Parables on prayer

118.1-8: Lk 11.5-8.And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man; 3and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Vindicate me against my adversary.’ 4For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor regard man, 5yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.’ ” 618.6: Lk 7.13.And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 718.7: Rev 6.10; Mt 24.22; Rom 8.33; Col 3.12; 2 Tim 2.10.And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: 10“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 1118.11: Mt 6.5; Mk 11.25.The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 1218.12: Lk 5.33; 11.42.I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 1418.14: Mt 18.4; 23.12; Lk 14.11; 1 Pet 5.6.I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Little children

1518.15-17: Mt 19.13-15; 18.3; Mk 10.13-16.Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

A rich young ruler

1818.18-23: Mt 19.16-22; Mk 10.17-22.18.18: Lk 10.25.And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 19And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 2018.20: Ex 20.12-16; Deut 5.16-20; Rom 13.9; Jas 2.11.You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour your father and mother.’ ” 21And he said, “All these I have observed from my youth.” 2218.22: Lk 12.33; Acts 2.45; 4.32.And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. 2418.24-27: Mt 19.23-26; Mk 10.23-27.Jesus looking at him said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25For it 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 it said, “Then who can be saved?” 2718.27: Gen 18.14; Job 42.2; Jer 32.17; Lk 1.37.But he said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” 2818.28-30: Mt 19.27-30; Mk 10.28-31; Lk 5.1-11.And Peter said, “Lo, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no man who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30who will not receive manifold more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

An aside to the disciples

3118.31-34: Mt 20.17-19; Mk 10.32-34; Lk 9.22, 44-45; 17.25.And taking the twelve, he said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written of the Son of man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32For he will be delivered to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon; 33they will scourge him and kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” 34But they understood none of these things; this saying was hid from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

On the Jericho road

3518.35-43: Mt 20.29-34; Mk 10.46-52; Mt 9.27-31; Mk 8.22; Jn 9.1-7.As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; 36and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. 37They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38And he cried, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, 41“What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me receive my sight.” 4218.42: Mt 9.22; Mk 5.34; 10.52; Lk 7.50; 8.48; 17.19.And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.