Luke 18 : 1 (NLT)
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
Luke 18 : 2 (NLT)
"There was a judge in a certain city," he said, "who neither feared God nor cared about people.
Luke 18 : 3 (NLT)
A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, 'Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.'
Luke 18 : 4 (NLT)
The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, 'I don't fear God or care about people,
Luke 18 : 5 (NLT)
but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'"
Luke 18 : 6 (NLT)
Then the Lord said, "Learn a lesson from this unjust judge.
Luke 18 : 7 (NLT)
Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
Luke 18 : 8 (NLT)
I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?"
Luke 18 : 9 (NLT)
Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else:
Luke 18 : 10 (NLT)
"Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.
Luke 18 : 11 (NLT)
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: 'I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don't cheat, I don't sin, and I don't commit adultery. I'm certainly not like that tax collector!
Luke 18 : 12 (NLT)
I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.'
Luke 18 : 13 (NLT)
"But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.'
Luke 18 : 14 (NLT)
I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
Luke 18 : 15 (NLT)
One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.
Luke 18 : 16 (NLT)
Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.
Luke 18 : 17 (NLT)
I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."
Luke 18 : 18 (NLT)
Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: "Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?"
Luke 18 : 19 (NLT)
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "Only God is truly good.
Luke 18 : 20 (NLT)
But to answer your question, you know the commandments: 'You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.' "
Luke 18 : 21 (NLT)
The man replied, "I've carefully obeyed all these commandments since I was young."
Luke 18 : 22 (NLT)
When Jesus heard his answer, he said, "There is still one thing you haven't done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
Luke 18 : 23 (NLT)
But when the man heard this he became sad, for he was very rich.
Luke 18 : 24 (NLT)
When Jesus saw this, he said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!
Luke 18 : 25 (NLT)
In fact, 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 (NLT)
Those who heard this said, "Then who in the world can be saved?"
Luke 18 : 27 (NLT)
He replied, "What is impossible for people is possible with God."
Luke 18 : 28 (NLT)
Peter said, "We've left our homes to follow you."
Luke 18 : 29 (NLT)
"Yes," Jesus replied, "and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God,
Luke 18 : 30 (NLT)
will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come."
Luke 18 : 31 (NLT)
Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, "Listen, we're going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true.
Luke 18 : 32 (NLT)
He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon.
Luke 18 : 33 (NLT)
They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again."
Luke 18 : 34 (NLT)
But they didn't understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.
Luke 18 : 35 (NLT)
As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road.
Luke 18 : 36 (NLT)
When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening.
Luke 18 : 37 (NLT)
They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by.
Luke 18 : 38 (NLT)
So he began shouting, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Luke 18 : 39 (NLT)
"Be quiet!" the people in front yelled at him.But he only shouted louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Luke 18 : 40 (NLT)
When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him,
Luke 18 : 41 (NLT)
"What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord," he said, "I want to see!"
Luke 18 : 42 (NLT)
And Jesus said, "All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you."
Luke 18 : 43 (NLT)
Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.
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