1Jesus also told them a parable [illustrating] that they must always pray and not give up, 2saying, “In a certain city, there was a judge who did not fear God and did not care [about anyone]. 3A widow lived in that city, and she often came to him, saying: ‘Defend me from my adversary!’ 4For a time, he would not [do anything], but after a while, he said to himself, ‘Although I neither fear God nor care for anyone, 5yet because this widow is bothering me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out860 by her continual visits.’”
6The Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge has to say! 7Will not God grant justice to his elect who are crying out to him day and night,861 although he exercises patience regarding them?862 8I tell you that he will avenge them quickly! And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith863 on the earth?”864
The parable of the Publican and the Pharisee
9Jesus865 also spoke this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness and who despised everyone else.
10”Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a Publican.866 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men, dishonest, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I earn.’ 13But the tax collector, standing far aside, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a867 sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man, rather than the other, went down to his house justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
About children and the Kingdom
15People were also bringing their infants to him, so that Jesus might lay hands868 on them. But when the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16Jesus summoned his disciples and told them, “Allow the little children to come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17Amen, I tell you: whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will in no way enter into it.”
The question of the rich ruler—About riches and renunciation
18A certain ruler869 asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall870 I do to inherit eternal life?”
19Jesus asked him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good,871 except one—God. 20You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”872
21The ruler replied, “I have observed all these things from my youth.”
22When Jesus heard these things, he said, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, distribute it to the poor, and you will have a treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
23But when the man heard these things, he became very distressed because he was very rich.
24Jesus, seeing that he had become very distressed, said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter into the Kingdom of God! 25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for someone who is wealthy to enter into the Kingdom of God!”
26Those who heard this exclaimed, “Then who can be saved?”
27But Jesus replied, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
28Peter said, “Look, we have left everything and followed you!”
29And Jesus said to them, “Amen, I tell you: there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, 30who will not receive many times more in this [present] time, and in the age to come, eternal life.”
A third announcement of the passion
31He took the Twelve aside, and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32For he will be delivered to the Gentiles, mocked, mistreated, and spit upon. 33Having flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day, he will rise again.”
34However, they understood none of these things. What Jesus was saying was concealed from them, and they did not understand the things that were said.
The healing of a blind man
35As Jesus873 was approaching Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging. 36Hearing a crowd going by, he asked what this meant. 37People told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38He began to cry out, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!” 39Then those who led the way rebuked him, ordering him to be quiet. But the blind man874 cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40Standing still, Jesus commanded that the blind man875 be brought to him. When the man had come near, Jesus asked him, 41“What do you want me to do?”
The man replied, “Lord, that I may see again!”
42Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed876 you.”
43Immediately, the man received his sight and began to follow Jesus, glorifying God. When all the people saw this, they praised God.
Zacchaeus the tax collector
- Literally “blacken the face,” which may also mean “come and attack”
- Compare Revelation 6:9-10
- Or “even though he still delays to help them?” (NJB), “Will he delay long in helping them?” (NRSV)
- Literally “the faith”
- Or “on the land?”
- Greek “he”
- Or “tax collector.” The word “Publican” is used in the opening verse since it is still frequent in Orthodox usage
- Literally “the sinner”
- Or “touch”
- Or “judge, official, member of a Sanhedrin”
- Or “what must I do”
- But compare John 10:14
- Exodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20
- Greek “he”
- Greek “he”
- Greek “he”
- Greek sevswkev (may also mean “saved/rescued /delivered/healed”)
Text: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible, New Testament (EOB). Used with permission.
