The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Luke 18
1 He also spoke a parable to them that
they must always pray and not give up,
2 saying, “There was a judge in a certain
city who didn’t fear God and didn’t respect
man.
3 A widow was in that city, and she often
came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my
adversary!’
4 He wouldn’t for a while; but afterward
he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear
God nor respect man,
5 yet because this widow bothers me, I
will defend her, or else she will wear me
out by her continual coming.’ ”
6 The Lord said, “Listen to what the
unrighteous judge says.
7 Won’t God avenge his chosen ones who
are crying out to him day and night, and
yet he exercises patience with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them
quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of
Man comes, will he find faith on the
earth?”
9 He also spoke this parable to certain
people who were convinced of their own
righteousness, and who despised all others:
10 “Two men went up into the temple to
pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other
was a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed by him
self like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am
not like the rest of men: extortionists,
unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax
collector.
12 I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all
that I get.’
13 But the tax collector, standing far
away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to
heaven, but beat his chest, saying, ‘God, be
merciful to me, a sinner!’
14 I tell you, this man went down to his
house justified rather than the other; for
everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
15 They were also bringing their babies
to him, that he might touch them. But
when the disciples saw it, they rebuked
them.
16 Jesus summoned them, saying, “Allow
the little children to come to me, and don’t
hinder them,for God’s Kingdom belongs to
such as these.
17 Most certainly, I tell you, whoever
doesn’t receive God’s Kingdom like a little
child, he will in no way enter into it.”
18 A certain ruler asked him, saying,
“Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit
eternal life?”
19 Jesus asked him, “Why do you call me
good? No one is good, except one: God.
20 You know the commandments: ‘Don’t
commit adultery,’ ‘Don’t murder,’ ‘Don’t
steal,’ ‘Don’t give false testimony,’ ‘Honor
your father and your mother.’ ”*
21 He said, “I have observed all these
things from my youth up.”
22 When Jesus heard these things, he said
to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all
that you have and distribute it to the poor.
Then you will have treasure in heaven;
then come, follow me.”
23 But when he heard these things, he
became very sad, for he was very rich.
24 Jesus, seeing that he became very sad,
said, “How hard it is for those who have
riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!
25 For it is easier for a camel to enter in
through a needle’s eye than for a rich man
to enter into God’s Kingdom.”
26 Those who heard it said, “Then who
can be saved?”
27 But he said, “The things which are
impossible with men are possible
with God.”
28 Peter said, “Look, we have left
everything and followed you.”
29 He said to them, “Most certainly I tell
you, there is no one who has left house, or
wife, or brothers, or parents, or children,
for God’s Kingdom’s sake,
30 who will not receive many times more
in this time, and in the world to come,
eternal life.”
31 He took the twelve aside and said
to them, “Behold, we are going up to
Jerusalem, and all the things
that are written through the
prophets concerning the
Son of Man will be completed.
32 For he will be delivered up to the
Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully,
and spit on.
33 They will scourge and kill him. On the
third day, he will rise again.”
34 They understood none of these things.
This saying was hidden from them, and
they didn’t understand the things that
were said.
35 As he came near Jericho, a certain
blind man sat by the road, begging.
36 Hearing a multitude going by, he
asked what this meant.
37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth
was passing by.
38 He cried out, “Jesus, you son of David,
have mercy on me!”
39 Those who led the way rebuked him,
that he should be quiet; but he cried
out all the more, “You son of David,
have mercy on me!”
40 Standing still, Jesus commanded him
to be brought to him. When he had come
near, he asked him,
41 “What do you want me to do?”
He said, “Lord, that I may see again.”
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight.
Your faith has healed you.”
43 Immediately he received his sight and
followed him, glorifying God. All
the people, when they saw it, praised God.