1And he told them a parable to show that they should always pray and not lose heart,
2saying, ‘There was a certain judge in a certain city who did not fear God and did not respect man.
3And there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
4And for a time he was unwilling. But afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man,
5yet because this widow keeps causing me trouble, I will grant her justice, so that by continually coming she does not wear me out.’
6And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.
7And will not God grant justice to his elect who cry out to him day and night? And will he delay long over them?
8I tell you that he will grant their justice quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?’
9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt:
10‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11The Pharisee, standing, was praying these things to himself: ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men—swindlers, unrighteous, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
12I fast twice a week; I tithe all that I get.’
13But the tax collector, standing far off, was unwilling even to lift his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, the sinner.’
14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’
15Now they were bringing even infants to him so that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they began to rebuke them.
16But Jesus called them to him, saying, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such as these belongs the kingdom of God.
17Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will by no means enter it.’
18And a certain ruler asked him, saying, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’
19And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—God.
20You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’’
21And he said, ‘All these I have kept from my youth.’
22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘One thing you still lack: sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in the heavens; and come, follow me.’
23But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.
24And Jesus, seeing him, said, ‘How difficult it is for those who have wealth 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.’
26And those who heard said, ‘Then who can be saved?’
27But he said, ‘The things that are impossible with men are possible with God.’
28And Peter said, ‘Look, we have left our own things and followed you.’
29And he said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents 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.’
31And taking the twelve aside, he said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be fulfilled.
32For he will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked, and insulted, and spit upon,
33and after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.”
34But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was being said.
35Now it happened that as he was approaching Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting by the road, begging.
36And when he heard a crowd passing by, he began to ask what this might be.
37They reported to him, “Jesus the Nazarene is passing by.”
38And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39And those who were leading the way rebuked him to be quiet, but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he had come near, he asked him,
41“What do you want me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, that I might regain my sight.”
42And Jesus said to him, “Regain your sight; your faith has saved you.”
43And immediately he regained his sight and began to follow him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
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