Dual Panel1HE told them a parable to show that they should keep on praying and never lose heart:
2“In a certain city there was a judge who had no fear of God or respect for man,
3and in the same city there was a widow who kept coming before him to demand justice against her opponent.
4For a time he refused; but in the end he said to himself, ‘Although I have no fear of God or respect for man,
5yet this widow is so great a nuisance that I will give her justice before she wears me out with her persistence.’”
6The Lord said, “You hear what the unjust judge says.
7Then will not God give justice to his chosen, to whom he listens patiently while they cry out to him day and night?
8I tell you, he will give them justice soon enough. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
9Here is another parable that he told; it was aimed at those who were sure of their own goodness and looked down on everyone else.
10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector.
11The Pharisee stood up and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like the rest of mankind -- greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or, for that matter, like this tax-collector.
12I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all that I get.’
13But the other kept his distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven, but beat upon his breast, saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, sinner that I am.’
14It was this man, I tell you, and not the other, who went home acquitted of his sins. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled; and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
15They brought babies for him to touch, and when the disciples saw them they rebuked them.
16But Jesus called for the children and said, “Let the children come to me; do not try to stop them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
17Truly I tell you: whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
18One of the rulers put this question to him: “Good Teacher, what must I do to win eternal life?”
19Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
20You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not give false evidence; honour your father and mother.’”
21The man answered, “I have kept all these since I was a boy.”
22On hearing this Jesus said, “There is still one thing you lack: sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come and follow me.”
23When he heard this his heart sank, for he was a very rich man.
24When Jesus saw it he said, “How hard it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!
25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26Those who heard asked, “Then who can be saved?”
27He answered, “What is impossible for men is possible for God.”
28Peter said, “What about us? We left all we had to follow you.”
29Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you: there is no one who has given up home, or wife, brothers, parents, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
30who will not be repaid many times over in this age, and in the age to come have eternal life.”
Jesus's challenge to Jerusalem
31HE took the Twelve aside and said, “We are now going up to Jerusalem; and everything that was written by the prophets will find its fulfilment in the Son of Man.
32He will be handed over to the Gentiles. He will be mocked, maltreated, and spat upon;
33they will flog him and kill him; and on the third day he will rise again.”
34But they did not understand this at all or grasp what he was talking about; its meaning was concealed from them.
35As he approached Jericho a blind man sat at the roadside begging.
36Hearing a crowd going past, he asked what was happening,
37and was told that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
38Then he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.”
39The people in front told him to hold his tongue; but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.”
40Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came up Jesus asked him,
41“What do you want me to do for you?” “Sir, I want my sight back,” he answered.
42Jesus said to him, “Have back your sight; your faith has healed you.”
43He recovered his sight instantly and followed Jesus, praising God. And all the people gave praise to God for what they had seen.