Luke 18:14-42

¹⁴I tell you, it was this man who went home right in God's sight and not the other. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, while those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

¹⁵Parents were bringing their infants to Jesus to have him bless them by his touch. When the disciples saw what was happening, they tried to stop them.

¹⁶But Jesus called the children to him. “Let the little children come to me,” he said. “Don't prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like them.

¹⁷I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

¹⁸One of the rulers came to Jesus and asked him, “Good Teacher, what do I have to do to inherit eternal life?”

¹⁹“Why do you call me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good, only God.

²⁰You know the commandments: do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.”

²¹“I've kept all these commandments since I was young,” the man replied.

²²When Jesus heard this he told the man, “You still lack one thing. Go and sell all you have, give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me!”

²³But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very wealthy.

²⁴When he saw his reaction, Jesus said, “How difficult it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

²⁵It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶Those who heard this wondered, “Who can be saved then?”

²⁷Jesus replied, “What is impossible in human terms is possible for God.”

²⁸Peter said, “We left everything to follow you!”

²⁹“I tell you the truth,” Jesus told them, “anybody who leaves behind their home, wife, brothers, parents, or children for the sake of God's kingdom

³⁰will receive so much more in this life, and eternal life in the world to come.”

³¹Jesus took the twelve disciples aside, and told them, “We're going to Jerusalem, and all that the prophets wrote about the Son of man will be fulfilled.

³²He will be handed over to the foreigners he will be mocked, insulted, and spat upon.

³³They will flog him and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”

³⁴But they didn't understand anything Jesus told them. The meaning was hidden from them and they didn't grasp what he was talking about.

³⁵As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting beside the road begging.

³⁶He heard the crowd going past, so he asked what was happening.

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

³⁸He called out, “Jesus, son of David, please have mercy on me!”

³⁹Those at the front of the crowd told him to stop shouting and be quiet, but he only shouted louder, “Son of David, please have mercy on me!”

⁴⁰Jesus stopped and told them to bring the blind man to him. As he came over, Jesus asked him,

⁴¹“What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, please, I want to see,” he pleaded.

⁴²“Then see!” Jesus told him. “Your trust in me has healed you.”