Luke 18
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought aalways to pray and not blose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who aneither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, a‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And awill not God give justice to bhis elect, cwho cry to him day and night? deWill he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them aspeedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, bwill he find faith on earth?”
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 He also told this parable to some awho trusted bin themselves that they were righteous, cand treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men awent up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, astanding by himself, prayed bthus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 aI fast twice a week; bI give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, astanding far off, bwould not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but cbeat his breast, saying, ‘God, dbe merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For aeveryone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Let the Children Come to Me
15 aNow they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they brebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, a“Let the children come to me, and bdo not hinder them, afor to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 aTruly, I say to you, whoever does not breceive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
The Rich Ruler
18 aAnd a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to binherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: a‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, a“All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. aSell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have btreasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 aBut when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, a“How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter bthe 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 athe kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, a“What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28 And Peter said, “See, awe have left our homes and followed you.” 29 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, 30 who will not receive amany times more bin this time, and in cthe age to come eternal life.”
Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time
31 aAnd taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, bwe are going up to Jerusalem, and ceverything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be adelivered over to the Gentiles and will be bmocked and shamefully treated and cspit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on athe third day he will rise.” 34 aBut they understood none of these things. bThis saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.
Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar
35 aAs he drew near to Jericho, ba blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, a“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 And he cried out, “Jesus, aSon of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those who were in front arebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, 41 a“What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; ayour faith has bmade you well.” 43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, aglorifying God. And ball the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.