1 He also told them a parable about the need of always praying and never losing heart.
2 "In a certain town," he said, "there was a judge who had no reverence for God and no respect even for man.
3 And in that town there was a widow who used to go and appeal to him for 'Justice against my opponent!'
4 For a while he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, 'Though I have no reverence for God and no respect even for man,
5 still, as this widow is bothering me, I will see justice done to her ??not to have her for ever coming and pestering me.'
6 Listen," said the Lord, "to what this unjust judge says!
7 And will not God see justice done to his elect who cry to him by day and night? Will he be tolerant to their opponents?
8 I tell you, he will quickly see justice done to his elect! And yet, when the Son of man does come, will he find faith on earth?"
9 He also told the following parable to certain persons who were sure of their own goodness and looked down upon everybody else.
10 "Two men went up to pray in the temple; one was a Pharisee and the other was a taxgatherer.
11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed by himself as follows; 'I thank thee, O God, I am not like the rest of men, thieves, rogues, and immoral, or even like yon taxgatherer.
12 Twice a week I fast; on all my income I pay tithes.'
13 But the taxgatherer stood far away and would not lift even his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'O God, have mercy on me for my sins!'
14 I tell you, he went home accepted by God rather than the other man; for everyone who uplifts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be uplifted."
15 Now people even brought their infants for him to touch them; when the disciples noticed it they checked them,
16 but Jesus called for the infants. "Let the children come to me," he said, "do not stop them: the Realm of God belongs to such as these.
17 I tell you truly, whoever will not submit to the Reign of God like a child will never get into it at all."
19 Jesus said to him, "Why call me 'good'? No one is good, no one but God.
20 You know the commands: do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honour your father and mother."
22 When Jesus heard this he said to him, "You lack one thing more; sell all you have, distribute the money among the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come and follow me."
24 So Jesus looked at him and said, "How difficult it is for those who have money to enter the Realm of God!
25 Why, it is easier for a camel to get through a needle's eye than for a rich man to get into the Realm of God."
29 He said to them, "I tell you truly, no one has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the Realm of God,
30 who does not receive ever so much more in this present world, and in the world to come life eternal."
31 Then he took the twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and all the predictions of the prophets regarding the Son of man will be fulfilled;
32 he will be betrayed to the Gentiles, mocked, illtreated, and spat on;
33 they will scourge him and kill him, but he will rise again on the third day."
34 However, they did not understand a word of this; indeed the saying was hidden from them, and they did not know what he meant.
35 As he approached Jericho, it chanced that a blind man was seated beside the road begging.
36 When he heard the crowd passing he inquired what was the matter,
37 and they told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by.
38 So he shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"
39 The people in front checked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me!"