Persistence in prayer
- And He was telling them a parable on the necessity of them always praying and not losing heart,
- saying: “There was a judge in a city, one not fearing God and not respecting man.
- “And there was a widow in that city, and she was regularly going to him, saying: “Judge my case justly so I’ll have protection from my legal opponent.
- “And he wasn’t willing for a time. But afterward, this judge said inside himself: “Even if I don’t fear God nor respect man,
- “because this widow indeed causes weariness in me, I will judge her case justly so that she won’t harass me by continually coming to the end of the case.”
- And the Lord said: “Listen to what the unrighteous judge is saying,
- and won’t God certainly accomplish avenging justice of His elect, the men crying out to Him day and night and be patient on their account?
- “I tell you that He will accomplish their avenging justice with swiftness. Nevertheless, will the Son of Man even find faith on the earth when He comes?”
Pride, humility, and children
- And to some men *trusting in themselves (that they are righteous) and looking down on others, He also told this parable:
- “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
- “Having stood, the Pharisee was praying this to himself: “God, I thank you that I’m not like the rest of men; extortioners, unrighteous, and men who have sex with other men’s wives, or even like this tax collector.
- “I fast twice a week; I tithe all things, as many as I acquire.
- “But *standing far away, the tax collector definitely wasn’t even willing to raise his eyes to heaven, but was beating his chest, saying: “God, have mercy on me, a sinner!”
- “I tell you that this man went down to his house *made righteous rather than that man, because every man exalting himself will be humbled, but the man humbling himself will be exalted.”
- And they were also bringing the babies to Him so that He might touch them. But having seen this, the disciples were rebuking them.
- But Jesus summoned them, saying: “Allow the young children to come to Me and don’t hinder them, for the kingdom of God is composed of such children.
- “Amen I tell you: whoever doesn’t welcome the kingdom of God like a child, he definitely won’t enter into it.”
The rich young ruler
- And a ruler asked Him, saying: “Good teacher, what should I do so I will inherit the life of ages?”
- And Jesus said to him: “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
- “You *know the commandments: you shouldn’t have sex with another man’s wife, you shouldn’t murder, you shouldn’t steal, you shouldn’t commit perjury, you must honor your father and mother.”
- And he said: “I kept all these commandments from my youth.”
- And having heard this, Jesus told him: “There’s still one thing lacking for you: sell all that you own, as much as you have, and distribute it to the poor, and you’ll have treasure in the heavens, and come follow Me.”
- And having heard these things, he became deeply grieved, for he was exceedingly rich.
- And having seen him, Jesus [became deeply grieved and] said: “Oh, how the men having riches enter into the kingdom of God with difficulty,
- “for it’s easier for a camel to enter in through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
- And the men who heard said: “Then who is even able to be saved?”
- And He said: “The things that are impossible with men are possible with God.”
- And Peter said: “Behold, we left our own things and followed you.”
- And He told them: “Amen I tell you that there’s no man who left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children for the sake of the kingdom of God,
- “who won’t assuredly receive back many times more in this season; and in the coming age, he’ll receive the life of ages.”
- And having taken the twelve with Him, He said to them: “Behold, we’re going up to Jerusalem and all things *written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished,
- “For He will be betrayed into the hands of the gentiles, and will be ridiculed, and will be insulted, and will be spit on;
- “and having flogged Him, they will kill Him and He will rise again on the third day.”
- And they comprehended not one of these things, and this statement was *hidden from them, and they weren’t understanding the things being said.
Healing a blind man
- And it happened during His approach to Jericho that a blind man was sitting next to the road begging.
- And having heard a crowd traveling past, he was inquiring what this may mean.
- And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.
- And he shouted, saying: “Jesus! Son of David! have mercy on me!”
- And the men walking past in front of him were rebuking him so that he would be silent. But he was shouting much more: “Son of David! have mercy on me!”
- And having stood still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to Him. And with him having approached, He asked him:
- “What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said: “Lord, I ask that I would recover my sight.”
- And Jesus told him: “Recover your sight; your faith has saved you.”
- And he immediately recovered his sight and was following Him, glorifying God. And having seen this, every one of the people gave praise to God.