18:1 - And he told them a story to show them that they should always pray and not let themselves grow weak.
18:2 - Explaining, a city that had a judge with no esteem for God or man:
18:3 - A widow who lived in that city came to him and asked his help in getting vengeance against her enemy.
18:4 - For a while he wouldn’t: then he said to himself, I don’t fear God, and don’t regard man;
18:5 - Because this widow keeps bothering me I’ll make sure justice is done, otherwise I’m afraid she won’t leave me alone.
18:6 - The Lord then said, Listen to what the unfair judge says.
18:7 - Shouldn’t God be able to pick the people he takes with him?
18:8 - I think he will quickly avenge them. But when the Son of man comes to earth, will he be able to find faith?
18:9 - He gave this lesson to those that thought themselves virtuous, but not others:
18:10 - Together a Pharisee and a public servant went to the temple for worship.
18:11 - The Pharisee stood up and prayed: I thank you, God, that I am not like other men: extortioners, unjust, cheaters or even publican.
18:12 - I fast twice a week and give one-tenth of everything that I have.
18:13 - The common man could not even lift his eyes to heaven, but would beat on his chest begging God to be merciful for his sins.
18:14 - I tell you, this man, rather than the other one, went down to his home justified, because everyone who honors himself shall be abased, and the person who humbles himself shall be honored.
18:15 - They brought infants for him to touch, too, but his disciples openly disapproved.
18:16 - But Jesus called out to them, saying, Allow children to come to me: because this is how things are in the kingdom of God.
18:17 - I tell you the truth, If you do not accept God as a small child you will not get into Heaven.
18:18 - A ruler asked him, Good Master, what do I have to do to live eternally?
18:19 - And Jesus asked him, Why do you say that I am good? no one is good, except only God alone.
18:20 - You know the commandments, Don’t be unfaithful to your spouse, Don’t kill, Don’t steal, Don’t lie, Respect your parents.
18:21 - I have had these since I was a child.
18:22 - After hearing what he had to say, Jesus said, to him, you lack one thing; sell all of your possessions, give the money to the poor, so that you’ll have treasure in heaven, and then come and follow me.
18:23 - When he heard this, he was sorry: because he was very rich.
18:24 - It saddend Jesus that the rich will have such a hard time of getting into heaven.
18:25 - It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to get into heaven.
18:26 - Everyone who heard it said. Who can be saved?
18:27 - And he said, The tings that people cannot possibly do, are easy for God.
18:28 - Then Peter stated sardonically, good grief, we have left everything to follow you.
18:29 - He told them, Honestly, I tell you, Nobody who leaves anything (home or family or friends) for God’s sake,
18:30 - Who will get much more now and, in the world of the future, never-ending life.
18:31 - He rounded up the disciples and said, We’re going to Jerusalem where the prophecies about me will be fulfilled.
18:32 - He shall be handed over to the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, treated with spite, and spit upon:
18:33 - They will beat him and kill him but on the third day he will rise from the dead.
18:34 - They did not comprehend any of it: and the information was obscured, also they did not know what had been said.
18:35 - Then as he was near Jericho, he saw a blind man sitting by the side of the road begging:
18:36 - And hearing the crowd passing, he asked what was going on.
18:37 - And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth had come past.
18:38 - He cried out, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!
18:39 - They scolded him to be quiet, but he cried again and again for the Son of David to have mercy on me.
18:40 - Then Jesus stood, he was demanded to be brought to him: when he came near, he was asked,
18:41 - He said: What do you want me to do for you? And the man answered: Lord, to give me back my eyesight.
18:42 - Jesus said, receive the gift of sight, your faith has saved you.
18:43 - Right away he was given his sight, and continued after him, praising God: and everyone upon seeing it, praised the Lord.