The Gospel According to St. Luke

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 18 -

And He also spoke an allegory to them, that it is always necessary to pray and not to faint,

saying, “A certain judge was in a certain city—he is not fearing God, and he is not regarding man—

and a widow was in that city, and she was coming to him, saying, Do me justice on my opponent,

and he would not for a time, but after these things he said in himself, Even if I do not fear God, and do not regard man,

yet because this widow gives me trouble, I will do her justice, lest, continuously coming, she may bruise me.”

And the LORD said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says:

and will God not execute justice to His chosen ones, who are crying to Him day and night—bearing long in regard to them?

I say to you that He will execute justice to them quickly; but the Son of Man having come, will He find faith on the earth?”

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

And He also spoke to some who have been trusting in themselves that they were righteous, and have been despising the rest, this allegory:

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector;

the Pharisee having stood by himself, thus prayed: God, I thank You that I am not as the rest of men, rapacious, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax collector;

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all things—as many as I possess.

And the tax collector, having stood far off, would not even lift up the eyes to the sky, but was striking on his breast, saying, God be propitious to me—the sinner!

I say to you, this one went down declared righteous, to his house, rather than that one: for everyone who is exalting himself will be humbled, and he who is humbling himself will be exalted.”

Jesus Blesses the Children

(Matthew 19:13–15; Mark 10:13–16)

And they were also bringing the babies near, that He may touch them, and the disciples having seen, rebuked them,

and Jesus having called them near, said, “Permit the little children to come to Me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the Kingdom of God;

truly I say to you, whoever may not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, may not enter into it.”

The Rich Young Ruler

(Matthew 19:16–30; Mark 10:17–31)

And a certain ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what having done—will I inherit continuous life?”

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one [is] good, except one—God;

you have known the commands: You may not commit adultery, You may not murder, You may not steal, You may not bear false witness, Honor your father and your mother.”

And he said, “All these I kept from my youth”;

and having heard these things, Jesus said to him, “Yet one thing to you is lacking: all things—as many as you have—sell, and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven, and come, follow Me”;

and he, having heard these things, became very sorrowful, for he was exceedingly rich.

And Jesus having seen him become very sorrowful, said, “How hardly will those having riches enter into the Kingdom of God!

For it is easier for a camel to enter through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.”

And those who heard, said, “And who is able to be saved?”

And He said, “The things impossible with men are possible with God.”

And Peter said, “Behold, we left all, and followed You”;

and He said to them, “Truly I say to you that there is not one who left house, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God,

who may not receive back manifold more in this time, and in the coming age, continuous life.”

The Third Prediction of the Passion

(Matthew 20:17–19; Mark 10:32–34)

And having taken the Twelve aside, He said to them, “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things will be accomplished that have been written through the prophets to the Son of Man,

for He will be delivered up to the nations, and will be mocked, and insulted, and spit on,

and having scourged they will put Him to death, and on the third day He will rise again.”

And they understood none of these things, and this saying was hid from them, and they were not knowing the things said.

Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar

(Matthew 20:29–34; Mark 10:46–52)

And it came to pass, in His coming near to Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting beside the way begging,

and having heard a multitude going by, he was inquiring what this may be,

and they brought him word that Jesus the Nazarene passes by,

and he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, deal kindly with me”;

and those going before were rebuking him, that he might be silent, but he was crying out much more, “Son of David, deal kindly with me!”

And Jesus having stood, commanded him to be brought to Him, and he having come near, He questioned him,

saying, “What do you will I will do to you?” And he said, “Lord, that I may receive sight.”

And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has saved you”;

and instantly he received sight, and was following Him, glorifying God; and all the people, having seen, gave praise to God.

He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray and not give up,

saying, “There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God and didn’t respect man.

A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my adversary!’

He wouldn’t for a while; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man,

yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.’”

The Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.

Won’t God avenge his chosen ones who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?

I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

He also spoke this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others:

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.

The Pharisee stood and prayed by himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men: extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’

But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

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.”

Jesus Blesses the Children

(Matthew 19:13–15; Mark 10:13–16)

They were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

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.

Most certainly, I tell you, whoever doesn’t receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.”

The Rich Young Ruler

(Matthew 19:16–30; Mark 10:17–31)

A certain ruler asked him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus asked him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one: God.

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.’” (a)

He said, “I have observed all these things from my youth up.”

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.”

But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.

Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!

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.”

Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”

But he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

Peter said, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”

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,

who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life.”

The Third Prediction of the Passion

(Matthew 20:17–19; Mark 10:32–34)

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.

For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on.

They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again.”

They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn’t understand the things that were said.

Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar

(Matthew 20:29–34; Mark 10:46–52)

As he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.

Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.

They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.

He cried out, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!”

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!”

Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him,

“What do you want me to do?” He said, “Lord, that I may see again.”

Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.”

Immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God.

Footnotes

(a)18:20 ℘ Exodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20