The Parable about the Judge and the Widow

1Jesusa told his disciplesb a parable about their need to pray all the time and never give up. 2He said, “In a city there was a judge who didn’t fear God or respect people. 3In that city there was also a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4For a while the judgec refused. But later, he told himself, ‘I don’t fear God or respect people, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice. Otherwise, she will keep coming and wear me out.’”

6Then the Lord added, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says. 7Won’t God grant his chosen people justice when they cry out to him day and night? Is he slow to help them? 8I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

The Parable about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9Jesusd also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves, thinking they were righteous, but who looked down on everyone else: 10“Two men went up to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘O God, I thank you that I’m not like other people—thieves, dishonest people, adulterers, or even this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week, and I give a tenth of my entire income.’

13“But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even look up to heaven. Instead, he continued to beat his chest and said, ‘O God, be merciful to me, the sinner that I am!’e 14I tell you, this man, rather than the other one, went down to his home justified, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the person who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus Blesses the Little Children

(Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16)

15Now some peoplef were even bringing their infants to Jesusg to have him touch them. But when the disciples saw this, they sternly told the peopleh not to do that. 16Jesus, however, called for the childreni and said, “Let the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom of God belongs to people like these. 17I tell all of youj with certainty, whoever doesn’t receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never get into it at all.”

A Rich Man Comes to Jesus

(Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31)

18Then an official asked Jesus,k “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Nobody is good except for one—God. 20You know the commandments: ‘Never commit adultery.l Never murder.m Never steal.n Never give false testimony.o Honor your father and mother.’”p

21The officialq replied, “I have kept all of these since I was a young man.”

22When Jesus heard this, he told him, “You still need to do one thing. Sell everything you have and give the moneyr to the destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me.” 23But when the officials heard this he became sad, because he was very rich.

Salvation and Reward

(Matthew 19:23-26; Mark 10:23-31)

24So when Jesus saw how sad he was, het said, “How hard it is for rich people to get into the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, it’s easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into the kingdom of God.”

26Those who were listening to Jesusu asked, “Then who can be saved?”

27Jesusv replied, “The things that are impossible for people are possible for God.”

28Then Peter said, “See, we have left everything we have and followed you.”

29Jesusw told them, “I tell all of youx with certainty, there is no one who has left his home, wife, brothers, parents, or children because of the kingdom of God 30who will not receive many times as much in this world, as well as eternal life in the age to come.”

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection a Third Time

(Matthew 20:17-19; Mark 10:32-34)

31Jesusy took the Twelve aside and told them, “Pay attention! We’re going up to Jerusalem. Everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled, 32because he’ll be handed over to the unbelievers,z and will be mocked, insulted, and spit on. 33After they have whipped him, they’ll kill him, but on the third day he’ll rise again.” 34But they didn’t understand any of this. What he said was hidden from them, and they didn’t know what he meant.

Jesus Heals a Blind Man

(Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-50)

35As Jesusaa was approaching Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the road begging. 36When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37They told him that Jesus from Nazarethbb was coming by. 38So he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39The people at the front of the crowdcc sternly told him to be quiet, but he started shouting even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

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

He said, “Lord, I want to see again!”

42So Jesus told him, “See again! Your faith has made you well.” 43Immediately the manee could see again and began to follow Jesus,ff glorifying God. All the people saw this and gave praise to God.