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Parables on Prayer

¹ Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ^(C1)ought to pray and not ^(C2)become discouraged,² saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not ^(C1)respect any person.³ "Now there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me justice against my ^(F1)opponent.'⁴ "For a while he was unwilling; but later he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor ^(C1)respect any person,⁵ yet ^(C1)because this widow is bothering me, I will give her justice; otherwise ^(F1)by continually coming she will ^(C2)wear me out.'"⁶ And ^(C1)the Lord said, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge ^(*)said;⁷ now, will God not ^(C1)bring about justice for His ^(C2)elect who cry out to Him day ^(F1)and night, and will He ^(C3)delay long for them?⁸ "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, ^(C1)will He find ^(F1)faith on the earth?"

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹ Now He also told this parable to some people who ^(C1)trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and ^(C2)viewed others with contempt:¹⁰ "Two men ^(C1)went up into the ^(F1)temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.¹¹ "The Pharisee ^(C1)stood and began praying this in regard to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.¹² 'I ^(C1)fast twice a week; I ^(C2)pay tithes of all that I get.'¹³ "But the tax collector, ^(C1)standing some distance away, ^(C2)was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but ^(C3)was beating his chest, saying, 'God, be ^(F1)merciful to me, the sinner!'¹⁴ "I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other one; ^(C1)for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

^15 (C1)Now they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them.¹⁶ But Jesus called for ^(F1)the little ones, saying, "Allow the children to come to Me, and do not ^(F2)forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.¹⁷ "Truly I say to you, ^(C1)whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."

The Rich Young Ruler

^18 (C1)A ruler questioned Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"¹⁹ But Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me ^(F1)good? No one is ^(F1)good except God alone.²⁰ "You know the commandments, '^(C1)DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT GIVE FALSE TESTIMONY, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'"²¹ And he said, "All these things I have kept since my youth."²² Now when Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack; ^(C1)sell all that you possess and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have ^(C2)treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."²³ But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely wealthy.²⁴ And Jesus looked at him and said, "^(C1)How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!²⁵ "For ^(C1)it is easier for a camel to ^(F1)go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!"²⁶ Those who heard Him said, "And so who can be saved?"²⁷ But He said, "^(C1)The things that are impossible with people are possible with God."

²⁸ Peter said, "Behold, ^(C1)we have left ^(F1)our own homes and followed You."²⁹ And He said to them, "Truly I say to you, ^(C1)there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children for the sake of the kingdom of God,³⁰ who will not receive many times as much at this time, and in ^(C1)the age to come, eternal life."

³¹ Now He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, ^(C2)we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that have been written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.³² "^(C1)For He will be ^(F1)handed over to the Gentiles, and will be ridiculed, and abused, and spit upon,³³ and after they have flogged Him, they will kill Him; and on the third day He will rise."^34 (F1)(C1)The disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.

Bartimaeus Receives Sight

^35 (C1)Now as ^(F1)(C2)Jesus was approaching Jericho, a man who was blind was sitting by the road, begging.³⁶ But when he heard a crowd going by, he began inquiring what this was.³⁷ They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.³⁸ And he called out, saying, "Jesus, ^(C1)Son of David, have mercy on me!"³⁹ Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, "^(C1)Son of David, have mercy on me!"⁴⁰ And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He asked him,⁴¹ "What do you want Me to do for you?" And he said, "Lord, I want to regain my sight!"⁴² And Jesus said to him, "Regain your sight; ^(C1)your faith has ^(F1)made you well."⁴³ And immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, ^(C1)glorifying God; and when ^(C2)all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.