Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks
Prayer and the Parable of the Persistent Widow
18 Then[a] Jesus[b] told them a parable to show them they should always[c] pray and not lose heart.[d] 2 He said,[e] “In a certain city[f] there was a judge[g] who neither feared God nor respected people.[h] 3 There was also a widow[i] in that city[j] who kept coming[k] to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For[l] a while he refused, but later on[m] he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor have regard for people,[n] 5 yet because this widow keeps on bothering me, I will give her justice, or in the end she will wear me out[o] by her unending pleas.’”[p] 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says![q] 7 Won’t[r] God give justice to his chosen ones, who cry out[s] to him day and night?[t] Will he delay[u] long to help them? 8 I tell you, he will give them justice speedily.[v] Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith[w] on earth?”
The Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector
9 Jesus[x] also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down[y] on everyone else. 10 “Two men went up[z] to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee[aa] and the other a tax collector.[ab] 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this:[ac] ‘God, I thank[ad] you that I am not like other people:[ae] extortionists,[af] unrighteous people,[ag] adulterers—or even like this tax collector.[ah] 12 I fast twice[ai] a week; I give a tenth[aj] of everything I get.’ 13 The tax collector, however, stood[ak] far off and would not even look up[al] to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful[am] to me, sinner that I am!’[an] 14 I tell you that this man went down to his home justified[ao] rather than the Pharisee.[ap] For everyone who exalts[aq] himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus and Little Children
15 Now people[ar] were even bringing their babies[as] to him for him to touch.[at] But when the disciples saw it, they began to scold those who brought them.[au] 16 But Jesus called for the children,[av] saying, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God[aw] belongs to such as these.[ax] 17 I tell you the truth,[ay] whoever does not receive[az] the kingdom of God like a child[ba] will never[bb] enter it.”
The Wealthy Ruler
18 Now[bc] a certain leader[bd] asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”[be] 19 Jesus[bf] said to him, “Why do you call me good?[bg] No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”[bh] 21 The man[bi] replied, “I have wholeheartedly obeyed[bj] all these laws[bk] since my youth.”[bl] 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have[bm] and give the money[bn] to the poor,[bo] and you will have treasure[bp] in heaven. Then[bq] come, follow me.” 23 But when the man[br] heard this he became very sad,[bs] for he was extremely wealthy. 24 When Jesus noticed this,[bt] he said, “How hard[bu] it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God![bv] 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle[bw] than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard this said, “Then[bx] who can be saved?”[by] 27 He replied, “What is impossible[bz] for mere humans[ca] is possible for God.” 28 And Peter said, “Look, we have left everything we own[cb] to follow you! 29 Then[cc] Jesus[cd] said to them, “I tell you the truth,[ce] there is no one who has left home or wife or brothers[cf] or parents or children for the sake of God’s kingdom 30 who will not receive many times more[cg] in this age[ch]—and in the age to come, eternal life.”[ci]
Another Prediction of Jesus’ Passion
31 Then[cj] Jesus[ck] took the twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.[cl] 32 For he will be handed over[cm] to the Gentiles; he will be mocked,[cn] mistreated,[co] and spat on.[cp] 33 They will flog him severely[cq] and kill him. Yet[cr] on the third day he will rise again.” 34 But[cs] the twelve[ct] understood none of these things. This[cu] saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp[cv] what Jesus meant.[cw]
Healing a Blind Man
35 As[cx] Jesus[cy] approached[cz] Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. 36 When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was going on. 37 They[da] told him, “Jesus the Nazarene is passing by.” 38 So[db] he called out,[dc] “Jesus, Son of David,[dd] have mercy[de] on me!” 39 And those who were in front[df] scolded[dg] him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted[dh] even more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 So[di] Jesus stopped and ordered the beggar[dj] to be brought to him. When the man[dk] came near, Jesus[dl] asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied,[dm] “Lord, let me see again.”[dn] 42 Jesus[do] said to him, “Receive[dp] your sight; your faith has healed you.”[dq] 43 And immediately he regained[dr] his sight and followed Jesus,[ds] praising[dt] God. When[du] all the people saw it, they too[dv] gave praise to God.
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.