Luke 18 :: New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

Luk 18:1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Luk 18:2He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.

Luk 18:3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

Luk 18:4

Luk 18:4“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think,

Luk 18:5

Luk 18:5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ”

Luk 18:6

Luk 18:6And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.

Luk 18:7

Luk 18:7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

Luk 18:8

Luk 18:8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Luk 18:9

Luk 18:9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:

Luk 18:10

Luk 18:10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

Luk 18:11

Luk 18:11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

Luk 18:12

Luk 18:12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

Luk 18:13

Luk 18:13“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

Luk 18:14

Luk 18:14“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

The Little Children and Jesus

(Mat 19:13–15; Mar 10:13–16 )

Luk 18:15

Luk 18:15People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.

Luk 18:16

Luk 18:16But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Luk 18:17

Luk 18:17Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

(Mat 19:16–22; Mar 10:17–22 )

Luk 18:18

Luk 18:18A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Luk 18:19

Luk 18:19“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.

Luk 18:20

Luk 18:20You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’[fn]”

Luk 18:21

Luk 18:21“All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

Luk 18:22

Luk 18:22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Luk 18:23

Luk 18:23When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy.

(Mat 19:23–30; Mar 10:23–31 )

Luk 18:24

Luk 18:24Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

Luk 18:25

Luk 18:25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Luk 18:26

Luk 18:26Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

Luk 18:27

Luk 18:27Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

Luk 18:28

Luk 18:28Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”

Luk 18:29

Luk 18:29“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God

Luk 18:30

Luk 18:30will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time

(Mat 20:17–19; Mar 10:32–34 )

Luk 18:31

Luk 18:31Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

Luk 18:32

Luk 18:32He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him;

Luk 18:33

Luk 18:33they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”

Luk 18:34

Luk 18:34The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight

(Mat 20:29–34; Mar 10:46–52 )

Luk 18:35

Luk 18:35As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.

Luk 18:36

Luk 18:36When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

Luk 18:37

Luk 18:37They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

Luk 18:38

Luk 18:38He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Luk 18:39

Luk 18:39Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Luk 18:40

Luk 18:40Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him,

Luk 18:41

Luk 18:41“What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

Luk 18:42

Luk 18:42Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”

Luk 18:43

Luk 18:43Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

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NIV Footnotes

(18:20)

Exodus 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20

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