Chapter Overview Key ideas, context & where Christ is 1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart .
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. An unjust judge keeps…
2 He said , “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man .
3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying , ‘Give me justice against my adversary .’
4 For a while he refused , but afterward he said to himself , ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man ,
My grandmother used to quote this verse every morning. His timing, His methods, His purposes - all beyond our comprehens…
5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me , I will give her justice , so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming .’”
6 And the Lord said , “Hear what the unrighteous judge says .
7 And will not God give justice to his elect , who cry to him day and night ? Will he delay long over them ?
8 I tell you , he will give justice to them speedily . Nevertheless , when the Son of Man comes , will he find faith on earth ?”
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous , and treated others with contempt :
Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stands by himself and …
10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray , one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector .
11 The Pharisee , standing by himself , prayed thus : ‘God , I thank you that I am not like other men , extortioners , unjust , adulterers , or even like this tax collector .
12 I fast twice a week ; I give tithes of all that I get .’
13 But the tax collector , standing far off , would not even lift up his eyes to heaven , but beat his breast , saying , ‘God , be merciful to me , a sinner !’
14 I tell you , this man went down to his house justified , rather than the other . For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled , but the one who humbles himself will be exalted .”
15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them . And when the disciples saw it , they rebuked them .
Today it speaks comfort; a year ago it spoke conviction. God is faithful in every circumstance. The promise here is not …
16 But Jesus called them to him , saying , “Let the children come to me , and do not hinder them , for to such belongs the kingdom of God .
17 Truly , I say to you , whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it .”
18 And a ruler asked him , “Good Teacher , what must I do to inherit eternal life ?”
God is faithful in every circumstance. The contrast between human weakness and divine strength is so vivid in this passa…
19 And Jesus said to him , “Why do you call me good ? 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 .’”
21 And he said , “All these I have kept from my youth .”
22 When Jesus heard this , he said to him , “One thing you still lack . Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor , and you will have treasure in heaven ; and come , follow me .”
23 But when he heard these things , he became very sad , for he was extremely rich .
24 Jesus , seeing that he had become sad , said , “How difficult 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 it said , “Then who can be saved ?”
27 But he said , “What is impossible with man is possible with God .”
28 And Peter said , “See , we have left our homes and followed you .”
29 And he said to them , “Truly , I say to you , there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children , for the sake of the kingdom of God ,
30 who will not receive many times more in this time , and in the age to come eternal life .”
31 And taking the twelve , he said to them , “See , we are going up to Jerusalem , and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished .
32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon .
33 And after flogging him , they will kill him , and on the third day he will rise .”
34 But they understood none of these things . This saying was hidden from them , and they did not grasp what was said .
35 As he drew near to Jericho , a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging .
36 And hearing a crowd going by , he inquired what this meant .
37 They told him , “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by .”
38 And he cried out , “Jesus , Son of David , have mercy on me !”
39 And those who were in front rebuked him , telling him to be silent . But he cried out all the more , “Son of David , have mercy on me !”
40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him . And when he came near , he asked him ,
41 “What do you want me to do for you ?” He said , “Lord , let me recover my sight .”
42 And Jesus said to him , “Recover your sight ; your faith has made you well .”
43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him , glorifying God . And all the people , when they saw it , gave praise to God .
Scripture quotations marked “ESV” are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.