路加福音 18
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
恒心祷告
18 耶稣讲了一个比喻来教导门徒要常常祷告，不要灰心。
2 祂说：“某城有一位既不敬畏上帝也不尊重人的审判官。 3 那城里有一位寡妇常常来哀求这位审判官，说，‘求你为我申冤，惩办我的对头。’ 4 审判官总是充耳不闻，但后来心里想，‘虽然我不怕上帝，也不在乎人， 5 可是这寡妇一直来烦我，还是替她申冤好了，免得她再来烦我！’”
6 主接着说：“你们听，这不义的审判官尚且这么说， 7 难道上帝听到祂拣选的人昼夜呼求，不替他们申冤吗？难道祂会一直耽延不理吗？ 8 我告诉你们，祂必很快为他们申冤。不过当人子来的时候，在世上找得到有信心的人吗？”
两种祷告
9 耶稣对那些自以为义、藐视别人的人讲了一个比喻： 10 “有两个人到圣殿里祷告，一个是法利赛人，一个是税吏。 11 法利赛人站在那里自言自语地祷告说，‘上帝啊！我感谢你，因为我不像别人那样勒索、不义、通奸，也不像这税吏。 12 我每周禁食两次，奉献全部收入的十分之一。’
13 “但那税吏却远远地站着，连头也不敢抬起来，捶着胸说，‘上帝啊，求你怜悯我这个罪人！’
14 “我告诉你们，二人回家后，被上帝算为义的是税吏而不是法利赛人，因为自高的人必遭贬抑，谦卑的人必得尊荣。”
祝福孩子
15 有许多人把婴孩带来要让耶稣摸一摸他们，为他们祝福，门徒看见，就责备这些人。 16 耶稣却招呼他们过来，并对门徒说：“让小孩子到我这里来，不要阻止他们，因为上帝的国属于这样的人。 17 我实在告诉你们，人若不像小孩子一样接受上帝的国，绝不能进去。”
富豪求问永生
18 一位官长问耶稣：“良善的老师，我该做什么才能承受永生？”
19 耶稣说：“你为什么称呼我‘良善的老师’呢？只有上帝是良善的。 20 你知道‘不可通奸，不可杀人，不可偷盗，不可作伪证，要孝敬父母’这些诫命”。
21 那人说：“我从小就遵行这些诫命。”
22 耶稣听了就对他说：“你还有一件事没有做，就是变卖你所有的产业，分给穷人，你必有财宝存在天上，然后你还要来跟从我。” 23 那人听了，极其忧愁，因为他非常富有。
24 耶稣见状，就说；“有钱人进上帝的国真难啊！ 25 骆驼穿过针眼比有钱人进上帝的国还容易呢！”
26 听见的人就问：“这样，谁能得救呢？”
27 耶稣回答说：“对人而言，这不可能，但对上帝而言，凡事都可能。”
28 彼得说：“你看！我们已经撇下一切来跟从你了。”
29 耶稣说：“我实在告诉你们，任何人为了上帝的国而撇下房屋、妻子、弟兄、父母或儿女， 30 今世必得百倍的奖赏，来世必得永生。”
再次预言受害和复活
31 耶稣把十二使徒带到一边，对他们说：“你们要留意，我们现在前往耶路撒冷，先知书上有关人子的记载都要应验， 32 人子将被交在外族人的手里，被他们嘲弄、虐待、吐唾沫、 33 鞭打和杀害，但第三天祂必复活。” 34 使徒却一点也不明白，因为这番话的含意是隐藏的，他们听不明白。
治愈耶利哥的瞎子
35 耶稣快到耶利哥的时候，有一个瞎子坐在路旁讨饭。 36 他听见许多人经过，就询问是怎么回事。 37 有人告诉他是拿撒勒人耶稣经过此地， 38 他就高声呼喊：“大卫的后裔耶稣啊，可怜我吧！”
39 走在前面的人责备他，让他安静，但他反而叫得更大声：“大卫的后裔啊，可怜我吧！”
40 耶稣停下脚步，命人把他带过来，然后问他： 41 “你要我为你做什么？”
他说：“主啊！我想能够看见。”
42 耶稣对他说：“你看见吧！你的信心救了你。” 43 他立刻得见光明，并跟随耶稣，一路赞美上帝。目睹这事的人也都赞美上帝。
Lucas 18
Palabra de Dios para Todos
Dios le responderá a su gente
18 Entonces Jesús les contó una historia para enseñarles que siempre deben orar y nunca perder la esperanza. 2 Les dijo: «En un pueblo había un juez que no tenía temor de Dios y tampoco le importaba lo que pensaran los demás. 3 En ese pueblo había también una viuda. Ella le insistía al juez y le decía: “Hay un hombre que me está haciendo daño. ¡Pido justicia!” 4 Por un tiempo, el juez no quiso ayudarla, pero después se dijo a sí mismo: “Aunque no temo a Dios y tampoco me importa lo que piensen los demás, 5 ayudaré a esta viuda. Si no lo hago, me seguirá molestando y me hará la vida insoportable”».
6 Entonces el Señor dijo: «Fíjense en lo que dijo el juez injusto. 7 ¿Acaso Dios no hará justicia a sus elegidos que claman a él de día y de noche? ¿Se demorará en responderles? 8 Les aseguro que Dios hará justicia rápidamente para defenderlos. Pero cuando el Hijo del hombre venga a la tierra, ¿encontrará aquí gente que crea en él?»
Dios acepta a los humildes
9 Había unos que creían que siempre hacían el bien. Estaban tan seguros de sí mismos que menospreciaban a los demás. Jesús contó esta historia para ellos: 10 «Dos hombres fueron al templo a orar. Uno era un fariseo y el otro era un cobrador de impuestos. 11 El fariseo, puesto de pie, se puso a orar consigo mismo así: “Dios, te doy gracias porque no soy como los demás. No soy como los ladrones, los injustos, los que cometen el pecado de adulterio, ni tampoco como este cobrador de impuestos. 12 Ayuno dos veces a la semana y doy la décima parte de todo lo que adquiero”.
13 »En cambio, el cobrador de impuestos estaba de pie a cierta distancia. Cuando oró ni siquiera levantó la vista al cielo, sino que se golpeaba el pecho para mostrar que estaba arrepentido, y decía: “¡Dios, ten compasión de mí porque soy un pecador!” 14 Les digo que este se fue a su casa aprobado por Dios pero el otro no, porque el que se cree mucho será humillado, pero el que se humilla recibirá honor».
Jesús recibe a los niños
(Mt 19:13-15; Mr 10:13-16)
15 Le llevaron a Jesús unos niños para que él los bendijera[a]. Cuando los seguidores de Jesús vieron esto, los regañaron. 16 Entonces Jesús llamó a los niños y les dijo a sus seguidores: «Dejen que los niños vengan a mí. No se lo impidan porque el reino de Dios es de los que son como ellos. 17 Les digo la verdad: quien no reciba el reino de Dios como uno he recibido a este niño nunca entrará en él».
Un rico se niega a seguir a Jesús
(Mt 19:16-30; Mr 10:17-31)
18 Un dirigente le preguntó:
—Maestro bueno, ¿qué debo hacer para tener vida eterna?
19 Jesús le contestó:
—¿Por qué me llamas bueno? Sólo Dios es bueno. 20 (A)Tú sabes los mandamientos: “No cometas adulterio, no mates, no robes, no des falso testimonio, respeta a tu papá y a tu mamá”.[b]
21 Entonces el dirigente dijo:
—Los he obedecido todos desde que era joven.
22 Cuando Jesús escuchó esto, le dijo:
—Todavía hay algo que te hace falta: vende todo lo que tienes y reparte el dinero a los pobres. Así tendrás una recompensa en el cielo. Luego ven y sígueme.
23 Pero cuando el dirigente oyó esto se puso muy triste porque era muy rico. 24 Al verlo tan triste Jesús dijo:
—¡Qué difícil es para los ricos entrar al reino de Dios! 25 Es más fácil que un camello pase por el ojo de una aguja, que un rico entre al reino de Dios.
26 La gente que lo escuchó preguntó:
—Entonces, ¿quién podrá salvarse?
27 Jesús dijo:
—Lo que es imposible para los hombres es posible para Dios.
28 Pedro le dijo:
—Como puedes ver, nosotros hemos dejado lo que teníamos para seguirte.
29 Entonces Jesús les dijo:
—Les digo la verdad: todo el que dejó su casa, su esposa, hermanos, padres o hijos por el reino de Dios, 30 recibirá mucho más de lo que dejó. Recibirá mucho más en esta vida, y recibirá vida eterna en el mundo que está por venir.
Jesús habla de nuevo sobre su muerte
(Mt 20:17-19; Mr 10:32-34)
31 Jesús tomó aparte a los doce y les dijo: «Escuchen, vamos a ir a Jerusalén y se cumplirá lo que los profetas escribieron acerca del Hijo del hombre. 32 Su gente lo rechazará y lo entregará a los que no son judíos, quienes se burlarán de él, lo insultarán y lo escupirán. 33 Lo azotarán y lo matarán, pero al tercer día resucitará». 34 Los seguidores no entendieron lo que Jesús estaba diciendo. El verdadero significado estaba oculto para ellos y no entendían de qué estaba hablando.
Jesús sana a un ciego
(Mt 20:29-34; Mr 10:46-52)
35 Cuando Jesús ya estaba cerca de Jericó, un ciego estaba pidiendo limosna al lado del camino. 36 Al oír que pasaba mucha gente, preguntó qué sucedía. 37 Le dijeron que Jesús de Nazaret estaba pasando por allí. 38 Entonces el ciego gritó:
—¡Jesús, Hijo de David, ten compasión de mí!
39 La gente que estaba al frente del grupo, lo regañaba y le decía que se callara, pero él gritaba aun más:
—¡Hijo de David, ten compasión de mí!
40 Jesús se detuvo y ordenó que le trajeran al ciego. Cuando estaba cerca, Jesús le preguntó:
41 —¿Qué quieres que haga por ti?
El ciego dijo:
—Señor, quiero recobrar la vista.
42 Entonces Jesús le dijo:
—Recobra la vista, tu fe te ha sanado.
43 Al instante el hombre recobró la vista y siguió a Jesús, alabando a Dios. Y al ver esto toda la gente, también alababa a Dios.
Luke 18
Expanded Bible
God Will Answer His People
18 Then Jesus used this ·story [parable] to ·teach his followers [show the necessity] that they should always pray and never ·lose hope [become discouraged]. 2 “In a certain town there was a judge who did not ·respect [fear] God or ·care about people [or care what people thought]. 3 In that same town there was a widow [C among the most vulnerable members of society] who kept coming to this judge, saying, ‘Give me ·my rights [justice] against my ·enemy [opponent; adversary].’ 4 For a while the judge refused to help her. But afterwards, he thought to himself, ‘Even though I don’t ·respect [fear] God or ·care about people [or care what people think], 5 yet because she ·keeps bothering me [is causing me such trouble], I will see that she gets ·her rights [justice]. Otherwise she will ·keep coming until she wears me out [or eventually come and punch me/blacken my eye].’”
6 The Lord said, “Listen to what the ·unfair [unjust; unrighteous] judge said. 7 God will always [L Will not God…?] ·give what is right [provide justice] to his ·people [L chosen people; elect] who cry to him day and night, and ·he will not [L will he…?] ·be slow to answer them [or keep putting them off]. 8 I tell you, God will ·help [provide justice to] his people ·quickly [or suddenly]. ·But [However; Yet] when the Son of Man comes again, will he find ·those on earth who believe in him [L faith on the earth; C God’s faithfulness is certain; the only question is whether people will remain faithful to him]?”
Being Right with God
9 Jesus told this ·story [parable] to some people who ·thought they were very good [were confident of their own righteousness] and ·looked down on [scorned; despised] everyone else: 10 “Two men went up to the Temple [courts] to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector [C despised by their fellow Jews because they worked for the hated Romans and were notorious for extortion]. 11 The Pharisee ·stood alone and prayed [or stood and prayed about himself], ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—thieves, ·cheaters [evildoers; unrighteous people], adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week [C Pharisees commonly fasted on Monday and Thursday], and I ·give one-tenth of [pay tithes on] everything I get!’
13 “[L But] The tax collector, standing at a distance, would not even ·look up [L raise his eyes] to heaven. But he beat on his chest [C a sign of sorrow and remorse] and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, when this man went home, he was ·right with God [justified], ·but the Pharisee was not [L rather than that (other) man]. [L Because] All who ·make themselves great [exalt themselves] will be made humble, but all who make themselves humble will be ·made great [exalted].”
Who Will Enter God’s Kingdom?(A)
15 Some people brought even their babies to Jesus so he could touch them. When the ·followers [disciples] saw this, they ·told them to stop [scolded/rebuked them]. 16 But Jesus called for the children, saying, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t ·stop [hinder; forbid] them, because the kingdom of God belongs to people who are like these children [C meaning humble and dependent]. 17 I tell you the truth, you must ·accept [receive] the kingdom of God as if you were a child, or you will never enter it.”
A Rich Man’s Question(B)
18 A certain ·leader [ruler] asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to ·have life forever [L inherit eternal life]?”
19 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? ·Only God is good [L No one is good except one—God; C Jesus is not denying his own divinity, but is challenging the man’s understanding of goodness]. 20 You know the commands: ‘You must not ·be guilty of [commit] adultery. You must not murder anyone. You must not steal. You must not ·tell lies [testify falsely] about your neighbor. Honor your father and mother [Ex. 20:12–16; Deut. 5:16–20].’”
21 But the leader said, “I have ·obeyed [kept carefully; guarded] all these commands since ·I was a boy [my youth].”
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “There is still one more thing you ·need to do [lack]. Sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.” 23 But when the man heard this, he became very sad, because he was ·very [extremely] rich.
24 ·Jesus looked at him and [or When Jesus saw this reaction, he] said, “·It is very hard [L How hard it is…!] for ·rich people [L those who have wealth] to enter the kingdom of God. 25 [L For; Indeed] 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 [C meaning it is impossible, by human effort; see v. 27].”
Who Can Be Saved?
26 When the people heard this, they asked, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Jesus answered, “The things impossible ·for people [humanly speaking] are possible for God.”
28 Peter said, “Look, we have left ·everything [or our possessions; or our home] and followed you.”
29 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, all those who have left houses, wives, brothers [or siblings], parents, or children ·for [for the sake of] the kingdom of God 30 will get much more in this ·life [age; L time]. And in the ·age [aeon; world] that is coming, they will have ·life forever [eternal life].”
Jesus Will Rise from the Dead(C)
31 Then Jesus took ·the twelve apostles [L the Twelve] aside and said to them, “[L Look; T Behold] We are going [L up] to Jerusalem. Everything the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will ·happen [be fulfilled/completed/accomplished]. 32 He will be turned over to the Gentiles [C the Roman authorities]. They will ·laugh at [mock] him, insult him, spit on him, 33 ·beat him with whips [flog him; T scourge him], and kill him. But on the third day, he will rise to life again.” 34 ·The apostles [L They] did not understand this; the meaning was hidden from them, and they did not ·realize [comprehend] what was said.
Jesus Heals a Blind Man(D)
35 As Jesus came near the city of Jericho, a blind man was sitting beside the road, begging. 36 When he heard the people ·coming down the road [passing by], he asked, “What is happening?”
37 They told him, “Jesus, ·from Nazareth [or the Nazarene], is going by.”
38 The blind man cried out, “Jesus, Son of David [C a title for the Messiah, a descendant of King David; 2 Sam. 7:11–16], ·have mercy [take pity] on me!”
39 The people leading the group ·warned [rebuked; scolded] the blind man to be quiet. But the blind man shouted even more, “Son of David, ·have mercy [take pity] on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the blind man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”
He said, “Lord, I want to see.”
42 Jesus said to him, “Then see. ·You are healed because you believed [Your faith has healed/saved you].”
43 At once the man was able to see, and he followed Jesus, thanking God. All the people who saw this praised God.
Luke 18
The Message
The Story of the Persistent Widow
18 1-3 Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, “There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: ‘My rights are being violated. Protect me!’
4-5 “He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, ‘I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’d better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I’m going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.’”
6-8 Then the Master said, “Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?”
The Story of the Tax Man and the Pharisee
9-12 He told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people: “Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: ‘Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.’
13 “Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, ‘God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.’”
14 Jesus commented, “This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face, but if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.”
* * *
15-17 People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw it, they shooed them off. Jesus called them back. “Let these children alone. Don’t get between them and me. These children are the kingdom’s pride and joy. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.”
The Rich Official
18 One day one of the local officials asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to deserve eternal life?”
19-20 Jesus said, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good—only God. You know the commandments, don’t you? No illicit sex, no killing, no stealing, no lying, honor your father and mother.”
21 He said, “I’ve kept them all for as long as I can remember.”
22 When Jesus heard that, he said, “Then there’s only one thing left to do: Sell everything you own and give it away to the poor. You will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
23 This was the last thing the official expected to hear. He was very rich and became terribly sad. He was holding on tight to a lot of things and not about to let them go.
24-25 Seeing his reaction, Jesus said, “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who have it all to enter God’s kingdom? I’d say it’s easier to thread a camel through a needle’s eye than get a rich person into God’s kingdom.”
26 “Then who has any chance at all?” the others asked.
27 “No chance at all,” Jesus said, “if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.”
28 Peter tried to regain some initiative: “We left everything we owned and followed you, didn’t we?”
29-30 “Yes,” said Jesus, “and you won’t regret it. No one who has sacrificed home, spouse, brothers and sisters, parents, children—whatever—will lose out. It will all come back multiplied many times over in your lifetime. And then the bonus of eternal life!”
I Want to See Again
31-34 Then Jesus took the Twelve off to the side and said, “Listen carefully. We’re on our way up to Jerusalem. Everything written in the Prophets about the Son of Man will take place. He will be handed over to the Romans, jeered at, ridiculed, and spit on. Then, after giving him the third degree, they will kill him. In three days he will rise, alive.” But they didn’t get it, could make neither heads nor tails of what he was talking about.
35-37 He came to the outskirts of Jericho. A blind man was sitting beside the road asking for handouts. When he heard the rustle of the crowd, he asked what was going on. They told him, “Jesus the Nazarene is going by.”
38 He yelled, “Jesus! Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!”
39 Those ahead of Jesus told the man to shut up, but he only yelled all the louder, “Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and ordered him to be brought over. When he had come near, Jesus asked, “What do you want from me?”
41 He said, “Master, I want to see again.”
42-43 Jesus said, “Go ahead—see again! Your faith has saved and healed you!” The healing was instant: He looked up, seeing—and then followed Jesus, glorifying God. Everyone in the street joined in, shouting praise to God.
Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
© 2005, 2015 Bible League International
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson