Luke 18:1-19 ▼

1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,

2 saying, “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God, and did not respect man.

3 “And there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’

4 “And for a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man,

5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, lest by continually coming she wear me out.’”

6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said;

7 now shall not God bring about justice for His elect, who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?

8 “I tell you that He will bring about justice for them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

9 And He also told this parable to certain ones who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:

10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer.

11 “The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, ‘God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer.

12 ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’

13 “But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’

14 “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted.”

15 And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them.

16 But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

17 “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it at all.”

18 And a certain ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.