Now He was telling
them a parable
to show that at all
times
they aought
to pray
and not to blose
heart
,
saying, "In a certain
city
there
was a judge
who did not fear
God
and did not arespect
man
.
"There was a widow in that city
, and she kept coming
to him, saying
, ` 1Give
me legal
protection
from my opponent
.'
"For a while he was unwilling
; but afterward
he said
to himself
, `Even
though
I do not fear
God
nor
arespect
man
,
yet abecause
this
widow
bothers
me, I will 1give
her legal
protection
, otherwise
by continually
coming
she will 2 bwear
me out.' "
And athe Lord said
, "Hear
what
the unrighteous
judge
*said
;
now, will not God
abring
about
justice
for His belect
who cry
to Him day
and night
, 1and will He cdelay
long
over
them?
"I tell you that He will bring
about
justice
for them quickly
. However
, when the Son
of Man
comes
, awill He find
1faith
on the earth
?"
And He also told
this
parable
to some
people
who atrusted
in themselves
that they were righteous
, and bviewed
others
with contempt
:
"Two men
awent
up into the temple
to pray
, one
a Pharisee
and the other
a tax
collector
.
"The Pharisee astood
and was praying
this
to himself
: `God
, I thank
You that I am
not like
other
people
: swindlers
, unjust
, adulterers
, or
even
like
this
tax
collector
.
`I afast twice
a week
; I bpay
tithes
of all
that I get
.'
"But the tax collector
, astanding
some
distance
away
, bwas even
unwilling
to lift
up his eyes
to heaven
, but cwas beating
his breast
, saying
, `God
, be 1merciful
to me, the sinner
!'
"I tell you, this
man
went
to his house
justified
rather
than
the other
; afor everyone
who exalts
himself
will be humbled
, but he who humbles
himself
will be exalted
."
aAnd they were bringing even
their babies
to Him so
that He would touch
them, but when the disciples
saw
it, they began rebuking
them.
But Jesus called
for them, saying
, "Permit
the children
to come
to Me, and do not hinder
them, for the kingdom
of God
belongs
to such
as these
.
"Truly I say
to you, awhoever
does not receive
the kingdom
of God
like
a child
will not enter
it at all."
aA ruler questioned
Him, saying
, "Good
Teacher
, what
shall I do
to inherit
eternal
life
?"
And Jesus said
to him, "Why
do you call
Me good
? No
one
is good
except
God
alone
.
"You know the commandments
, ` aDO NOT COMMIT
ADULTERY
, DO NOT MURDER
, DO NOT STEAL
, DO NOT BEAR
FALSE
WITNESS
, HONOR
YOUR FATHER
AND MOTHER
.' "
And he said, "All
these
things
I have kept
from my youth
."
When Jesus heard
this, He said
to him, "One
thing
you still
lack
; asell
all
that you possess
and distribute
it to the poor
, and you shall have
btreasure
in heaven
; and come
, follow
Me."
But when he had heard these
things
, he became
very
sad
, for he was extremely
rich
.
And Jesus looked
at him and said
, " aHow
hard
it is for those
who are wealthy
to enter
the kingdom
of God
!
"For ait is easier for a camel
to 1go
through
the eye
of a needle
than
for a rich
man
to enter
the kingdom
of God
."
They who heard it said
, "Then
who
can
be saved
?"
But He said, " aThe things
that are impossible
with people
are possible
with God
."
Peter said
, "Behold
, awe have left
1our own
homes and followed
You."
And He said to them, "Truly
I say
to you, athere is no
one
who
has left
house
or
wife
or
brothers
or
parents
or
children
, for the sake
of the kingdom
of God
,
who will not receive
many
times
as much
at this
time
and in athe age
to come
, eternal
life
."
aThen He took
the twelve
aside
and said
to them, "Behold
, bwe are going
up to Jerusalem
, and call
things
which are written
through
the prophets
about the Son
of Man
will be accomplished
.
" aFor He will be 1handed over to the Gentiles
, and will be mocked
and mistreated
and spit
upon,
and after they have scourged Him, they will kill
Him; and the third
day
He will rise
again
."
But athe disciples understood none
of these
things
, and the meaning of this
statement
was hidden
from them, and they did not comprehend
the things that were said
.
aAs 1 bJesus was approaching Jericho
, a blind
man
was sitting
by the road
begging
.
Now hearing
a crowd
going
by, he began to inquire
what
this
was.
They told him that Jesus
of Nazareth
was passing
by.
And he called out, saying
, "Jesus
, aSon
of David
, have
mercy
on me!"
Those who led
the way
were sternly
telling
him to be quiet
; but he kept crying
out all
the more
, " aSon
of David
, have
mercy
on me!"
And Jesus stopped
and commanded
that he be brought
to Him; and when he came
near
, He questioned
him,
"What do you want
Me to do
for you?" And he said
, "Lord
, I want to regain
my sight
!"
And Jesus said
to him, " 1Receive
your sight
; ayour faith
has 2made
you well
."
Immediately he regained
his sight
and began following
Him, aglorifying
God
; and when ball
the people
saw
it, they gave
praise
to God
.