Luke 18:15-43

New International Version

The Little Children and Jesus^(A)

¹⁵ People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. ¹⁶ But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁷ Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child^(B) will never enter it.”

The Rich and the Kingdom of God^(C)

¹⁸ A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”^(D)

¹⁹ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ²⁰ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’^[a]”^(E)

²¹ “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

²² When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor,^(F) and you will have treasure in heaven.^(G) Then come, follow me.”

²³ When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. ²⁴ Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!^{(H) 25} Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷ Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”^(I)

²⁸ Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”^(J)

²⁹ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God ³⁰ will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come^(K) eternal life.”^(L)

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time^(M)

³¹ Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem,^(N) and everything that is written by the prophets^(O) about the Son of Man^(P) will be fulfilled. ³² He will be delivered over to the Gentiles.^(Q) They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; ³³ they will flog him^(R) and kill him.^(S) On the third day^(T) he will rise again.”^(U)

³⁴ The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.^(V)

A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight^(W)

³⁵ As Jesus approached Jericho,^(X) a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. ³⁶ When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. ³⁷ They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”^(Y)

³⁸ He called out, “Jesus, Son of David,^(Z) have mercy^(AA) on me!”

³⁹ Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”^(AB)

⁴⁰ Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, ⁴¹ “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

⁴² Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”^{(AC) 43} Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.^(AD)