# Luke 18 (New King James Version)
The Parable of the Persistent Widow

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

###### 6 Then the Lord said, **"Hear what the unjust judge said.**  
###### 7 **And** **shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?**  
###### 8 **I tell you** **that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"**The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

###### 9 Also He spoke this parable to some who 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.**  
###### 11 **The Pharisee** **stood and prayed thus with himself,** **'God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.**  
###### 12 **I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'**  
###### 13 **And 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!'**  
###### 14 **I tell you, this man went down to his house justified _rather_ than the other;** **for everyone who exalts himself will be** **humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."**Jesus Blesses Little Children

###### 15 Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw _it,_ they rebuked them.  
###### 16 But Jesus called them to _Him_ and said, **"Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for** **of such is the kingdom of God.**  
###### 17 **Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."**Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler

###### 18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

###### 19 So Jesus said to him, **"Why do you call Me good? No one _is_ good but** **One, _that is,_ God.**  
###### 20 **You know the commandments:** **'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,'** **'Honor your father and your mother.'** **"**

###### 21 And he said, "All these things I have kept from my youth."

###### 22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, **"You still lack one thing.** **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 this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.With God All Things Are Possible

###### 24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, **"How hard it is for those who have riches 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 man to enter the kingdom of God."**

###### 26 And those who heard it said, "Who then can be saved?"

###### 27 But He said, **"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."**

###### 28 Then Peter said, "See, we have left all and followed You."

###### 29 So He said to them, **"Assuredly, I say to you,** **there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,**  
###### 30 **who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life."**Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection

###### 31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, **"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things** **that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be** **accomplished.**  
###### 32 **For** **He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.**  
###### 33 **They will scourge _Him_ and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."**

###### 34 But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.A Blind Man Receives His Sight

###### 35 Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging.  
###### 36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant.  
###### 37 So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.  
###### 38 And he cried out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

###### 39 Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

###### 40 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him,  
###### 41 saying, **"What do you want Me to do for you?"**
He said, "Lord, that I may receive my sight."

###### 42 Then Jesus said to him, **"Receive your sight;** **your faith has made you well."**  
###### 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw _it,_ gave praise to God.