恆心禱告

18 耶穌講了一個比喻來教導門徒要常常禱告,不要灰心。

祂說:「某城有一位既不敬畏上帝也不尊重人的審判官。 那城裡有一位寡婦常常來哀求這位審判官,說,『求你為我伸冤,懲辦我的對頭。』 審判官總是充耳不聞,但後來心裡想,『雖然我不怕上帝,也不在乎人, 可是這寡婦一直來煩我,還是替她伸冤好了,免得她再來煩我!』」

主接著說:「你們聽,這不義的審判官尚且這麼說, 難道上帝聽到祂揀選的人晝夜呼求,不替他們伸冤嗎?難道祂會一直耽延不理嗎? 我告訴你們,祂必很快為他們伸冤。不過當人子來的時候,在世上找得到有信心的人嗎?」

兩種禱告

耶穌對那些自以為義、藐視別人的人講了一個比喻: 10 「有兩個人到聖殿裡禱告,一個是法利賽人,一個是稅吏。 11 法利賽人站在那裡自言自語地禱告說,『上帝啊!我感謝你,因為我不像別人那樣勒索、不義、通姦,也不像這稅吏。 12 我每週禁食兩次,奉獻全部收入的十分之一。』

13 「但那稅吏卻遠遠地站著,連頭也不敢抬起來,捶著胸說,『上帝啊,求你憐憫我這個罪人!』

14 「我告訴你們,二人回家後,被上帝算為義的是稅吏而不是法利賽人,因為自高的人必遭貶抑,謙卑的人必得尊榮。」

祝福孩子

15 有許多人把嬰孩帶來要讓耶穌摸一摸他們,為他們祝福,門徒看見,就責備這些人。 16 耶穌卻招呼他們過來,並對門徒說:「讓小孩子到我這裡來,不要阻止他們,因為上帝的國屬於這樣的人。 17 我實在告訴你們,人若不像小孩子一樣接受上帝的國,絕不能進去。」

富豪求問永生

18 一位官長問耶穌:「良善的老師,我該做什麼才能承受永生?」

19 耶穌說:「你為什麼稱呼我『良善的老師』呢?只有上帝是良善的。 20 你知道『不可通姦,不可殺人,不可偷盜,不可作偽證,要孝敬父母』這些誡命」。

21 那人說:「我從小就遵行這些誡命。」

22 耶穌聽了就對他說:「你還有一件事沒有做,就是變賣你所有的產業,分給窮人,你必有財寶存在天上,然後你還要來跟從我。」 23 那人聽了,極其憂愁,因為他非常富有。

24 耶穌見狀,就說;「有錢人進上帝的國真難啊! 25 駱駝穿過針眼比有錢人進上帝的國還容易呢!」

26 聽見的人就問:「這樣,誰能得救呢?」

27 耶穌回答說:「對人而言,這不可能,但對上帝而言,凡事都可能。」

28 彼得說:「你看!我們已經撇下一切來跟從你了。」

29 耶穌說:「我實在告訴你們,任何人為了上帝的國而撇下房屋、妻子、弟兄、父母或兒女, 30 今世必得百倍的獎賞,來世必得永生。」

再次預言受害和復活

31 耶穌把十二使徒帶到一邊,對他們說:「你們要留意,我們現在前往耶路撒冷,先知書上有關人子的記載都要應驗, 32 人子將被交在外族人的手裡,被他們嘲弄、虐待、吐唾沫、 33 鞭打和殺害,但第三天祂必復活。」 34 使徒卻一點也不明白,因為這番話的含意是隱藏的,他們聽不明白。

治癒耶利哥的瞎子

35 耶穌快到耶利哥城的時候,有一個瞎子坐在路旁討飯。 36 他聽見許多人經過,就詢問是怎麼回事。 37 有人告訴他是拿撒勒人耶穌經過此地, 38 他就高聲呼喊:「大衛的後裔耶穌啊,可憐我吧!」

39 走在前面的人責備他,讓他安靜,但他反而叫得更大聲:「大衛的後裔啊,可憐我吧!」

40 耶穌停下腳步,命人把他帶過來,然後問他: 41 「你要我為你做什麼?」

他說:「主啊!我想能夠看見。」

42 耶穌對他說:「你看見吧!你的信心救了你。」 43 他立刻得見光明,並跟隨耶穌,一路讚美上帝。目睹這事的人也都讚美上帝。

18 Now he was speaking a mashal to them about how it is necessary always for them to daven and not to lose chozek, [YESHAYAH 40:31]

Saying, An aza (certain) Shofet was in a certain town. Now this Shofet had no fear of Hashem nor any respect for Bnei Adam.

Now an almanah was in that town and she was coming to him saying, Grant me yashrus (justice) against my ish riv (opponent in a lawsuit). [YESHAYAH 1:17]

And for a zman (time) the Shofet was not willing. But after these things, he said to himself, If indeed Hashem I do not fear nor do Bnei Adam I respect,

Yet because this almanah (widow) causes me tzoros and is such a nudzh (pest), I will grant yashrus (justice) to her, lest in the end she may wear me out by her constant coming.

Now Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu said, Listen to what the unrighteous shofet says.

Now will not Hashem by all means do mishpat for his Bechirim crying out to him yomam valailah? Will he delay long in bringing them help? [Ex 22:23; Ps 88:1]

I say to you that Hashem will bring about their yashrus (justice) swiftly, but when the Ben HaAdam (Moshiach, DANIEL 7:13-14) comes, will he then find emunah (faith) on haaretz?

And he said this mashal also to some, who have become soimech (confident, putting their trust and being dependent) on themselves that they are tzaddikim and who are despising others. [YESHAYAH 65:5]

10 Shnei anashim (two men) went up to the Beis Hamikdash to daven, one was a Perush and the other, a moches (tax collector).

11 The Perush was standing by himself, shawkling (ritual swaying while davening), and his tefillah went like this: Adonoi, Modeh Ani that I am not like other men, swindlers, reshaim, menaafim, or even this moches.

12 I undergo a tzom (fast) twice during the week, I give the ma’aser (tithe) of everything as much as I get. [YESHAYAH 58:3, MALACHI 3:8]

13 But the moches (tax collector) stood at a distance and was not willing even to lift up his eynayim to Shomayim but was beating his chest, saying, Adonoi, rachem na al choteh kamoni! (L-rd, have mercy on a sinner like me!) [YESHAYAH 66:2; YIRMEYAH 31:19]

14 I say to you, this one, rather than the other one, went down to his bais having been made yitzdak im Hashem (justified with G-d). Because everyone lifting himself up will be brought low, but the one bringing himself low will be uplifted.

15 Now also they were bringing to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach yeladim that he might place his hands on them. But having seen this, the talmidim were rebuking them.

16 But Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach called for them saying, Permit the yeladim to come to me and do not hinder them, for of such ones is the Malchut Hashem.

17 Omein, I say to you, whoever does not welcome the Malchut Hashem as a yeled would, may by no means enter into it.

18 And a certain one of the manhigim (leaders, one of the wealthier Baale-Battishe Jews) questioned Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, saying, Mori HaTov (Good Teacher), what mitzvah must I do to inherit Chayyei Olam?

19 And Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach said to him, Why do you call me tov? No one is tov except Hashem alone, nu?

20 You have daas of the Mitzvot. LO TINAF, LO TIRTZACH, LO TIGNOV, LO TAANEH VREIACHAH ED SHAKER, KABEID ES AVICHA VES IMMECHAH. [SHEMOT 20:12-16; DEVARIM 5:16-20]

21 And he said, In all these things I have been shomer mitzvot and frum from my kinder-yoren.

22 And having heard, Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach said to him, Still one thing for you is lacking. Everything as much as you have, sell and distribute to the aniyim, and you will have otzar in Himel; and come follow me.

23 But having heard these things, he fell into agmat nefesh (grief, sadness). For he had much kesef.

24 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, when he saw him fall into agmat nefesh, said, How difficult it is for the ones having osher (riches) to enter into the Malchut Hashem. [MISHLE 11:28]

25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for an oisher (rich man) to enter into the Malchut Hashem.

26 But the ones, having heard, said, Then who is able to come to Yeshu’at Eloheinu?

27 And he said, The things impossible with Bnei Adam are possible with Hashem.

28 And Kefa said, Hinei, we have left everything to follow you.

29 And he said to them, Omein, I say to you, that there is no one who left bais or isha or achim or horim (parents) or yeladim because of the Malchut Hashem,

30 Who will not receive many times as much in this zman (time) and in the Olam HaBah, Chayyei Olam.

31 And having taken the Shneym Asar (Twelve) aside in a yechidus, he said to them, Hinei, we are making another aliyah leregel (pilgrimage) to Yerushalayim, and all the things having been written by the Nevi’im about the Ben HaAdam (Moshiach, DANIEL 7:13-14) will be fulfilled. [TEHILLIM 118:22]

32 For he (the Ben HaAdam Moshiach) will be delivered up to the Goyim and he will be ridiculed and he will be mistreated and he will be spat upon,

33 And, having laid the shot (whip) on him, they will kill him and after his histalkus (passing), on the Yom HaShlishi there will be Techiyas HaMoshiach.

34 And they had binah (understanding, comprehension) regarding none of these things, and this dvar was nistar (concealed) from them, and they had no understanding of the things being said.

35 And it came about while Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach drew near to Yericho, a certain ivver (blind man) was sitting beside the road begging.

36 And having heard a multitude traveling through, he was asking what this might be.

37 And they reported to him that Yehoshua from Natzeret is passing by.

38 And he cried out saying, Ben Dovid! Chaneni! (Have mercy on me!)

39 And the ones going past him were rebuking him that he should be silent, but he just so much the more was crying out, Ben Dovid, chaneni!

40 And stopping, Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach commanded the ivver to be led to him. Having drawn near, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach asked him, What do you wish that I may do for you?

41 And he said, Adoni, that I may regain my sight.

42 And Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach said to him, Regain your sight; your emunah (faith) has brought you refuah (healing).

43 And at once he saw again and was following Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, shouting, Baruch Hashem! And all the people, who were edei reiyah (eyewitnesses) of this, shouted, Baruch HaShem!