Then (Jesus) told them a parable about - their need to pray at all times and not lose heart :
“ - In a certain town there was a judge (who) neither feared - God - (nor) respected men.
And there was a widow in that - town - who kept appealing ... to him , ‘ Give me justice ... (against) my - adversary. ’
- For a while vvv he refused , but later he said to himself , ‘ Though ... I neither fear - God nor respect men ,
yet because this - widow - keeps pestering me ... ... , I will give her justice .... (Then) vvv she will stop wearing me out ... with her perpetual requests ... .... ’”
And the Lord said , “ Listen to - (the) words of the - unjust judge.
- {Will} not ... - God bring about - justice for His - elect who cry out to Him day and night ? - Will He continue to defer their help ... ?
I tell you , - He will promptly carry out ... ... - justice on their behalf. Nevertheless , (when) the Son - of Man comes , will He find - - faith on - earth ? ”
- To some who trusted in their own ... ... righteousness and viewed - others {with contempt} , vvv He also told this - parable :
“ Two men went up to the temple to pray. - One (was) a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee stood - by himself (and) prayed , - ‘ God , I thank You that I am not like the other - men — swindlers , evildoers , adulterers — or even like this - tax collector.
I fast twice a week (and) pay tithes of all that ... I acquire. ’
But the tax collector stood at a distance , vvv unwilling even ... to lift up (his) eyes to - heaven. Instead , he beat his - breast (and) said - , ‘ God , have mercy on me , a sinner ! ’
I tell you , this (man) , rather than (the Pharisee) , went home ... ... ... ... justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled , but the (one who) humbles himself will be exalted. ”
Now (people) were even bringing ... (their) babies to (Jesus) for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw (this) , they rebuked (those who brought them).
But - 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.
Truly I tell you , - anyone who vvv does not receive the kingdom - of God like a little child vvv vvv will never enter ... it. ”
Then a certain ruler asked Him - , “ Good Teacher , what must I do to inherit eternal life ? ”
“ Why do you call Me good ? ” - - Jesus replied -. “ No one (is) good except ... - God alone.
You know the commandments : vvv ‘ Do not commit adultery , vvv do not murder , vvv do not steal , vvv do not bear false witness , honor your - father and - mother.’ ”
“ All these I have kept from my youth , ” - - he said.
On hearing this , - Jesus told him , “ You still lack one thing : Sell everything ... you own and give to (the) poor , and you will have treasure in - heaven. Then come , follow Me. ”
But - when (the ruler) heard this , he became very sad , because he was extremely wealthy.
- Seeing (the man’s) vvv sadness , - Jesus said , “ How hard (it is) for the - vvv rich to enter ... the kingdom - of God !
Indeed , it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter ... the kingdom - of God. ”
- Those who heard (this) asked , “ Who then can be saved ? ”
But - (Jesus) said , “ What (is) impossible with man is possible with - God. ”
“ Look , ” - - said Peter - , “ we have left vvv all we had to follow You. ”
“ Truly I tell you , ” - - (Jesus) replied - , - - “ no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom - of God
vvv vvv vvv will fail to receive many times more in this - age — and in the age - to come , eternal life. ”
Then (Jesus) took the Twelve {aside} (and) said to them , “ Look , we are going up to Jerusalem , and everything - the prophets - have written about the Son - of Man will be fulfilled.
- He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.
- They will flog (Him) (and) kill Him , and on the - third day He will rise again. ”
But (the disciples) did not understand any ... of these things. - - The meaning was hidden from them , and vvv they did not comprehend what He was saying.
As ... ... (Jesus) - drew near to Jericho , a blind (man) was sitting beside the road , begging.
When he heard the crowd going by , he asked what was (happening).
“ Jesus of Nazareth is passing by , ” - they told him -.
(So) he called out - , “ Jesus , Son of David , have mercy on me ! ”
- Those who led the way admonished him - - to be silent , but he cried out all the louder , “ Son of David , have mercy on me ! ”
- - Jesus stopped (and) directed that (the man) be brought to Him. When he had been brought near , (Jesus) asked him ,
“ What do you want Me to do for you ? ” “ Lord , ” - - he said , vvv “ let me see again. ”
“ Receive your sight ! ” - - Jesus replied -. “ Your - faith has healed you. ”
- Immediately he received his sight and followed (Jesus) , glorifying - God. And all the people (who) saw (this) gave praise - to God.