1And He told this parable to them to illustrate that they ought to always pray, and not to give up: 2“There was in a city a judge, who neither feared God, nor cared about people. 3And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him, asking, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary’. 4And for a while he would not; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God, nor regard man, 5Yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice; because she wearies me with her constant pleas.’” 6And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge said. 7And will God not bring justice for His own chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? 8I tell you that He will avenge them promptly. But when the Son of man comes, how many will He find faithful on the earth?”

9And to some who were confident of their own righteousness, and despised others, He told this parable: 10“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a despised tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed thus, ‘God, I thank You, that I am not like other men - extortioners, cheaters, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week, I give a tenth (tithes) of all that I get’. 13But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not so much as lift his eyes up to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast, and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’ 14I tell you that this man (the tax collector) went to his home justified before God, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself shall be abased; but he that humbles himself shall be exalted.”

15The people were also bringing infants to Jesus, for Him to touch them; but when His disciples saw it, they scolded them. 16But Jesus called the children to Him, and said, “Let the little ones come to Me, and do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to (or is made up of) such as they. 17For I tell you truly, ‘Whoever will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child shall never enter it.’”

18And a certain religious leader asked Him, “Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 19And Jesus asked him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good, except God alone. 20You know the commandments – ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and your mother’. 21And he replied, ‘All these have I kept since I was a boy.’” 22Now when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow Me.” 23And when he heard this, he was very sad; because he was very wealthy. 24And when Jesus saw his reaction, He said, “How difficult it is for those with wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26And those that heard that said, “Who, then, can be saved?” 27And Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

28Then Peter said, “We have left all that we had to follow You.” 29And Jesus replied, “I tell you truly, ‘There is no man that has left house, parents, brothers, sisters, wife, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30Who shall not receive many times more in this present time; and in the age to come - eternal life.’”

31Then He took the twelve aside, and said to them, “Listen, we are going up to Jerusalem; and all that is written by the prophets about the Son of man shall be fulfilled. 32For He shall be turned over to the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, spitefully treated, and spit upon; 33And they shall scourge (flog) Him, and put Him to death. And on the third day He shall rise again.” 34And the disciples did not understand any of this; the significance of what He said was hidden from them, nor did they grasp what He told them.

35And as He was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road, begging; 36And when he heard the crowd passing by, he asked what was happening. 37And they told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38And he called out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39And those who led the way rebuffed him, and told him to be quiet; but he shouted all the more: “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40And Jesus stopped, and ordered him to be brought to Him; and when he had come near, Jesus asked him, 41“What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, that I may have my sight.” 42And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43And he immediately received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, also gave praise unto God.