1 H e also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up,

Jesus told them a picture-story to show that men should always pray and not give up.

2 s aying, “There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God, and didn’t respect man.

He said, “There was a man in one of the cities who was head of the court. His work was to say if a person was guilty or not. This man was not afraid of God. He did not respect any man.

3 A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my adversary!’

In that city there was a woman whose husband had died. She kept coming to him and saying, ‘Help me! There is someone who is working against me.’

4 H e wouldn’t for a while, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God, nor respect man,

For awhile he would not help her. Then he began to think, ‘I am not afraid of God and I do not respect any man.

5 y et because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.’”

But I will see that this woman whose husband has died gets her rights because I get tired of her coming all the time.’”

6 T he Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.

Then the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the sinful man who is head of the court.

7 W on’t God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?

Will not God make the things that are right come to His chosen people who cry day and night to Him? Will He wait a long time to help them?

8 I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

I tell you, He will be quick to help them. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth? ” The Picture-Story of the Proud Religious Law-Keepers and the Tax-Gatherers

9 H e spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.

Jesus told another picture-story to some people who trusted in themselves and thought they were right with God. These people did not think well of other men.

10 “ Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.

Jesus said, “Two men went up to the house of God to pray. One of them was a proud religious law-keeper. The other was a man who gathered taxes.

11 T he Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

The proud religious law-keeper stood and prayed to himself like this, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men. I am not like those who steal. I am not like those who do things that are wrong. I am not like those who do sex sins. I am not even like this tax-gatherer.

12 I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’

I go without food two times a week so I can pray better. I give one-tenth part of the money I earn.’

13 B ut the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

But the man who gathered taxes stood a long way off. He would not even lift his eyes to heaven. But he hit himself on his chest and said, ‘God, have pity on me! I am a sinner!’

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

I tell you, this man went back to his house forgiven, and not the other man. For whoever makes himself look more important than he is will find out how little he is worth. Whoever does not try to honor himself will be made important.” Jesus Gives Thanks for Little Children

15 T hey were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

People took their little children to Jesus so He could put His hand on them. When His followers saw it, they spoke sharp words to the people.

16 J esus summoned them, saying, “Allow the little children to come to me, and don’t hinder them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these.

Jesus called the followers to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me. Do not try to stop them. The holy nation of God is made up of ones like these.

17 M ost certainly, I tell you, whoever doesn’t receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.”

For sure, I tell you, whoever does not receive the holy nation of God as a child will not go into the holy nation.” Jesus Teaches about Keeping the Law

18 A certain ruler asked him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

A leader of the people asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to have life that lasts forever?”

19 J esus asked him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one—God.

Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? There is only One Who is good. That is God.

20 Y ou know the commandments: ‘Don’t commit adultery,’ ‘Don’t murder,’ ‘Don’t steal,’ ‘Don’t give false testimony,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”

You know the Laws. You must not do any sex sins. You must not kill another person. You must not steal. You must not tell a lie about someone else. Respect your father and your mother.”

21 H e said, “I have observed all these things from my youth up.”

The leader said, “I have obeyed all these Laws since I was a boy.”

22 W hen Jesus heard these things, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Come, follow me.”

When Jesus heard this, He said to the leader of the people, “There is still one thing you need to do. Sell everything you have. Give the money to poor people. Then you will have riches in heaven. Come and follow Me.”

23 B ut when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.

When the leader heard this, he was very sad because he had many riches.

24 J esus, seeing that he became very sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!

When Jesus saw that he was very sad, He said, “It is hard for those with riches to go into the holy nation of God!

25 F or it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go into the holy nation of God.”

26 T hose who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”

Those who heard this, said, “Then who can be saved from the punishment of sin?”

27 B ut he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

Jesus said, “God can do things men cannot do.”

28 P eter said, “Look, we have left everything, and followed you.”

Then Peter said, “See, we have left everything and have followed You.”

29 H e said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for God’s Kingdom’s sake,

Jesus said to them, “For sure, I tell you, anyone who has left his house or parents or brothers or wife or children because of the holy nation of God

30 w ho will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life.”

will receive much more now. In the time to come he will have life that lasts forever.” Jesus Tells of His Death the Third Time

31 H e took the twelve aside, and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.

Then Jesus took the twelve followers to one side and said, “See! We are going up to Jerusalem. All the things the early preachers wrote about the Son of Man are going to happen.

32 F or he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on.

He will be given over to the people who are not Jews. He will be made fun of. He will be hurt. He will be spit on.

33 T hey will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again.”

They will beat Him and kill Him. After three days He will be raised again.”

34 T hey understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn’t understand the things that were said.

The followers did not understand these words. The meaning of these words was hidden from them. They did not know what He said. Healing of the Blind Man

35 A s he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.

Jesus was coming near Jericho. A blind man was sitting by the side of the road, begging.

36 H earing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.

He heard many people going by and asked what was happening.

37 T hey told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.

They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was going by.

38 H e cried out, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!”

Then he cried out and said, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.”

39 T hose who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!”

The people spoke sharp words to him and told him not to call out. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.”

40 S tanding still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him,

Jesus stopped and told the people to bring the blind man to Him. When the man was near, Jesus asked,

41 “ What do you want me to do?” He said, “Lord, that I may see again.”

“What do you want Me to do for you?” He answered, “Lord, I want to see.”

42 J esus said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.”

Jesus said to him, “Then see! Your faith has healed you.”

43 I mmediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God.

At once he could see. He followed Jesus and gave thanks to God. All the people gave thanks to God when they saw it.