Parables on Prayer

18 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they (A)ought to pray and not (B)become discouraged, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not (C)respect any person. Now there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my [a]opponent.’ For a while he was unwilling; but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor (D)respect any person, yet (E)because this widow is bothering me, I will give her justice; otherwise [b]by continually coming she will (F)wear me out.’” And (G)the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge *said; now, will God not (H)bring about justice for His (I)elect who cry out to Him day [c]and night, and will He (J)delay long for them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, (K)will He find [d]faith on the earth?”

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Now He also told this parable to some people who (L)trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and (M)viewed others with contempt: 10 “Two men (N)went up into the [e]temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee (O)stood and began praying this in regard to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I (P)fast twice a week; I (Q)pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, (R)standing some distance away, (S)was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but (T)was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be [f]merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other one; (U)for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

15 (V)Now they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. 16 But Jesus called for [g]the little ones, saying, “Allow the children to come to Me, and do not [h]forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I say to you, (W)whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

The Rich Young Ruler

18 (X)A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me [i]good? No one is [j]good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments, ‘(Y)Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not give false testimony, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, “All these things I have kept since my youth.” 22 Now when Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; (Z)sell all that you possess and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have (AA)treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 23 But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely wealthy. 24 And Jesus looked at him and said, (AB)How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For (AC)it is easier for a camel to [k]go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!” 26 Those who heard Him said, “And so who can be saved?” 27 But He said, (AD)The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”

28 Peter said, “Behold, (AE)we have left [l]our own homes and followed You.” 29 And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, (AF)there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times as much at this time, and in (AG)the age to come, eternal life.”

31 (AH)Now He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, (AI)we are going up to Jerusalem, and (AJ)all the things that have been written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 (AK)For He will be [m]handed over to the Gentiles, and will be ridiculed, and abused, and spit upon, 33 and after they have flogged Him, they will kill Him; and on the third day He will rise.” 34 [n](AL)The disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.

Bartimaeus Receives Sight

35 (AM)Now as [o](AN)Jesus was approaching Jericho, a man who was blind was sitting by the road, begging. 36 But when he heard a crowd going by, he began inquiring what this was. 37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he called out, saying, “Jesus, (AO)Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, “(AP)Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He asked him, 41 “What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, I want to regain my sight!” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Regain your sight; (AQ)your faith has [p]made you well.” 43 And immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, (AR)glorifying God; and when (AS)all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 18:3 Or enemy
  2. Luke 18:5 Or in the end she may come and give me a black eye
  3. Luke 18:7 Or and night? He is also patient toward them
  4. Luke 18:8 Lit the faith
  5. Luke 18:10 I.e., the temple grounds
  6. Luke 18:13 Or propitious
  7. Luke 18:16 Lit them
  8. Luke 18:16 Or prevent
  9. Luke 18:19 I.e., morally, inherently good
  10. Luke 18:19 I.e., morally, inherently good
  11. Luke 18:25 Lit enter
  12. Luke 18:28 Lit our own things
  13. Luke 18:32 Or betrayed to
  14. Luke 18:34 Lit And they themselves
  15. Luke 18:35 Lit He
  16. Luke 18:42 Lit saved you

Parábola de la viuda insistente

18 Jesús contó a sus discípulos una parábola para mostrarles que debían orar siempre, sin desanimarse. Les dijo: «Había en cierto pueblo un juez que no tenía temor de Dios ni consideración de nadie. En el mismo pueblo había una viuda que insistía en pedirle: “Hágame usted justicia contra mi adversario”. Durante algún tiempo él se negó, pero por fin concluyó: “Aunque no temo a Dios ni tengo consideración de nadie, como esta viuda no deja de molestarme, voy a tener que hacerle justicia, no sea que con sus visitas me haga la vida imposible”».

Continuó el Señor: «Tengan en cuenta lo que dijo el juez injusto. ¿Acaso Dios no hará justicia a sus escogidos, que claman a él día y noche? ¿Se tardará mucho en responderles? Les digo que sí les hará justicia y sin demora. No obstante, cuando venga el Hijo del hombre, ¿encontrará fe en la tierra?».

Parábola del fariseo y del recaudador de impuestos

A algunos que, confiando en sí mismos, se creían justos y que despreciaban a los demás, Jesús les contó esta parábola: 10 «Dos hombres subieron al Templo a orar; uno era fariseo, y el otro, recaudador de impuestos. 11 El fariseo, puesto en pie y a solas, oraba: “Oh Dios, te doy gracias porque no soy como otros hombres —ladrones, malhechores, adúlteros— ni como ese recaudador de impuestos. 12 Ayuno dos veces a la semana y doy la décima parte de todo lo que recibo”. 13 En cambio, el recaudador de impuestos, que se había quedado a cierta distancia, ni siquiera se atrevía a alzar la vista al cielo, sino que se golpeaba el pecho y decía: “¡Oh Dios, ten compasión de mí, que soy pecador!”.

14 »Les digo que este y no aquel volvió a su casa justificado ante Dios. Pues todo el que a sí mismo se enaltece será humillado y el que se humilla será enaltecido».

Jesús y los niños(A)

15 También le llevaban niños pequeños a Jesús para que los tocara. Al ver esto, los discípulos reprendían a quienes los llevaban. 16 Pero Jesús llamó a los niños y dijo: «Dejen que los niños vengan a mí; no se lo impidan, porque el reino de Dios es de quienes son como ellos. 17 Les aseguro que el que no reciba el reino de Dios como un niño, de ninguna manera entrará en él».

El dirigente rico(B)

18 Cierto dirigente preguntó a Jesús:

—Maestro bueno, ¿qué debo hacer para heredar la vida eterna?

19 —¿Por qué me llamas bueno? —respondió Jesús—. Nadie es bueno sino solo Dios. 20 Ya sabes los mandamientos: “No cometas adulterio, no mates, no robes, no presentes falso testimonio, honra a tu padre y a tu madre”.[a]

21 —Todo eso lo he cumplido desde que era joven —dijo el hombre.

22 Al oír esto, Jesús añadió:

—Todavía te falta una cosa: vende todo lo que tienes y repártelo entre los pobres, y tendrás tesoro en el cielo. Luego ven y sígueme.

23 Cuando el hombre oyó esto, se entristeció mucho, pues era muy rico. 24 Al verlo tan afligido, Jesús comentó:

—¡Qué difícil es para los ricos entrar en el reino de Dios! 25 En realidad, le resulta más fácil a un camello pasar por el ojo de una aguja que a un rico entrar en el reino de Dios.

26 Los que lo oyeron preguntaron:

—Entonces, ¿quién podrá salvarse?

27 —Lo que es imposible para los hombres es posible para Dios —aclaró Jesús.

28 —Mira —le dijo Pedro—, nosotros hemos dejado todo lo que teníamos para seguirte.

29 —Les aseguro —respondió Jesús— que todo el que por causa del reino de Dios haya dejado casa, esposa, hermanos, padres o hijos 30 recibirá mucho más en este tiempo; y en la edad venidera, la vida eterna.

Jesús predice de nuevo su muerte(C)

31 Entonces Jesús tomó aparte a los doce y dijo: «Ahora vamos subiendo a Jerusalén, donde se cumplirá todo lo que escribieron los profetas acerca del Hijo del hombre. 32 En efecto, será entregado a los gentiles. Se burlarán de él, lo insultarán, le escupirán; 33 y, después de azotarlo, lo matarán. Pero al tercer día resucitará».

34 Los discípulos no entendieron nada de esto. Les era incomprensible, pues no captaban el sentido de lo que hablaba.

Un mendigo ciego recibe la vista(D)

35 Sucedió que al acercarse Jesús a Jericó, estaba un ciego sentado junto al camino pidiendo limosna. 36 Cuando oyó a la multitud que pasaba, preguntó qué acontecía.

37 —Jesús de Nazaret está pasando por aquí —respondieron.

38 —¡Jesús, Hijo de David, ten compasión de mí! —gritó el ciego.

39 Los que iban delante lo reprendían para que se callara, pero él se puso a gritar aún más fuerte:

—¡Hijo de David, ten compasión de mí!

40 Jesús se detuvo y mandó que se lo trajeran. Cuando el ciego se acercó, preguntó Jesús:

41 —¿Qué quieres que haga por ti?

Y él dijo:

—Señor, quiero ver.

42 —¡Recibe la vista! —le dijo Jesús—, tu fe te ha sanado.

43 Al instante recobró la vista. Entonces, glorificando a Dios, comenzó a seguir a Jesús y todos los que lo vieron daban alabanza a Dios.

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.(A) He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice(B) against my adversary.’

“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”(C)

And the Lord(D) said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out(E) to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man(F) comes,(G) will he find faith on the earth?”

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

To some who were confident of their own righteousness(H) and looked down on everyone else,(I) Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray,(J) one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself(K) and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast(L) twice a week and give a tenth(M) of all I get.’

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

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.”(P)

The Little Children and Jesus(Q)

15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 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. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child(R) will never enter it.”

The Rich and the Kingdom of God(S)

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

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You 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.’[a](U)

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

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

23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!(X) 25 Indeed, 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.”

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

27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”(Y)

28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”(Z)

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 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come(AA) eternal life.”(AB)

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time(AC)

31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem,(AD) and everything that is written by the prophets(AE) about the Son of Man(AF) will be fulfilled. 32 He will be delivered over to the Gentiles.(AG) They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; 33 they will flog him(AH) and kill him.(AI) On the third day(AJ) he will rise again.”(AK)

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

A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight(AM)

35 As Jesus approached Jericho,(AN) a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”(AO)

38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David,(AP) have mercy(AQ) on me!”

39 Those 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!”(AR)

40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”(AS) 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.(AT)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 18:20 Exodus 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20