1Jesus also told them a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
2He said, "In a certain town there was a judge who didn't fear God or respect people.
3A widow in that town kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my opponent!'
4For a while he refused, but eventually he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or respect people,
5because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice. Otherwise, she will wear me out with her constant coming.'"
6The Lord said, "Listen to what the unfair judge says.
7So won't God bring justice for his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep patiently waiting for them?
8I tell you, he will bring them justice quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
9Jesus also told this story to some people who were sure of their own goodness and looked down on everyone else.
10“Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a religious leader (a Pharisee), and the other was a tax collector.
11The religious leader stood and prayed about himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—thieves, evil, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
12I fast twice a week, and I give one-tenth of everything I get.’
13But the tax collector stood far away. He wouldn’t even look up to heaven, but beat his chest and said, ‘God, please have mercy on me, a sinner!’
14I tell you, this man went home made right with God, rather than the other one. Because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
15People were also bringing their babies to Jesus for him to touch them. But when his followers saw it, they told the people to stop.
16But Jesus called the children to him, saying, “Let the little children come to me, and don’t stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to people like these.
17I assure you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
18A certain ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?”
19Jesus asked him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—God.
20You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not give false testimony,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”
21He said, “I have obeyed all these since I was young.”
22When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you own and give the money to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
23But when the man heard these things, he became very sad, because he was very rich.
24When Jesus saw that he was very sad, he said, “How hard it is for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God!
25In fact, 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.”
26Those who heard this asked, “Then who can be saved?”
27He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible for God.”
28Peter said, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”
29He said to them, “I assure you, there is no one who has left home, wife, brothers, parents, or children for the sake of the Kingdom of God,
30and will receive much more in this life, and in the life to come, eternal life.”
31Jesus took his twelve disciples aside and told them, “Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. Everything the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will come true.
32He will be handed over to the non-Jewish people, who will make fun of him, treat him shamefully, and spit on him.
33They will whip him and kill him, but on the third day, he will rise again.”
34The disciples didn't understand any of this. The meaning of his words was hidden from them, and they didn't grasp what he was saying.
35As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road, begging.
36When he heard a crowd passing by, he asked what was happening.
37They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
38So he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39Those walking in front told him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When the man came close, Jesus asked him,
41“What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, I want to see again.”
42Jesus told him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.”
43Immediately, the man could see again, and he followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw this, they also praised God.