Study Desk

He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray^(a) always and not become discouraged:^(b)

"There was a judge in a certain town who didn't fear God^(c) or respect man.

And a widow^(d) in that town kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.'

"For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I don't fear God or respect man,

yet because this widow keeps^(e) pestering me,^[a] I will give her justice, so she doesn't wear me out^[b] by her persistent coming.'"

Then the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.

Will not God grant justice^(f) to His elect^(g) who cry out to Him day and night?^(h) Will He delay⁽ⁱ⁾ to help them?^[c]

I tell you that He will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes,^(j) will He find that faith^[d] on earth?"

He^(k) also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves^(l) that they were righteous^(m) and looked down⁽ⁿ⁾ on everyone else:

"Two men went up to the temple complex to pray,^(o) one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

The Pharisee took his stand ^[e](p) and was praying like this: ‘God, I thank You that I'm not like other people^[f] —greedy,^(q) unrighteous,^(r) adulterers,^(s) or even like this tax collector.

I fast^(t) twice a week; I give a tenth ^[g](u) of everything I get.'

"But the tax collector, standing far off,^(v) would not even raise his eyes to heaven^(w) but kept striking his chest ^[h](x) and saying, ‘God, turn Your wrath from me ^[i](y) —a sinner!'^(z)

I tell you, this one went down to his house justified^(aa) rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." ^(ab)

Some^(ac) people were even bringing infants to Him so He might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

Jesus, however, invited them: "Let the little children come to Me,^(ad) and don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

I assure you:^(ae) Whoever does not welcome^(af) the kingdom of God like a little child^(ag) will never enter it."

A^(ah) ruler^(ai) asked Him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"^(aj)

"Why do you call Me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good but One—God.

You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother. " ^(ak)[j]

"I have kept all these from my youth," he said.

When Jesus heard this, He told him, "You still lack one thing: Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor,^(al) and you will have treasure in heaven.^(am) Then come, follow Me." ^(an)

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