18 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon 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 every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,

30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:

33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.

37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.

40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,

41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

Ustrajna molitva

18 Isus je zatim poučio sljedbenike da uvijek trebaju moliti i nikada ne posustati. Ispričao im je usporedbu: »U jednom je gradu živio neki sudac. Nije se bojao Boga i nije mu bilo stalo do ljudi. U tom je gradu živjela i neka udovica. Stalno je dolazila sucu i molila ga: ‘Pobrini se da dobijem spor protiv onoga koji me tuži!’ Dugo vremena sudac nije htio ni čuti za to, ali je na kraju rekao u sebi: ‘Iako se ne bojim Boga i nije mi stalo do mišljenja ljudi, branit ću ovu udovicu jer, ako je ne obranim, dosađivat će mi dok me ne zamori svojom upornošću.’«

Zatim je Gospodin rekao: »Pripazite na riječi nepravednoga suca! Zar se Bog neće pobrinuti za one koji mu pripadaju i koji mu vape danju i noću? Zar će odugovlačiti s pomoći? Kažem vam, pobrinut će se da dobiju pravdu, i to brzo. Ali kada dođe Sin Čovječji, hoće li na Zemlji naći one koji mu vjeruju?«

Farizej i poreznik

Bilo je tu onih koji su bili uvjereni u svoju pravednost i s visoka su gledali na druge ljude. Njima je Isus ispričao ovu usporedbu: 10 »Dva su čovjeka došla u Hram pomoliti se: jedan je bio farizej, a drugi poreznik. 11 Farizej je stajao sâm i ovako u sebi molio: ‘O Bože, hvala ti što nisam kao drugi, koji su pohlepni, varalice, preljubnici, ili kao ovaj poreznik. 12 Postim dvaput na tjedan i dajem desetinu od svega što steknem.’

13 A poreznik je stajao podalje i nije se usudio ni podignuti oči prema nebu. Udarao se u prsa i govorio: ‘Bože, smiluj se meni, grešniku!’ 14 Kažem vam, ovaj je čovjek otišao kući opravdan pred Bogom, a onaj prvi nije. Jer, svatko tko se uzvisuje, bit će ponižen, a onaj koji se ponizi, bit će uzvišen.«

Isus prima djecu k sebi

(Mt 19,13-15; Mk 10,13-16)

15 Ljudi su dovodili i malu djecu k Isusu da ih dotakne. Kad su to vidjeli njegovi učenici, prekorili su ih. 16 No Isus je pozvao djecu k sebi i rekao: »Pustite malu djecu da dođu k meni! Ne branite im, jer Božje kraljevstvo pripada takvima kao što su oni. 17 Istinu vam govorim. Svatko tko ne primi Božje kraljevstvo poput maloga djeteta, neće ući u njega.«

Isus i bogataš

(Mt 19,16-30; Mk 10,17-31)

18 A neki je židovski vođa upitao Isusa: »Dobri učitelju, što moram učiniti da dobijem vječni život?«

19 Isus mu je rekao: »Zašto me zoveš ‘dobri’? Nitko nije dobar, jedino Bog. 20 Znaš koje su zapovijedi: ‘Ne počini preljub, ne počini ubojstvo, ne kradi, nemoj lažno svjedočiti, poštuj oca i majku!’«[a]

21 Ovaj je odgovorio: »Svega toga držim se još od svoje mladosti.«

22 Isus mu je na to rekao: »Ima nešto što ti nedostaje: prodaj sve što imaš i podijeli novac siromašnima pa ćeš imati blago na Nebu. Zatim dođi i slijedi me!« 23 Ali, kad je čovjek to čuo, vrlo se ražalostio jer je bio veoma bogat.

24 Kad je Isus vidio kako je žalostan, rekao je: »Kako je teško bogatima ući u Božje kraljevstvo! 25 Da, lakše će deva proći kroz ušicu igle nego što će bogataš ući u Božje kraljevstvo.«

26 Oni koji su čuli što je rekao, upitali su ga: »Tko se onda može spasiti?«

27 Isus je odgovorio: »Ono što je ljudima nemoguće učiniti—Bogu je moguće.«

28 Na to je Petar rekao: »Gledaj, mi smo ostavili sve što smo imali da bismo te slijedili!«

29 A Isus im je odgovorio: »Istinu vam kažem: nema nikoga tko je radi Božjega kraljevstva ostavio kuću, ženu, braću, roditelje ili djecu, 30 koji neće već sada primiti mnogo više, a u budućem svijetu i vječni život.«

Isus treći put govori o svojoj smrti i uskrsnuću

(Mt 20,17-19; Mk 10,32-34)

31 Isus je pozvao u stranu Dvanaestoricu i rekao im: »Pazite, idemo u Jeruzalem i sve što su proroci napisali o Sinu Čovječjem, ispunit će se. 32 Da, predat će ga nežidovima u ruke, izrugivat će mu se, zlostavljati ga i pljuvati po njemu. 33 Bičevat će ga i ubiti. A treći dan on će ustati od mrtvih.« 34 Oni nisu razumjeli što im govori. Smisao njegovih riječi ostao im je nejasan.

Isus iscjeljuje slijepca

(Mt 20,29-34; Mk 10,46-52)

35 Dok se Isus približavao Jerihonu, neki je slijepac sjedio pokraj puta i prosio. 36 Kad je čuo mnoštvo, koje je prolazilo pokraj njega, upitao je što se događa.

37 Rekli su mu da upravo prolazi Isus iz Nazareta.

38 Slijepac je povikao: »Isuse, Davidov Sine, smiluj mi se!«

39 Oni sprijeda su ga ušutkivali, ali on je sve glasnije vikao: »Davidov Sine, smiluj mi se!«

40 Isus se zaustavio i zapovjedio da mu dovedu slijepca. Kad se čovjek približio, Isus ga je upitao: 41 »Što želiš da učinim za tebe?«

»Gospodine, želim progledati.«

42 Isus mu je rekao: »Progledaj, tvoja te vjera ozdravila!«

43 Istoga je trena čovjek progledao. Krenuo je za Isusom slaveći Boga. Sav je narod to vidio i slavio Boga.

Footnotes

  1. 18,20 Citat iz Izl 20,12-16; Pnz 5,16-20.

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.(A) He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice(B) against my adversary.’

“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”(C)

And the Lord(D) said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out(E) to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man(F) comes,(G) will he find faith on the earth?”

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

To some who were confident of their own righteousness(H) and looked down on everyone else,(I) Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray,(J) one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself(K) and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast(L) twice a week and give a tenth(M) of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast(N) and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’(O)

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”(P)

The Little Children and Jesus(Q)

15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child(R) will never enter it.”

The Rich and the Kingdom of God(S)

18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”(T)

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’[a](U)

21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor,(V) and you will have treasure in heaven.(W) Then come, follow me.”

23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!(X) 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”(Y)

28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”(Z)

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come(AA) eternal life.”(AB)

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time(AC)

31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem,(AD) and everything that is written by the prophets(AE) about the Son of Man(AF) will be fulfilled. 32 He will be delivered over to the Gentiles.(AG) They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; 33 they will flog him(AH) and kill him.(AI) On the third day(AJ) he will rise again.”(AK)

34 The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.(AL)

A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight(AM)

35 As Jesus approached Jericho,(AN) a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”(AO)

38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David,(AP) have mercy(AQ) on me!”

39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”(AR)

40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”(AS) 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.(AT)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 18:20 Exodus 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20