Luke 18 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Jesus told them this story to encourage them to pray at all times, and not to become discouraged.
1 He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray and not give up,
2 “Once there was a judge in this particular town who didn't respect God or care about anyone,” Jesus explained.
2 saying, “There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God and didn’t respect man.
3 “In the same town lived a widow who time and again went to the judge, saying, ‘Give me justice in the case against my enemy!’
3 A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my adversary!’
4 For a while he didn't want to do anything about it, but eventually he said to himself, ‘Even though I don't respect God or care about anyone,
4 He wouldn’t for a while; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man,
5 this widow is so annoying I'll make sure she receives justice. Then she won't wear me out by her coming to see me so often.’
5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.’”
6 Listen to what even an unjust judge decided,” said the Lord.
6 The Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.
7 “Don't you think that God will make sure his chosen people receive justice, those who cry out to him day and night? Do you think he will make them wait?
7 Won’t God avenge his chosen ones who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?
8 No, I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. However, when the Son of man comes, will he find people on earth who trust in him?”
8 I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
9 He also told this story about those who are so sure that they are living right, and who put everybody else down.
9 He also spoke this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others:
10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector.
10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed to himself, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—cheats, criminals, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed by himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men: extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week, and I pay tithe on my income.’
12 I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’
13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He wouldn't even look up to heaven. Instead he beat his chest and prayed, ‘God, please be merciful to me. I am a sinner.’
13 But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
14 I 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.”
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
15 Parents 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.
15 They were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
16 But 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.
16 Jesus summoned them, saying, “Allow the little children to come to me, and don’t hinder them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these.
17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
17 Most certainly, I tell you, whoever doesn’t receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.”
18 One of the rulers came to Jesus and asked him, “Good Teacher, what do I have to do to inherit eternal life?”
18 A certain ruler asked him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good, only God.
19 Jesus asked him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one: God.
20 You know the commandments: do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.”
20 You know the commandments: ‘Don’t commit adultery,’ ‘Don’t murder,’ ‘Don’t steal,’ ‘Don’t give false testimony,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”
21 “I've kept all these commandments since I was young,” the man replied.
21 He said, “I have observed all these things from my youth up.”
22 When 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!”
22 When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very wealthy.
23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.
24 When he saw his reaction, Jesus said, “How difficult it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
24 Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!
25 It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”
26 Those who heard this wondered, “Who can be saved then?”
26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible in human terms is possible for God.”
27 But he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
28 Peter said, “We left everything to follow you!”
28 Peter said, “Look, we have left everything and followed 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
29 He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for God’s Kingdom’s sake,
30 will receive so much more in this life, and eternal life in the world to come.”
30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life.”
31 Jesus 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.
31 He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.
32 He will be handed over to the foreigners, he will be mocked, insulted, and spat upon.
32 For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on.
33 They will flog him and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”
33 They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again.”
34 But they didn't understand anything Jesus told them. The meaning was hidden from them and they didn't grasp what he was talking about.
34 They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn’t understand the things that were said.
35 As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting beside the road begging.
35 As he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.
36 He heard the crowd going past, so he asked what was happening.
36 Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.
37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
38 He called out, “Jesus, son of David, please have mercy on me!”
38 He cried out, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 Those 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!”
39 Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and told them to bring the blind man to him. As he came over, Jesus asked him,
40 Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him,
41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, please, I want to see,” he pleaded.
41 “What do you want me to do?” He said, “Lord, that I may see again.”
42 “Then see!” Jesus told him. “Your trust in me has healed you.”
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.”
43 Immediately the man could see. He followed Jesus, praising God. Everyone there who saw what happened also praised God.
43 Immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God.
Cross references (42)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Colossians 4:2; Romans 12:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Philippians 4:6; Ephesians 6:18
- 2 Psalm 8:1–4; Luke 18:4; Proverbs 29:7; Ezekiel 22:6–8; Jeremiah 22:16–17
- 3 Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 5:28; Job 22:9; Deuteronomy 27:19; Luke 18:7–8
- 4 Hebrews 4:12–13; Luke 12:17; Luke 16:3
- 5 Luke 11:8; Luke 18:39; Judges 16:16; Mark 10:47–48; 2 Samuel 13:24–27
- 6 Luke 7:13
- 7 2 Peter 3:9; Hebrews 10:35–37; 1 Timothy 5:5; Luke 11:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:6
- 8 Hebrews 10:23–26; 2 Peter 3:8–9; Matthew 24:9–13; Psalm 46:5; Luke 17:26–30
- 9 Luke 16:15; Proverbs 30:12; Isaiah 65:5; Romans 10:3; Romans 14:10
- 10 Matthew 21:31–32; Acts 3:1; 2 Kings 20:5; 1 Kings 8:30; 2 Kings 20:8
- 11 Matthew 6:5; Revelation 3:17; Isaiah 65:5; Jeremiah 2:35; Mark 11:25
- 12 Luke 11:42; Matthew 23:23–24; Luke 17:10; Matthew 9:14; 1 Timothy 4:8
- 13 1 John 1:8–10; Ezra 9:6; Psalm 41:4; 1 Timothy 1:15; Hebrews 8:12
- 14 Luke 14:11; Luke 16:15; James 4:10; Matthew 23:12; Proverbs 29:23
- 15 Matthew 19:13–15; Mark 10:13–16; 1 Samuel 1:24; Luke 9:49–50; Luke 9:54
- 16 Matthew 18:3–4; 1 Corinthians 14:20; Deuteronomy 31:12; 1 Corinthians 7:14; 1 Peter 2:2
- 17 Matthew 18:3; Mark 10:15; Psalm 131:1–2; 1 Peter 1:14
- 18 Mark 10:17–31; Acts 16:30; Matthew 19:16–30; Luke 10:25–28; Acts 2:37
- 19 James 1:17; Job 15:14–16; Hebrews 7:26; 1 Timothy 3:16; Job 25:4
- 20 Exodus 20:12–17; Deuteronomy 5:16–21; Romans 13:9; Matthew 19:17–19; Ephesians 6:2
- 21 Philippians 3:6; Matthew 19:20–21; Mark 10:20–21; Luke 18:11–12; Luke 15:7
- 22 Luke 12:33; 1 Timothy 6:18–19; Matthew 19:21; Matthew 6:19–20; Luke 16:9
- 23 Ezekiel 33:31; 1 John 2:15; Mark 10:22; Matthew 19:22; Luke 21:34
- 24 Proverbs 11:28; Proverbs 30:9; James 2:5–7; Mark 10:23–27; Matthew 19:23–25
- 26 Luke 13:23
- 27 Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37; Job 42:2; Genesis 18:14
- 28 Philippians 3:7; Mark 10:28; Luke 5:11; Matthew 19:27; Matthew 4:19–22
- 29 Mark 10:29–31; Matthew 10:37–39; Luke 14:26–28; Matthew 19:28–30; Deuteronomy 33:9
- 30 Job 42:10; Hebrews 13:5–6; Revelation 2:17; Luke 12:31–32; Matthew 12:32
- 31 Matthew 20:17–19; Isaiah 53:1–12; Psalm 22:1–31; Mark 10:32–34; Luke 24:44–46
- 32 Luke 23:11; Isaiah 53:3; Isaiah 50:6; Acts 3:13; Mark 14:65
- 33 Luke 24:7; Luke 24:21; Matthew 16:21; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Matthew 27:63
- 34 Luke 9:45; Mark 9:32; Luke 2:50; John 12:16; John 16:1–19
- 35 Matthew 20:29–34; John 9:8; Luke 16:20–21; Mark 10:46–52; 1 Samuel 2:8
- 36 Matthew 21:10–11; Luke 15:26
- 37 Matthew 2:23; John 1:45; John 19:19; John 12:35–36; Acts 4:10
- 38 Matthew 9:27; Luke 18:39; Matthew 15:22; Matthew 21:9; Romans 1:3
- 39 Genesis 32:26–28; Psalm 141:1; Luke 11:8–10; Matthew 26:40–44; Luke 18:15
- 40 Mark 10:48–52; Matthew 20:31–34
- 41 1 Kings 3:5–15; Romans 8:25; Matthew 20:21–22; Philippians 4:6
- 42 Luke 8:48; Matthew 8:3; Matthew 9:22; Luke 17:19; Psalm 33:9
- 43 Psalm 146:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:10–12; Acts 11:18; Psalm 103:1–3; Luke 4:39
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
The lesson of the Holy Gospel builds us up unto the duty of praying and believing, and of not putting our trust in ourselves, but in the Lord. What greater encouragement to prayer than the parable which is proposed to us of the unjust judge?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
And to the person who said to Him, "Good Master," He confessed that God who is truly good, saying, "Why callest thou Me good: there is One who is good, the Father in the heavens;" and they assert that in this passage the Æons receive the name of heavens.
It were well for him to imitate the Publican, and not swell as the Pharisee, "who went up into the temple," and boasted of his deserts, and covered up his wounds.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
For instance, to them that strip themselves of all that they have for His sake He promised to give an hundred fold in the present world, and life eternal in that which is to come; by the things already given making the future also credible.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
The eighth passage is, That they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent; and There is none good save one, that is, God. The solution of this appears to me very easy.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)