Luke 18 : 1 (HCSB)
He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged:
Luke 18 : 2 (HCSB)
"There was a judge in one town who didn't fear God or respect man.
Luke 18 : 3 (HCSB)
And a widow in that town kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.'
Luke 18 : 4 (HCSB)
"For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or respect man,
Luke 18 : 5 (HCSB)
yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice, so she doesn't wear me out by her persistent coming.'"
Luke 18 : 6 (HCSB)
Then the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.
Luke 18 : 7 (HCSB)
Will not God grant justice to His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay [to help] them?
Luke 18 : 8 (HCSB)
I tell you that He will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find that faith on earth?"
Luke 18 : 9 (HCSB)
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else:
Luke 18 : 10 (HCSB)
"Two men went up to the temple complex to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Luke 18 : 11 (HCSB)
The Pharisee took his stand and was praying like this: 'God, I thank You that I'm not like other people-- greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
Luke 18 : 12 (HCSB)
I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.'
Luke 18 : 13 (HCSB)
"But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, 'God, turn Your wrath from me-- a sinner!'
Luke 18 : 14 (HCSB)
I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
Luke 18 : 15 (HCSB)
Some people were even bringing infants to Him so He might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
Luke 18 : 16 (HCSB)
Jesus, however, invited them: "Let the little children come to Me, and don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Luke 18 : 17 (HCSB)
I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Luke 18 : 18 (HCSB)
A ruler asked Him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Luke 18 : 19 (HCSB)
"Why do you call Me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good but One-- God.
Luke 18 : 20 (HCSB)
You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother."
Luke 18 : 21 (HCSB)
"I have kept all these from my youth," he said.
Luke 18 : 22 (HCSB)
When Jesus heard this, He told him, "You still lack one thing: sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me."
Luke 18 : 23 (HCSB)
After he heard this, he became extremely sad, because he was very rich.
Luke 18 : 24 (HCSB)
Seeing that he became sad, Jesus said, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!
Luke 18 : 25 (HCSB)
For 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."
Luke 18 : 26 (HCSB)
Those who heard this asked, "Then who can be saved?"
Luke 18 : 27 (HCSB)
He replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."
Luke 18 : 28 (HCSB)
Then Peter said, "Look, we have left what we had and followed You."
Luke 18 : 29 (HCSB)
So He said to them, "I assure you: There is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers, parents or children because of the kingdom of God,
Luke 18 : 30 (HCSB)
who will not receive many times more at this time, and eternal life in the age to come."
Luke 18 : 31 (HCSB)
Then He took the Twelve aside and told them, "Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. Everything that is written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.
Luke 18 : 32 (HCSB)
For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and He will be mocked, insulted, spit on;
Luke 18 : 33 (HCSB)
and after they flog Him, they will kill Him, and He will rise on the third day."
Luke 18 : 34 (HCSB)
They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.
Luke 18 : 35 (HCSB)
As He drew near Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging.
Luke 18 : 36 (HCSB)
Hearing a crowd passing by, he inquired what this meant.
Luke 18 : 37 (HCSB)
"Jesus the Nazarene is passing by," they told him.
Luke 18 : 38 (HCSB)
So he called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Luke 18 : 39 (HCSB)
Then those in front told him to keep quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Luke 18 : 40 (HCSB)
Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him. When he drew near, He asked him,
Luke 18 : 41 (HCSB)
"What do you want Me to do for you?" "Lord," he said, "I want to see!"
Luke 18 : 42 (HCSB)
"Receive your sight!" Jesus told him. "Your faith has healed you."
Luke 18 : 43 (HCSB)
Instantly he could see, and he began to follow Him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
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