The Gospel According to St. Luke

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 18 -

Now he also told them a parable, that we should continually pray and not cease,

saying: “There was a certain judge in a certain city, who did not fear God and did not respect man.

But there was a certain widow in that city, and she went to him, saying, ‘Vindicate me from my adversary.’(a)

And he refused to do so for a long time. But afterwards, he said within himself: ‘Even though I do not fear God, nor respect man,

yet because this widow is pestering me, I will vindicate her, lest by returning, she may, in the end, wear me out.’ ”

Then the Lord said: “Listen to what the unjust judge said.

So then, will not God grant the vindication of his elect, who cry out to him day and night? Or will he continue to endure them?(b)

I tell you that he will quickly bring vindication to them. Yet truly, when the Son of man returns, do you think that he will find faith on earth?”

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Now about certain persons who consider themselves to be just, while disdaining others, he told also this parable:

“Two men ascended to the temple, in order to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.

Standing, the Pharisee prayed within himself in this way: ‘O God, I give thanks to you that I am not like the rest of men: robbers, unjust, adulterers, even as this tax collector chooses to be.

I fast twice between Sabbaths. I give tithes from all that I possess.’

And the tax collector, standing at a distance, was not willing to even lift up his eyes to heaven. But he struck his chest, saying: ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’

I say to you, this one descended to his house justified, but not the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled; and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus Blesses the Children

(Matthew 19:13–15; Mark 10:13–16)

And they were bringing little children to him, so that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.

But Jesus, calling them together, said: “Allow the children to come to me, and do not be an obstacle to them. For of such is the kingdom of God.

Amen, I say to you, whoever will not accept the kingdom of God like a child, will not enter into it.”

The Rich Young Ruler

(Matthew 19:16–30; Mark 10:17–31)

And a certain leader questioned him, saying: “Good teacher, what should I do to possess eternal life?”

Then Jesus said to him: “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

You know the commandments: You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony. Honor your father and mother.”

And he said, “I have kept all these things from my youth.”

And when Jesus heard this, he said to him: “One thing is still lacking for you. Sell all the things that you have, and give to the poor. And then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.”(c)

When he heard this, he became very sorrowful. For he was very rich.

Then Jesus, seeing him brought to sorrow, said: “How difficult it is for those who have money to enter into the kingdom of God!

For it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a wealthy man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

And those who were listening to this said, “Then who is able to be saved?”

He said to them, “Things that are impossible with men are possible with God.”

And Peter said, “Behold, we have left everything, and we have followed you.”

And he said to them: “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has left behind home, or parents, or brothers, or a wife, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,

who will not receive much more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

The Third Prediction of the Passion

(Matthew 20:17–19; Mark 10:32–34)

Then Jesus took the twelve aside, and he said to them: “Behold, we are ascending to Jerusalem, and everything shall be completed which was written by the prophets about the Son of man.

For he will be handed over to the Gentiles, and he will be mocked and scourged and spit upon.

And after they have scourged him, they will kill him. And on the third day, he will rise again.”

But they understood none of these things. For this word was concealed from them, and they did not understand the things that were said.

Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar

(Matthew 20:29–34; Mark 10:46–52)

Now it happened that, as he was approaching Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting beside the way, begging.

And when he heard the multitude passing by, he asked what this was.

And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.

And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me!”

And those who were passing by rebuked him, so that he would be silent. Yet truly, he cried out all the more, “Son of David, take pity on me!”

Then Jesus, standing still, ordered him to be brought to him. And when he had drawn near, he questioned him,

saying, “What do you want, that I might do for you?” So he said, “Lord, that I may see.”

And Jesus said to him: “Look around. Your faith has saved you.”

And immediately he saw. And he followed him, magnifying God. And all the people, when they saw this, gave praise to God.

Footnotes

(a)18:3 Avenge:That is, do me justice. It is a Hebraism.(Challoner)

(b)18:7 This last part is not saying that God is patient. It is a common error among translators to interpret an obscure verse as having a meaning that is uninformative and excessively simplified, rather than to clarify the true meaning of the verse, or to leave it obscure. We already know that God is patient. The point of the parable is not that God is patient, but rather that, if you pester God enough for something, He will give it to you, rather than continue to endure your complaints.(Conte)

(c)18:22 Those who follow Jesus by being ordained should be men who have kept all the commandments from their youth.(Conte)

He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray and not give up,

saying, “There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God and didn’t respect man.

A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my adversary!’

He wouldn’t for a while; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man,

yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.’”

The Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.

Won’t God avenge his chosen ones who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?

I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

He also spoke this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others:

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.

The Pharisee stood and prayed by himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men: extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’

But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus Blesses the Children

(Matthew 19:13–15; Mark 10:13–16)

They were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

Jesus summoned them, saying, “Allow the little children to come to me, and don’t hinder them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these.

Most certainly, I tell you, whoever doesn’t receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.”

The Rich Young Ruler

(Matthew 19:16–30; Mark 10:17–31)

A certain ruler asked him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus asked him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one: God.

You know the commandments: ‘Don’t commit adultery,’ ‘Don’t murder,’ ‘Don’t steal,’ ‘Don’t give false testimony,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” (a)

He said, “I have observed all these things from my youth up.”

When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.

Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!

For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”

Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”

But he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

Peter said, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”

He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for God’s Kingdom’s sake,

who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life.”

The Third Prediction of the Passion

(Matthew 20:17–19; Mark 10:32–34)

He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.

For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on.

They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again.”

They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn’t understand the things that were said.

Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar

(Matthew 20:29–34; Mark 10:46–52)

As he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.

Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.

They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.

He cried out, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!”

Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!”

Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him,

“What do you want me to do?” He said, “Lord, that I may see again.”

Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.”

Immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God.

Footnotes

(a)18:20 ℘ Exodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20