Luke 18:9–30

THE PARABLE OF THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX COLLECTOR

9 Heac also told this parable to some who trusted in themselvesad that they were righteousae and looked downaf on everyone else: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray,ag one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee was standingah and praying like this about himself:B ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people—greedy,ai unrighteous,aj adulterers,ak or even like this tax collector. 12 I fastal twice a week; I give a tenthC,am of everything I get.’

13 “But the tax collector, standing far off,an would not even raise his eyes to heavenao but kept striking his chestap and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me,D,aq a sinner!’ar 14 I tell you, this one went down to his house justifiedas rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”at

BLESSING THE CHILDREN

15 Peopleau were bringing infants to him so that 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,av and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you,aw whoever does not receiveax the kingdom of God like a little childay will never enter it.”

THE RICH YOUNG RULER

18 Aaz rulerba asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”bb

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone. 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.”E,a

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,b and you will have treasure in heaven.c Then come, follow me.”d

23 After he heard this, he became extremely sad,e because he was very rich.

POSSESSIONS AND THE KINGDOM

24 Seeing that he became sad,F 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?”f

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

28 Then Peter said, “Look, we have left what we had and followedh 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,i and eternal life in the age to come.”