The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹ He^(A) also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves^(B) that they were righteous^(C) and looked down^(D) on everyone else: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray,^(E) one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee was standing^(F) and praying like this about himself: ^[a] ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people—greedy,^(G) unrighteous,^(H) adulterers,^(I) or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast^(J) twice a week; I give a tenth^[b](K) of everything I get.’

¹³ “But the tax collector, standing far off,^(L) would not even raise his eyes to heaven^(M) but kept striking his chest^(N) and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me,^[c](O) a sinner!’ ^{(P) 14} I tell you, this one went down to his house justified^(Q) rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”^(R)

Blessing the Children

¹⁵ People^(S) were bringing infants to him so that he might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. ¹⁶ Jesus, however, invited them: “Let the little children come to me,^(T) and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁷ Truly I tell you,^(U) whoever does not receive^(V) the kingdom of God like a little child^(W) will never enter it.”

The Rich Young Ruler

¹⁸ A^(X) ruler^(Y) asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ^(Z)

¹⁹ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “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.”^[d](AA)

²¹ “I have kept all these from my youth,” he said.

²² When Jesus heard this, he told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell all you have and distribute it to the poor,^(AB) and you will have treasure in heaven.^(AC) Then come, follow me.”^(AD)

²³ After he heard this, he became extremely sad,^(AE) because he was very rich.

Possessions and the Kingdom

²⁴ Seeing that he became sad,^[e] Jesus said, “How hard 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 this asked, “Then who can be saved?” ^(AF)

²⁷ He replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”^(AG)

²⁸ Then Peter said, “Look, we have left what we had and followed^(AH) you.”

²⁹ So he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers or sisters, parents or children because of the kingdom of God, ³⁰ who will not receive many times more at this time,^(AI) and eternal life in the age to come.”