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The Parable of the Persistent Widow

¹ Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray^(C1) always and not give up.^{(C2) 2} “There was a judge in a certain town who didn’t fear God³ And a widow

⁴ “For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect people,⁵ yet because this widow keeps

⁶ Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.⁷ Will not God grant justice⁸ I tell you that he will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes,

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹ He^(C1) also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves^(C2) that they were righteous^(C3) and looked down^(C4) on everyone else: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray,¹¹ The Pharisee was standing¹² I fast

¹³ “But the tax collector, standing far off,¹⁴ I tell you, this one went down to his house justified

Blessing the Children

¹⁵ People^(C1) were bringing infants to him so he might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. ¹⁶ Jesus, however, invited them: “Let the little children come to me,¹⁷ Truly I tell you,

The Rich Young Ruler

¹⁸ A^(C1) ruler^(C2) asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ^(C3)

¹⁹ “Why do you call me good?”²⁰ You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother.”

²¹ “I have kept all these from my youth,” he said.

²² When Jesus heard this, he told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell all you have and distribute it to the poor,

²³ After he heard this, he became extremely sad,^(C1) because he was very rich.

Possessions and the Kingdom

²⁴ Seeing that he became sad,^(F1) Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!²⁵ For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ Those who heard this asked, “Then who can be saved?” ^(C1)

²⁷ He replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

²⁸ Then Peter said, “Look, we have left what we had and followed^(C1) you.”

²⁹ So he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers or sisters, parents or children because of the kingdom of God,³⁰ who will not receive many times more at this time,

The Third Prediction of His Death

³¹ Then^(C1) he took the Twelve aside and told them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem.³² For he will be handed over to the Gentiles,³³ and after they flog him, they will kill him, and he will rise on the third day.”

³⁴ They understood none of these things.^(C1) The meaning of the saying^(F1)(C2) was hidden^(C3) from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

A Blind Man Receives His Sight

³⁵ As^(C1) he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. ³⁶ Hearing a crowd passing by, he inquired what was happening. ³⁷ “Jesus of Nazareth^(C1) is passing by,” they told him.

³⁸ So he called out,^(C1) “Jesus, Son of David,^(C2) have mercy^(C3) on me!” ³⁹ Then those in front told him to keep quiet,^(F1) but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁰ Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to him. When he came closer, he asked him, ⁴¹ “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord,” he said, “I want to see.”

⁴² “Receive your sight.”⁴³ Instantly he could see, and he began to follow him, glorifying God.^(C1) All the people,^(C2) when they saw it, gave praise to God.