1Then he told them a parable, to show 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, ‘Grant me justice 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 give her justice, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.’« 6And the Lord said, »Hear what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8I tell you that he will bring about justice for them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?« 9Also he told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10»Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12I 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!’ 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.« 15Now they were also bringing infants to him that he might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16But Jesus called them to him and said, »Let the little 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 little child will not enter it.« 18Now a certain ruler asked him, »Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?« 19So Jesus said to him, »Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 20You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’« 21And he said, »All these I have kept from my youth.« 22When 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 very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24Jesus looked at him and 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?« 27But he said, »What is impossible with men is possible with God.« 28Then Peter said, »Behold, we have left all and followed you.« 29So he said to them, »Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.« 31Then he took the twelve aside and 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 insulted and spit upon. 33They will scourge him and kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.« 34But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about. 35As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36And hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant. 37They told him, »Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.« 38And he cried out, »Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!« 39And those who led the way rebuked him, telling him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, »Son of David, have mercy on me!« 40So 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, I want to receive my sight.« 42And 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.