New Testament in a Year
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
18 Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray(A) always and not give up.(B) 2 “There was a judge in a certain town who didn’t fear God(C) or respect people. 3 And a widow(D) in that town kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect people, 5 yet because this widow keeps(E) pestering me,[a] I will give her justice, so that she doesn’t wear me out[b] by her persistent coming.’”
6 Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 Will not God grant justice(F) to his elect(G) who cry out to him day and night?(H) Will he delay(I) helping them?[c] 8 I tell you that he will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes,(J) will he find faith on earth?”
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 He(K) also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves(L) that they were righteous(M) and looked down(N) on everyone else: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray,(O) one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee was standing(P) and praying like this about himself: [d] ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people—greedy,(Q) unrighteous,(R) adulterers,(S) or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast(T) twice a week; I give a tenth[e](U) of everything I get.’
13 “But the tax collector, standing far off,(V) would not even raise his eyes to heaven(W) but kept striking his chest(X) and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me,[f](Y) a sinner!’ (Z) 14 I tell you, this one went down to his house justified(AA) rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”(AB)
Blessing the Children
15 People(AC) 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,(AD) and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you,(AE) whoever does not receive(AF) the kingdom of God like a little child(AG) will never enter it.”
The Rich Young Ruler
18 A(AH) ruler(AI) asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (AJ)
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.”[g](AK)
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,(AL) and you will have treasure in heaven.(AM) Then come, follow me.”(AN)
23 After he heard this, he became extremely sad,(AO) because he was very rich.
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