lk 8:13the kingdom of God like a little child* 18:17 1Co 14:20; 1Pt 2:2will never enter it."

18 A  * 18:18–30 Mt 19:16–30; Mk 10:17–31; Lk 22:28–30 ruler  * 18:18 Lk 8:41; 12:58 asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? "  * 18:18 Lk 10:25; Jn 3:15

19 "Why do you call me good? " Jesus asked him. "No one is good except God alone.20 You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother."* 18:20 Ex 20:12–16; Dt 5:16–20,* 18:20 Ex 20:12–16; Dt 5:16–20

21 "I have kept all these from my youth," he said.

22 When Jesus heard this, he told him, "You still lack one thing: Sell all you have and distribute it to the poor,* 18:22 Lk 12:33; 19:8; Ac 2:45; 4:34and you will have treasure in heaven.* 18:22 Mt 6:19–20; Lk 5:11; 12:33Then come, follow me."* 18:22 Lk 5:27

23 After he heard this, he became extremely sad,  * 18:23 Mt 26:38; Mk 6:26; 14:34 because he was very rich.

24 Seeing that he became sad,  * 18:24 Other mss omit he became sad Jesus said, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

26 Those who heard this asked, "Then who can be saved? "  * 18:26 Lk 18:42; Eph 2:8

27 He replied, "What is impossible with man is possible with God."* 18:27 Gn 18:14; Jb 42:2; Jr 32:17; Zch 8:6; Lk 1:37; Rm 4:21; 11:22

28 Then Peter said, "Look, we have left what we had and followed  * 18:28 Lk 5:11; Jn 8:12 you."

29 So he said to them, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers or sisters, parents or children because of the kingdom of God,30 who will not receive many times more at this time,* 18:30 Jb 42:10; Mt 6:33; Lk 21:8and eternal life in the age to come."

31 Then  * 18:31–34 Mt 20:17–19; Mk 10:32–34 he took the Twelve aside and told them, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem.* 18:31 Lk 9:51Everything that is written* 18:31 Ps 22; Is 52:13–53:12; Mt 1:22; 26:24through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.* 18:31 Lk 22:37; Jn 19:2832 For he will be handed over to the Gentiles,* 18:32 Mt 27:2; Jn 18:30–31; Ac 3:13and he will be mocked,* 18:32 Mt 27:26–31insulted, spit* 18:32 Mt 26:67; Mk 14:65; 15:19on; 33 and after they flog him, they will kill him, and he will rise on the third day."* 18:33 Mt 16:21; Lk 9:22

34 They understood none of these things.  * 18:34 Mk 9:32; Lk 2:50; 9:45 The meaning of the saying  * 18:34 Lit This saying,* 18:34 Lk 1:29 was hidden  * 18:34 Lk 24:16 from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

35 As  * 18:35–43 Mt 20:29–34; Mk 10:46–52 he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. 36 Hearing a crowd passing by, he inquired what was happening. 37 "Jesus of Nazareth  * 18:37 Mt 2:23; Jn 18:5; 19:19; Ac 2:22 is passing by," they told him.

38 So he called out,  * 18:38 Lk 18:7 "Jesus, Son of David,  * 18:38 Mt 1:1; 9:27; Lk 1:32; Rm 1:3 have mercy  * 18:38 Lk 16:24 on me! " 39 Then those in front told him to keep quiet,  * 18:39 Or those in front rebuked him but he kept crying out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me! "

40 Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to him. When he came closer, he asked him, 41 "What do you want me to do for you? "

"Lord," he said, "I want to see."

42 "Receive your sight,"* 18:42 Lk 7:22; Jn 9:11; Ac 9:12 Jesus told him. "Your faith has saved you."* 18:42 Mt 9:22; Lk 5:20; 7:50; 8:48; 17:19; 18:2643 Instantly he could see, and he began to follow him, glorifying God.  * 18:43 Lk 7:16; 13:13 All the people,  * 18:43 Lk 2:10 when they saw it, gave praise to God.