The Parable of the Widow and the Unrighteous Judge

1Then Jesus told them a parable about the ²⁷⁵need to pray at all times and not lose heart.

2He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.

3There was also a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

4For a while he would not do so, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man,

5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not wear me out by continually coming to me.’ ”

6Then the Lord said, “Consider what this unrighteous judge said.

7If even he ultimately rendered a just decision, will not God patiently listen to his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night, and give them justice?

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

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9He also told this parable to some who were confident in their own righteous and regarded others with contempt:

10“Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.

11The Pharisee stood ²⁷⁶by himself and prayed like this: ‘God, I thank yoʋ that I am not like other people: swindlers, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

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

13But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

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

Let the Little Children Come to Me

15Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus so that he might touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who were bringing them,

16but Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

17Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will certainly not enter it.”

The Rich Young Ruler

18Then a certain ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19Jesus said to him, “Why do yoʋ call me good? No one is good except God alone.

20Yoʋ know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not give false testimony, Honor yoʋr father and ²⁷⁷yoʋr mother.’ ”

21The man said, “I have kept all these commandments from the time I was a young boy.”

22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing yoʋ still lack: Sell everything yoʋ have and distribute the money to the poor, and yoʋ will have treasure in heaven; then come follow me.”

23But when the man heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was extremely rich.

24²⁷⁸When Jesus saw that the man had become very sorrowful, he said, “How difficult it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!

25For 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.”

26Those who heard this said, “Who then can be saved?”

27Jesus said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”

28Then Peter said, “Behold, we have left ²⁷⁹everything and followed yoʋ.”

29Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house, ²⁸⁰parents, brothers, wife, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,

30who will not surely receive many times more in this present age—and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection a Third Time

31Then Jesus took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

32For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, and he will be mocked, insulted, and spit upon.

33After flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.”

34But the disciples did not understand any of these things; this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what was being said.

Jesus Heals a Blind Man

35As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging.

36When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

37They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.

38So he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39Then those who were out in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40So Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When the man drew near, Jesus asked him,

41“What do yoʋ want me to do for yoʋ?” He said, “Lord, I want to receive my sight.”

42So Jesus said to him, “Receive yoʋr sight; yoʋr faith has healed yoʋ.”

43Immediately he received his sight and began following Jesus, glorifying God. And when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.