1 Jesus told them a parable to show them that they should pray continually and not lose heart.
2 He said, "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor people.
3 In the same town was a widow who kept coming to him, saying: 'Defend my rights against my opponent.'
4 For a time he refused, but finally he thought: 'Even though I neither fear God nor care about people,
5 this widow bothers me so much I will see that she gets justice; then she will stop coming and wearing me out."
6 And Jesus explained, "Listen to what the evil judge says.
7 Will God not do justice for his chosen ones who cry to him day and night even if he delays in answering them?
8 I tell you, he will speedily do them justice. Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
9 Jesus told another parable to some persons fully convinced of their own righteousness, who looked down on others,
10 "Two men went up to the Temple to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood by himself and said: 'I thank you, God, that I am not like other people, grasping, crooked, adulterous, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week and give the tenth of all my income to the Temple.'
13 In the meantime the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast saying: 'O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.'
14 I tell you, when this man went down to his house, he had been set right with God, but not the other. For whoever makes himself out to be great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be raised."
15 They even brought little children to Jesus to have him touch them; but then the disciples rebuked these people.
16 So Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the children come to me and don't stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
17 Truly, I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it."
18 A ruler asked Jesus, "Good master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
19 Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.
20 You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not accuse falsely, honor your father and your mother."
21 And the man said, "I have kept all these commandments from my youth."
22 Then Jesus answered, "There is still one thing you lack. Sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in Heaven. And then come and follow me."
23 When he heard these words, the man became sad for he was very rich.
24 Jesus noticing this said, "How hard it is for people who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
26 The bystanders said, "Who then can be saved?"
27 And Jesus replied, "What is impossible for humans is possible for God."
28 Then Peter said, "We left everything we had and followed you."
29 Jesus replied, "Truly, I tell you, whoever has left house or wife, or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God,
30 will receive much more in this present time and eternal life in the world to come."
31 Jesus then took the Twelve aside and told them, "Now, we are going up to Jerusalem and everything the Prophets have written about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.
32 He will be delivered up to the foreign power. People will mock him, insult him and spit on him.
33 After they have scourged him, they will kill him, but he will be raised on the third day."
34 The apostles could make nothing of this; the meaning of these words remained a mystery to them and they did not understand what he said.
35 When Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road, begging.
36 As he heard the crowd passing by, he inquired what it was,
37 and they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was going by. Then he cried out,
38 "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
39 The people in front scolded him, "Be quiet!" but he cried out all the more, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the blind man to be brought to him, and when he came near, he asked him,
41 "What do you want me to do for you?" And the man said, "Lord, that I may see!"
42 Jesus said, "Receive your sight, your faith has saved you."
43 At once the blind man was able to see, and he followed Jesus, giving praise to God. And all the people who were there also praised God.
Versículos relacionados com Luke, 18:
St. Luke 18 presents some of the best known parables of Jesus, such as that of the Pharisee and the publican, that of the unfair judge and that of the rich man. The chapter also addresses the importance of faith and humility in the Christian life, as well as emphasizing the need to abandon riches and follow Jesus. Below are five verses related to these themes:
James 4:10: "Humiliate you before the Lord, and he will exalt you." The parable of the Pharisee and the publican in Luke 18:9-14 highlights the importance of humility before God. This verse of James reinforces this idea, emphasizing that those who humble themselves before God will be exalted by him.
Hebrews 11:6: "Now, without faith it is impossible to please him, because it is necessary that he who approaches God believes that he exists and is a rewarding of those who seek him." Faith is another important theme in St. Luke 18, particularly in the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8. This verse of Hebrews 11:6 highlights the importance of faith in the Christian life, stating that it is impossible to please God without it.
1 Timothy 6:10: "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of ills; and in this greed some have deviated from faith and pierced themselves with many pains." The parable of the young rich in Luke 18:18-23 emphasizes the need to abandon riches and follow Jesus. This verse of 1 Timothy 6:10 points out that love of money can lead to the removal of faith and many pains.
Matthew 6:24: "No one can serve two gentlemen; for either he shall hate one and love the other, or he will dedicate himself to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and riches." The parable of the rich young man also addresses the conflict between serving God and serving riches. This verse of Matthew 6:24 emphasizes that it is impossible to serve both at the same time.
James 1:27: "The pure and without macula religion towards our God and the Father is this: to visit the orphans and the widows in their tribulations and to be exempt from the corruption of the world." The parable of the Pharisee and the publican highlights the importance of humility and justice, and this verse of James 1:27 emphasizes that part of our responsibility as Christians is to take care of the underprivileged and keep pure before God.
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