Luk 18 | NASB1995 | STEP | Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart ,

1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ^aought to pray and not to ^blose heart, 2 saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not ^crespect man. 3 “There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘ ^{▼▼ Lit Do me justice}Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ 4 “For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor ^erespect man, 5 yet ^fbecause this widow bothers me, I will ^{▼▼ Lit do her justice}give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will ^{▼▼ Lit hit me under the eye
,} ⁱwear me out.’” 6 And ^jthe Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; 7 now, will not God ^kbring about justice for His ^lelect who cry to Him day and night, ^{▼▼ Or and yet He is very patient toward them}and will He ⁿdelay long over them? 8 “I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, ^owill He find ^{▼▼ Lit the faith}faith on the earth?”

The Pharisee and the Publican

9 And He also told this parable to some people who ^qtrusted in themselves that they were righteous, and ^rviewed others with contempt: 10 “Two men ^swent up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 “The Pharisee ^tstood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 ‘I ^ufast twice a week; I ^vpay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector, ^wstanding some distance away, ^xwas even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but ^ywas beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be ^{▼▼ Or propitious}merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; ^aafor everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

15 ^abAnd they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. 16 But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 “Truly I say to you, ^acwhoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

The Rich Young Ruler

18 ^adA ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 “You know the commandments, ‘ ^ae Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; ^afsell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have ^agtreasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 23 But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 And Jesus looked at him and said, ^ah“How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! 25 “For ^aiit is easier for a camel to ^{▼▼ Lit enter}go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But He said, ^ak“The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”

28 Peter said, “Behold, ^alwe have left ^{▼▼ Lit our own things}our own homes and followed You.” 29 And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, ^anthere is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times as much at this time and in ^aothe age to come, eternal life.”

31 ^apThen He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, ^aqwe are going up to Jerusalem, and ^arall things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 ^as“For He will be ^{▼▼ Or betrayed}handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, 33 and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.” 34 But ^authe disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.

Bartimaeus Receives Sight

35 ^avAs ^{▼▼ Lit He
,} ^axJesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. 36 Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. 37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he called out, saying, “Jesus, ^aySon of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, ^az“Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, 41 “What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, I want to regain my sight!” 42 And Jesus said to him, ^{▼▼ Lit Regain your sight}“Receive your sight; ^bbyour faith has ^{▼▼ Lit saved you}made you well.” 43 Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, ^bdglorifying God; and when ^beall the people saw it, they gave praise to God.