Luke 18:1–23

Parable of the Woman and the Judge

18Then He spoke a parable to them, that men ^aalways ought to pray and not lose heart, ²saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor ¹regard man. ³Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ²‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ ⁴And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, ^5byet because this widow troubles me I will ³avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”

⁶Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. ⁷And ^cshall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? ⁸I tell you ^dthat He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹Also He spoke this parable to some ^ewho trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ¹⁰“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹The Pharisee ^fstood and prayed thus with himself, ^g‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ¹²I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ ¹³And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ ¹⁴I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; ^hfor everyone who exalts himself will be ⁴humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Christ Blesses the Children

Matt. 19:13–15; Mark 10:13–16

¹⁵ⁱThen they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. ¹⁶But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for ^jof such is the kingdom of God. ^17kAssuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

Rich Young Ruler

Matt. 19:16–26; Mark 10:17–27

^18lNow a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

¹⁹So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but ^mOne, that is, God. ²⁰You know the commandments: ⁿ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ^o‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”

²¹And he said, “All ^pthese things I have kept from my youth.”

²²So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. ^qSell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

²³But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.