A Widow and a Judge
1 Jesus told his disciples a story about how they should keep on praying and never give up:
2 In a town there was once a judge who didn't fear God or care about people. 3 In that same town there was a widow who kept going to the judge and saying, “Make sure that I get fair treatment in court.”
4 For a while the judge refused to do anything. Finally, he said to himself, “Even though I don't fear God or care about people, 5 I will help this widow because she keeps on bothering me. If I don't help her, she will wear me out.”
6 The Lord said:
Think about what that crooked judge said. 7 Won't God protect his chosen ones who pray to him day and night? Won't he be concerned for them? 8 He will surely hurry and help them. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find on this earth anyone with faith?
A Pharisee and a Tax Collector
9 Jesus told a story to some people who thought they were better than others and who looked down on everyone else:
10 Two men went into the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood over by himself and prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not greedy, dishonest, and unfaithful in marriage like other people. And I am really glad that I am not like that tax collector over there. 12 I go without eating for two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all I earn.”
13 The tax collector stood off at a distance and did not think he was good enough even to look up toward heaven. He was so sorry for what he had done that he pounded his chest and prayed, “God, have pity on me! I am such a sinner.”
14 Then Jesus said, “When the two men went home, it was the tax collector and not the Pharisee who was pleasing to God. If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.”
Jesus Blesses Little Children
(Matthew 19.13-15Mark 10.13-16)15 Some people brought their little children for Jesus to bless. But when his disciples saw them doing this, they told the people to stop bothering him. 16 So Jesus called the children over to him and said, “Let the children come to me! Don't try to stop them. People who are like these children belong to God's kingdom. 17 You will never get into God's kingdom unless you enter it like a child!”
A Rich and Important Man
(Matthew 19.16-30Mark 10.17-31)18 An important man asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to have eternal life?”
19 Jesus said, “Why do you call me good? Only God is good. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Be faithful in marriage. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not tell lies about others. Respect your father and mother.’ ”
21 He told Jesus, “I have obeyed all these commandments since I was a young man.”
22 When Jesus heard this, he said, “There is one thing you still need to do. Go and sell everything you own! Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and be my follower.” 23 When the man heard this, he was sad, because he was very rich.
24 Jesus saw how sad the man was. So he said, “It's terribly hard for rich people to get into God's kingdom! 25 In fact, it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into God's kingdom.”
26 When the crowd heard this, they asked, “How can anyone ever be saved?”
27 Jesus replied, “There are some things that people cannot do, but God can do anything.”
28 Peter said, “Remember, we left everything to be your followers!”
29 Jesus answered, “You can be sure that anyone who gives up home or wife or brothers or family or children because of God's kingdom 30 will be given much more in this life. And in the future world they will have eternal life.”
Jesus Again Tells about His Death
(Matthew 20.17-19Mark 10.32-34)31 Jesus took the twelve apostles aside and said:
We are now on our way to Jerusalem. Everything that the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will happen there. 32 He will be handed over to foreigners, who will make fun of him, mistreat him, and spit on him. 33 They will beat him and kill him, but three days later he will rise to life.
34 The apostles did not understand what Jesus was talking about. They could not understand, because the meaning of what he said was hidden from them.
Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar
(Matthew 20.29-34Mark 10.46-52)35 When Jesus was coming close to Jericho, a blind man sat begging beside the road. 36 The man heard the crowd walking by and asked what was happening. 37 Some people told him that Jesus from Nazareth was passing by. 38 So the blind man shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” 39 The people who were going along with Jesus told the man to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have pity on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and told some people to bring the blind man over to him. When the blind man was getting near, Jesus asked, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord, I want to see!” he answered.
42 Jesus replied, “Look and you will see! Your eyes are healed because of your faith.” 43 At once the man could see, and he went with Jesus and started thanking God. When the crowds saw what happened, they praised God.
1 And he spake also a parable vnto them, to this ende, that they ought alwayes to pray, and not to waxe faint, 2 Saying, There was a iudge in a certaine citie, which feared not God, neither reuereced man. 3 And there was a widowe in that citie, which came vnto him, saying, Doe mee iustice against mine aduersarie. 4 And hee would not of a long time: but afterward he said with himselfe, Though I feare not God, nor reuerence man, 5 Yet because this widowe troubleth mee, I will doe her right, lest at the last shee come and make me wearie. 6 And the Lord said, Heare what the vnrighteous iudge saith. 7 Now shall not God auenge his elect, which cry day and night vnto him, yea, though he suffer long for them? 8 I tell you he will auenge them quickly: but when the Sonne of man commeth, shall he finde faith on the earth? 9 He spake also this parable vnto certaine which trusted in themselues that they were iust, and despised other. 10 Two men went vp into the Temple to pray: the one a Pharise, and the other a Publican. 11 The Pharise stoode and prayed thus with himselfe, O God, I thanke thee that I am not as other men, extortioners, vniust, adulterers, or euen as this Publican. 12 I fast twise in the weeke: I giue tithe of all that euer I possesse. 13 But the Publican standing a farre off, woulde not lift vp so much as his eyes to heauen, but smote his brest, saying, O God, be mercifull to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man departed to his house iustified, rather then the other: for euery man that exalteth himselfe, shall be brought lowe, and he that humbleth himselfe, shalbe exalted. 15 They brought vnto him also babes that he should touche them. And when his disciples sawe it, they rebuked them. 16 But Iesus called them vnto him, and said, Suffer the babes to come vnto mee, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdome of God. 17 Verely I say vnto you, whosoeuer receiueth not the kingdome of God as a babe, he shall not enter therein. 18 Then a certaine ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what ought I to doe, to inherite eternall life? 19 And Iesus said vnto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, saue one, euen God. 20 Thou knowest the comandements, Thou shalt not commit adulterie: Thou shalt not kill: Thou shalt not steale: Thou shalt not beare false witnes: Honour thy father and thy mother. 21 And hee saide, All these haue I kept from my youth. 22 Nowe when Iesus heard that, he saide vnto him, Yet lackest thou one thing. Sell all that euer thou hast, and distribute vnto the poore, and thou shalt haue treasure in heauen, and come follow mee. 23 But when he heard those things, he was very heauie: for he was marueilous riche. 24 And when Iesus sawe him very sorowfull, he said, With what difficultie shall they that haue riches, enter into the kingdome of God! 25 Surely it is easier for a camel to go through a needles eye, then for a riche man to enter into the kingdome of God. 26 Then said they that heard it, And who then can be saued? 27 And he said, The things which are vnpossible with men, are possible with God. 28 Then Peter said, Loe, we haue left all, and haue followed thee. 29 And he said vnto them, Verely I say vnto you, there is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children for the kingdome of Gods sake, 30 Which shall not receiue much more in this world, and in the world to come life euerlasting. 31 Then Iesus tooke vnto him ye twelue, and said vnto them, Beholde, we goe vp to Hierusalem, and all things shalbe fulfilled to the Sonne of man, that are writttn by the Prophets. 32 For he shall be deliuered vnto the Gentiles, and shalbe mocked, and shalbe spitefully entreated, and shalbe spitted on. 33 And when they haue scourged him, they will put him to death: but the thirde day hee shall rise againe. 34 But they vnderstood none of these things, and this saying was hidde from them, neither perceiued they the things, which were spoken. 35 And it came to passe, that as he was come neere vnto Iericho, a certaine blinde man sate by the way side, begging. 36 And when he heard the people passe by, he asked what it meant. 37 And they saide vnto him, that Iesus of Nazareth passed by. 38 Then hee cried, saying, Iesus the Sonne of Dauid, haue mercie on me. 39 And they which went before, rebuked him that he shoulde holde his peace, but he cried much more, O Sone of Dauid, haue mercie on me. 40 And Iesus stoode stil, and commanded him to be brought vnto him. And when he was come neere, he asked him, 41 Saying, What wilt thou that I doe vnto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receiue my sight. 42 And Iesus said vnto him, Receiue thy sight: thy faith hath saued thee. 43 Then immediatly he receiued his sight, and followed him, praysing God: and all the people, when they sawe this, gaue praise to God.