Luke 18:1-19 ▼

1 And He spake a parable to them, to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2 saying, "There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, nor regarded man.

3 And there was a widow in that city; and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Avenge me of my adversary.'

4 And he would not for a time; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

5 yet, because this widow occasions me trouble, I will avenge her, lest, by her persistent coming, she wear me out.'"

6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the judge of unrighteousness says.

7 And will not God avenge His elect, who are crying to Him day and night, and He is long suffering over them?

8 I say to you, that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, will the Son of Man, when He cometh, find the faith on the earth?"

9 And He spake also this parable to some who had trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised the rest:

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

11 The Pharisee, having taken his stand, was praying these things with himself: 'God, I thank Thee that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax-collector!

12 I fast twice on the Sabbath; I give a tenth of all that I acquire.'

13 "But the tax-collector, standing afar off, would not lift up even his eyes to heaven, but was smiting his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'

14 I say to you, this man went down justified to his house, rather than the other; because every one who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted."

15 And they were bringing to Him their babes, also, that He might touch them; but the disciples, seeing it, were rebuking them.

16 But Jesus called them to Him , saying, "Suffer the little children to come to Me, and forbid them not; for to such belongs the Kingdom of God.

17 Verily I say to you, whosoever does not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, shall in no wise enter therein."

18 And a certain ruler asked Him, saying, "Good Teacher, by doing what shall I inherit eternal life?"

19 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good, but One—God.