1   He spoke to them in a parable to show that they should keep on praying and never lose heart: 2   ‘There was once a judge who cared nothing for God or man, 3   and in the same town there was a widow who constantly came before him demanding justice against her opponent. 4   For a long time he refused; but in the end he said to himself, “True, I care nothing for God or man; 5   but this widow is so great a nuisance that I will see her righted before she wears me out with her persistence.”’ 6   The Lord said, ‘You hear what the unjust judge says; 7   and will not God vindicate his chosen, who cry out to him day and night, while he listens patiently to them ^note? 8   I tell you, he will vindicate them soon enough. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’

9   And here is another parable that he told. It was aimed at those who were sure of their own goodness and looked down on everyone else. 10   ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer. 11   The Pharisee stood up and prayed thus: ^note “I thank thee, O God, that I am not like the rest of men, greedy, dishonest, adulterous; or, for that matter, like this tax-gatherer. 12    13   I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all that I get.” But the other kept his distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven, but beat upon his breast, saying, “O God, have mercy on me, sinner that I am.” 14   It was this man, I tell you, and not the other, who went home acquitted of his sins. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled; and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.’

15   They even brought babies for him to touch. When the disciples saw them they rebuked them, 16   but Jesus called for the children and said, ‘Let the little ones come to me; do not try to stop them;

Journeys and encounters for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17   I tell you that whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.’

18   A man of the ruling class put this question to him: ‘Good Master, what must I do to win eternal life?’ 19   Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? 20   No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: “Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not give false evidence; honour your father and mother.”’ 21    22   The man answered, ‘I have kept all these since I was a boy.’ On hearing this Jesus said, ‘There is still one thing lacking: sell everything you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; and come, follow me.’ 23   At these words his heart sank; for he was a very rich man. 24   When Jesus saw it he said, ‘How hard it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! 25   It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ 26   Those who heard asked, ‘Then who can be saved?’ 27   He answered, ‘What is impossible for men is possible for God.’

28   Peter said, ‘We here have left our belongings to become your followers.’ 29   Jesus said, ‘I tell you this: there is no one who has given up home, or wife, brothers, parents, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30   who will not be repaid many times over in this age, and in the age to come have eternal life.’

Challenge to Jerusalem

31   He took the Twelve aside and said, ‘We are now going up to Jerusalem; and all that was written by the prophets will come true for the Son of Man. 32   He will be handed over to the foreign power. 33   He will be mocked, maltreated, and spat upon. They will flog him and kill him. And on the third day he will rise again.’ 34   But they understood nothing of all this; they did not grasp what he was talking about; its meaning was concealed from them.

35   As he approached Jericho a blind man sat at the roadside begging. 36    37   Hearing a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ 38   Then he shouted out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.’ 39   The people in front told him

Challenge to Jerusalem to hold his tongue; but he called out all the more, ‘Son of David, have pity on me.’ 40   Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. 41   When he came up he asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ 42   ‘Sir, I want my sight back’, he answered. Jesus said to him, ‘Have back your sight; your faith has cured you.’ 43   He recovered his sight instantly; and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all the people gave praise to God for what they had seen.

Previous section

Next section