Parable of a persistent widow

1And then He told them a parable, the point being that one needs to always pray and not lose heart,

2saying: “There was a judge in a certain town who did not fear God nor regard man.

3But there was a widow in that town, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’

4And for a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I don't fear God nor regard man,

5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will defend her, so that her endless coming doesn't wear me out!’ ”

6Then the Lord said: “Hear what the unjust judge said.

7And will not God get justice for His elect who are crying out to Him day and night, indeed being patient with them?

8I tell you that He will get justice for them quickly. ³⁸⁴However, when the Son of the Man comes, will He actually find the faith on the earth?” ³⁸⁵

Parable of a Pharisee and a publican

9Then He told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised the rest:

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

11The Pharisee stood and started praying to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like all the rest—robbers, unjust, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

12I fast twice a week; I tithe all that I get.’ ³⁸⁶

13The tax collector, staying a good ways off, did not even venture to look up to heaven, but started beating on his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’

14I say to you that this one went back home justified rather than that one; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

You enter the Kingdom like a child does

15Then they even started bringing their babies to Him, that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

16But Jesus summoned them and said: “Allow the little children to come to me, and do not hinder them; because the Kingdom of God is of such.

17I tell you assuredly, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God the way a little child does ³⁸⁷will by no means enter it.”

An upright, rich ruler

18A certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19So Jesus said to him: “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—God. ³⁸⁸

20You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and your mother.’ ”

21And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.”

22Well upon hearing these things ³⁸⁹Jesus said to him, “You still lack one thing: sell all you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

23But when he heard this he became very sad, because he was extremely rich. ³⁹⁰

Riches tend to keep people out of the Kingdom

24When Jesus saw that he became sad, He said: “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter the Kingdom of God! ³⁹¹

25It is actually easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle ³⁹²than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God!”

26So the hearers said, “Who then can be saved?”

27And He said, “The things that are impossible with men are possible with God.”

28Then Peter said, “Notice that we have left all and followed you!”

29So He said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God,

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

Jesus declares His coming death and resurrection—third time

31Then He took the Twelve aside and said to them: “Take note, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of the Man will be fulfilled:

32He will be betrayed to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon,

33and they will scourge and kill Him. And on the third day ³⁹³He will rise again.”

34But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, ³⁹⁴and they did not know what was being said.

A blind man near Jericho

35Then it happened, as He approached Jericho, ³⁹⁵that a certain blind man was sitting alongside the road begging.

36Hearing a crowd going by, he asked what it was.

37So they told him that Jesus the Natsorean ³⁹⁶was passing by.

38Well he shouted, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39Those who led the way started reproving him, to shut him up; but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40So Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to Him. When he got close He asked him, saying,

41“What do you want me to do for you?” So he said, “Lord, that I may see again!” ³⁹⁷

42Then Jesus said to him: “See again! Your faith has made you well.”

43And immediately he did! and he followed Him, glorifying God. And all who witnessed it gave praise to God.