1 The Parable of the Persistent Widow Then He spoke a parable to them, that men Luke 11:5–10; Rom. 12:12; (Eph. 6:18); Col. 4:2;1 Thess. 5:17 always ought to pray and not lose heart,
2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.
3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’
4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,
5 Luke 11:8 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”
6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.
7 And Rev. 6:10 shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?
8 I tell you Heb. 10:37; (2 Pet. 3:8, 9) that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
9 The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector Also He spoke this parable to some Prov. 30:12; Luke 10:29; 16:15 who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee Ps. 135:2 stood and prayed thus with himself, Is. 1:15; 58:2; Rev. 3:17 ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; Job 22:29; Matt. 23:12; Luke 14:11; (James 4:6;1 Pet. 5:5) for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
15 Jesus Blesses Little Children Matt. 19:13–15; Mark 10:13–16 Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for Matt. 18:3;1 Cor. 14:20;1 Pet. 2:2 of such is the kingdom of God.
17 Matt. 18:3; 19:14; Mark 10:15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
18 Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler Matt. 19:16–29; Mark 10:17–30 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but Ps. 86:5; 119:68 One, that is, God.
20 You know the commandments: Ex. 20:12–16; Deut. 5:16–20; Mark 10:19; Rom. 13:9 ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ Eph. 6:2; Col. 3:20 ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”
21 And he said, “All Phil. 3:6 these things I have kept from my youth.”
22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Matt. 6:19, 20; 19:21; (1 Tim. 6:19) Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
24 With God All Things Are Possible And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, Prov. 11:28; Matt. 19:23; Mark 10:23 “How hard it is for those who have riches 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 man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”
27 But He said, Job 42:2; Jer. 32:17; Zech. 8:6; Matt. 19:26; Luke 1:37 “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
28 Matt. 19:27 Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
29 So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, Deut. 33:9 there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
30 Job 42:10 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
31 Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection Matt. 16:21; 17:22; 20:17; Mark 10:32; Luke 9:51 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things Ps. 22; (Is. 53) that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.
32 For Matt. 26:67; 27:2, 29, 41; Mark 14:65; 15:1, 19, 20, 31; Luke 23:1; John 18:28; Acts 3:13 He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.
33 They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”
34 Mark 9:32; Luke 2:50; 9:45; (John 10:6; 12:16) But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.
35 A Blind Man Receives His Sight Matt. 20:29–34; Mark 10:46–52 Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging.
36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant.
37 So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
38 And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Matt. 9:27 Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him,
41 saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”
42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; Luke 17:19 your faith has made you well.”
43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, Luke 5:26; Acts 4:21; 11:18 glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.