Luke 18 - Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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.

Possessions and the Kingdom

24 Seeing that he became sad,[h] Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For 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.”

26 Those who heard this asked, “Then who can be saved?” (AP)

27 He replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”(AQ)

28 Then Peter said, “Look, we have left what we had and followed(AR) you.”

29 So he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers or sisters, parents or children because of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more at this time,(AS) and eternal life in the age to come.”

The Third Prediction of His Death

31 Then(AT) he took the Twelve aside and told them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem.(AU) Everything that is written(AV) through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.(AW) 32 For he will be handed over to the Gentiles,(AX) and he will be mocked,(AY) insulted, spit(AZ) on; 33 and after they flog him, they will kill him, and he will rise on the third day.”(BA)

34 They understood none of these things.(BB) The meaning of the saying[i](BC) was hidden(BD) from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

A Blind Man Receives His Sight

35 As(BE) he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. 36 Hearing a crowd passing by, he inquired what was happening. 37 “Jesus of Nazareth(BF) is passing by,” they told him.

38 So he called out,(BG) “Jesus, Son of David,(BH) have mercy(BI) on me!” 39 Then those in front told him to keep quiet,[j] but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40 Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to him. When he came closer, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord,” he said, “I want to see.”

42 “Receive your sight,”(BJ) Jesus told him. “Your faith has saved you.”(BK) 43 Instantly he could see, and he began to follow him, glorifying God.(BL) All the people,(BM) when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Footnotes

  1. 18:5 Lit widow causes me trouble
  2. 18:5 Or doesn’t ruin my reputation
  3. 18:7 Or Will he put up with them?
  4. 18:11 Or by himself
  5. 18:12 Or give tithes
  6. 18:13 Or God, turn your wrath from me
  7. 18:20 Ex 20:12–16; Dt 5:16–20
  8. 18:24 Other mss omit he became sad
  9. 18:34 Lit This saying
  10. 18:39 Or those in front rebuked him

Cross references

  1. 18:1 : Lk 11:5–13; 21:36; 1Th 5:17
  2. 18:1 : 2Co 4:1
  3. 18:2 : Ps 147:11; Pr 1:7; Ac 10:2; Rv 14:7
  4. 18:3 : Lk 2:37; 4:26; 7:12; 21:2
  5. 18:5 : Lk 11:8
  6. 18:7 : Is 63:4; Rv 6:10
  7. 18:7 : Mt 24:22; Rm 8:33; 2Tm 2:10; Ti 1:1
  8. 18:7 : Ps 88:1
  9. 18:7 : 2Pt 3:9
  10. 18:8 : Dn 7:13; Lk 9:26; 12:40
  11. 18:9–14 : Mt 18:4; 23:12; Lk 14:11
  12. 18:9 : Mt 5:20; 2Co 1:9
  13. 18:9 : Lk 16:15
  14. 18:9 : Lk 23:11; Ac 4:11; Rm 14:3,10
  15. 18:10 : 1Kg 10:5; 2Kg 20:5,8; Ac 3:1
  16. 18:11 : Mt 6:5; Mk 11:25
  17. 18:11 : Mt 7:15; 1Co 5:10–11; 6:10
  18. 18:11 : Lk 16:10
  19. 18:11 : Ex 20:14; 1Co 6:9; Heb 13:4
  20. 18:12 : Lk 5:33–35; Ac 13:2–3
  21. 18:12 : Lk 11:42
  22. 18:13 : Lk 17:12
  23. 18:13 : Ezr 9:6
  24. 18:13 : Lk 23:48
  25. 18:13 : Heb 2:17
  26. 18:13 : 1Tm 1:15
  27. 18:14 : Lk 16:15; Php 3:8
  28. 18:14 : Is 2:11; Lk 1:52; 3:5; 14:11
  29. 18:15–17 : Mt 18:3; 19:13–15; Mk 10:13–16
  30. 18:16 : Lk 14:26
  31. 18:17 : Ps 72:19; Rv 22:21
  32. 18:17 : Lk 8:13
  33. 18:17 : 1Co 14:20; 1Pt 2:2
  34. 18:18–30 : Mt 19:16–30; Mk 10:17–31; Lk 22:28–30
  35. 18:18 : Lk 8:41; 12:58
  36. 18:18 : Lk 10:25; Jn 3:15
  37. 18:20 : Ex 20:12–16; Dt 5:16–20
  38. 18:22 : Lk 12:33; 19:8; Ac 2:45; 4:34
  39. 18:22 : Mt 6:19–20; Lk 5:11; 12:33
  40. 18:22 : Lk 5:27
  41. 18:23 : Mt 26:38; Mk 6:26; 14:34
  42. 18:26 : Lk 18:42; Eph 2:8
  43. 18:27 : Gn 18:14; Jb 42:2; Jr 32:17; Zch 8:6; Lk 1:37; Rm 4:21; 11:22
  44. 18:28 : Lk 5:11; Jn 8:12
  45. 18:30 : Jb 42:10; Mt 6:33; Lk 21:8
  46. 18:31–34 : Mt 20:17–19; Mk 10:32–34
  47. 18:31 : Lk 9:51
  48. 18:31 : Ps 22; Is 52:13–53:12; Mt 1:22; 26:24
  49. 18:31 : Lk 22:37; Jn 19:28
  50. 18:32 : Mt 27:2; Jn 18:30–31; Ac 3:13
  51. 18:32 : Mt 27:26–31
  52. 18:32 : Mt 26:67; Mk 14:65; 15:19
  53. 18:33 : Mt 16:21; Lk 9:22
  54. 18:34 : Mk 9:32; Lk 2:50; 9:45
  55. 18:34 : Lk 1:29
  56. 18:34 : Lk 24:16
  57. 18:35–43 : Mt 20:29–34; Mk 10:46–52
  58. 18:37 : Mt 2:23; Jn 18:5; 19:19; Ac 2:22
  59. 18:38 : Lk 18:7
  60. 18:38 : Mt 1:1; 9:27; Lk 1:32; Rm 1:3
  61. 18:38 : Lk 16:24
  62. 18:42 : Lk 7:22; Jn 9:11; Ac 9:12
  63. 18:42 : Mt 9:22; Lk 5:20; 7:50; 8:48; 17:19; 18:26
  64. 18:43 : Lk 7:16; 13:13
  65. 18:43 : Lk 2:10

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18 And he said to them also a parable, that it behooveth to pray evermore, and not [to] fail; [Forsooth he said also a parable to them, for it behooveth to pray ever, and not to fail;] 2 and said, There was a judge in a city, that dreaded not God, neither shamed of men.[a] 3 And a widow was in that ...
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18 Then Yeshua told them a parable to show that they should always pray and not be discouraged, 2 He said, “There was a judge in a certain city who neither feared God nor respected people. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my opponent.’ 4...
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Luke 18 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge18 And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man; 3 and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and sayi...
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The Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge18 And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man; 3 and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and sayi...
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Luke 18 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

18 And He also spoke a parable to them showing that they ought always to pray and not grow weary, 2 He said, “There was a judge in a certain city who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 “And there was a widow in that city who came to him saying, ‘Do me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “And he wo...
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Luke 18 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

The Parables of the Persistent Widow and the Tax-Collector18 Jesus told them a parable, about how they should always pray and not give up. 2 ‘There was once a judge in a certain town,’ he said, ‘who didn’t fear God, and didn’t have any respect for people. 3 There was a widow in that town, and she c...
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Luke 18 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

The Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge18 Then Jesus[a] told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and sa...
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