Luke 18
New American Standard Bible
Parables on Prayer
18 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they (A)ought to pray and not (B)become discouraged, 2 saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not (C)respect any person. 3 Now there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my [a]opponent.’ 4 For a while he was unwilling; but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor (D)respect any person, 5 yet (E)because this widow is bothering me, I will give her justice; otherwise [b]by continually coming she will (F)wear me out.’” 6 And (G)the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge *said; 7 now, will God not (H)bring about justice for His (I)elect who cry out to Him day [c]and night, and will He (J)delay long for them? 8 I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, (K)will He find [d]faith on the earth?”
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 Now He also told this parable to some people who (L)trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and (M)viewed others with contempt: 10 “Two men (N)went up into the [e]temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee (O)stood and began praying this in regard to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I (P)fast twice a week; I (Q)pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, (R)standing some distance away, (S)was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but (T)was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be [f]merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other one; (U)for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
15 (V)Now they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. 16 But Jesus called for [g]the little ones, saying, “Allow the children to come to Me, and do not [h]forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I say to you, (W)whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”
The Rich Young Ruler
18 (X)A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me [i]good? No one is [j]good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments, ‘(Y)Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not give false testimony, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, “All these things I have kept since my youth.” 22 Now when Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; (Z)sell all that you possess and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have (AA)treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 23 But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely wealthy. 24 And Jesus looked at him and said, “(AB)How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For (AC)it is easier for a camel to [k]go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!” 26 Those who heard Him said, “And so who can be saved?” 27 But He said, “(AD)The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”
28 Peter said, “Behold, (AE)we have left [l]our own homes and followed You.” 29 And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, (AF)there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times as much at this time, and in (AG)the age to come, eternal life.”
31 (AH)Now He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, (AI)we are going up to Jerusalem, and (AJ)all the things that have been written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 (AK)For He will be [m]handed over to the Gentiles, and will be ridiculed, and abused, and spit upon, 33 and after they have flogged Him, they will kill Him; and on the third day He will rise.” 34 [n](AL)The disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.
Bartimaeus Receives Sight
35 (AM)Now as [o](AN)Jesus was approaching Jericho, a man who was blind was sitting by the road, begging. 36 But when he heard a crowd going by, he began inquiring what this was. 37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he called out, saying, “Jesus, (AO)Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, “(AP)Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He asked him, 41 “What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, I want to regain my sight!” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Regain your sight; (AQ)your faith has [p]made you well.” 43 And immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, (AR)glorifying God; and when (AS)all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.
Footnotes
- Luke 18:3 Or enemy
- Luke 18:5 Or in the end she may come and give me a black eye
- Luke 18:7 Or and night? He is also patient toward them
- Luke 18:8 Lit the faith
- Luke 18:10 I.e., the temple grounds
- Luke 18:13 Or propitious
- Luke 18:16 Lit them
- Luke 18:16 Or prevent
- Luke 18:19 I.e., morally, inherently good
- Luke 18:19 I.e., morally, inherently good
- Luke 18:25 Lit enter
- Luke 18:28 Lit our own things
- Luke 18:32 Or betrayed to
- Luke 18:34 Lit And they themselves
- Luke 18:35 Lit He
- Luke 18:42 Lit saved you
Luke 18
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Pray And Don’t Lose Heart: God Will Avenge His People
18 And He was speaking a parable to them with-regard-to[a] it being necessary that they always be praying and not losing-heart, 2 saying, “There was in a certain city a certain judge not fearing God and not having-regard-for[b] the person. 3 And there was a widow in that city. And she was coming to him, saying, ‘Avenge[c] me from my adversary’. 4 And he was not willing for a time. But after these things, he said within himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor have regard for the person, 5 yet because of this widow’s causing me trouble, I will avenge her— in order that she, while continually[d] coming, may not be wearing me out’”. 6 And the Lord said, “Listen-to what the unrighteous judge is saying[e]. 7 And shall not God execute vengeance[f] for His chosen ones— the ones crying-out to Him by day and by night and He is being patient[g] with them? 8 I say to you that He will execute vengeance for them quickly. However, the Son of Man having come, will He find faith[h] on the earth?”
Two Men In Prayer: One Exalts Himself, The Other Begs For Mercy
9 And He also spoke this parable to some putting-confidence upon themselves that they were righteous, and treating the rest with contempt— 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-collector. 11 The Pharisee, having stood[i], was praying these things to[j] himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not just-like the rest of the people— swindlers, unrighteous ones, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week. I give-a-tenth-of all that I get’. 13 But the tax collector, standing at-a-distance, was not willing even to lift-up his eyes to heaven, but was striking his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful[k] to me, the sinner!’ 14 I say to you, this one went-down[l] to his house having been declared-righteous, rather-than that one. Because everyone exalting himself will be humbled, but the one humbling himself will be exalted”.
Permit The Children To Come, For of Such Is The Kingdom of God
15 And they were also[m] bringing babies[n] to Him in order that He might touch them. But having seen it, the disciples were rebuking them[o]. 16 But Jesus summoned them[p], saying, “Permit the children to be coming to Me, and do not be forbidding them. For the kingdom of God is of [q] such ones. 17 Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter into it”.
A Rich Ruler Asks What To Do To Inherit Life. Sell All You Have And Follow Me
18 And a certain ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, [by] having done what shall I inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except One— God. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit-adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give-false-testimony, be honoring your father and mother’”. 21 And the one said, “I kept these all from my youth”. 22 And having heard it, Jesus said to him, “One thing is still lacking for you— Sell all that you have and distribute it to poor ones, and you will have treasure in the heavens. And come, be following Me”. 23 But the one, having heard these things, became deeply-grieved. For he was extremely rich. 24 And having seen him having become deeply grieved, Jesus said, “How difficultly the ones having wealth come into the kingdom of God. 25 For it is easier that a camel enter through an opening of a needle than[r] that a rich one enter into the kingdom of God”.
All Who Leave Behind Anything For Me Will Receive Back Many Times As Much
26 And the ones having heard it said, “Who indeed can be saved?” 27 And the One said, “The things impossible with humans are possible with God”. 28 And Peter said, “Behold— we, having left our own things, followed You”. 29 And the One said to them, “Truly I say to you[s] all that there is no one who left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will by any means not receive back many-times-as-much in this time, and in the coming age— eternal life”.
Jesus Predicts His Death And Resurrection
31 And having taken aside the twelve, He said to them, “Behold— we are going up to Jerusalem. And all the things having been written by the prophets for the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32 For He will be handed-over to the Gentiles. And He will be mocked and mistreated and spit-on. 33 And having whipped Him, they will kill Him. And on the third day, He will rise-up”. 34 And they understood none of these things. Indeed this statement had been hidden from them, and they were not coming-to-know[t] the things being said.
A Blind Man Begs Mercy From The Messiah, And Receives His Sight
35 And it came about during His drawing-near to Jericho, that a certain blind one was sitting beside the road, begging. 36 And having heard a crowd proceeding through, he was inquiring as to what this might be. 37 And they reported to him that “Jesus the Nazarene is passing by”. 38 And he shouted, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have-mercy-on me!” 39 And the ones preceding Him were rebuking him in order that he might be silent. But he was crying out by much more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And having stood [still], Jesus ordered that he be brought to Him. And he having drawn near, He asked him, 41 “What do you want Me to do for you?” 42 And the one said, “Master— that I may see-again!” And Jesus said to him, “See-again! Your faith has restored you”. 43 And at once he saw-again. And he was following Him, glorifying God. And all the people, having seen it, gave praise to God.
Footnotes
- Luke 18:1 Or, so-as to show them that they must always.
- Luke 18:2 Or, respecting. This judge followed his own mind.
- Luke 18:3 Or, Grant me justice. Depending on the issue, this widow could mean ‘Punish him for his crime’, ‘Protect me from his attack’, or, ‘Make him fulfill his contract’.
- Luke 18:5 Or, while coming she may not be completely (or, eventually) wearing me out.
- Luke 18:6 The judge is saying he will answer because of her continual coming and persistent asking.
- Luke 18:7 Or, punishment.
- Luke 18:7 Unlike the unrighteous judge who only answered out of impatience, God is patient with those crying out to Him. Or, and He is delaying [to act] for them? (from their point of view). Or, night? And is He delaying over them?
- Luke 18:8 Or, faithfulness. Lit, the faith. That is, the faith spoken of in this parable, which prays and does not lose heart; or more broadly, a true faith in God that would act in this way. No answer is implied by the grammar of the question.
- Luke 18:11 Or, stood by himself, was praying these things.
- Luke 18:11 Or, with-reference-to.
- Luke 18:13 Lit, be propitiated to me. That is, turn away your wrath from me, and thus, be merciful to me, forgive me, pardon me.
- Luke 18:14 The temple was ‘up’, v 10.
- Luke 18:15 Or, even.
- Luke 18:15 Or, infants.
- Luke 18:15 That is, the ones bringing the babies.
- Luke 18:16 That is, the babies.
- Luke 18:16 That is, made up of; or, belonging to.
- Luke 18:25 That is, it is impossible apart from God, as Jesus says next.
- Luke 18:29 This word is plural.
- Luke 18:34 Or, understanding.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
