1 Then he spoke a parable to them about how they should always pray and not become discouraged, 2 saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect people. 3 Now there was a widow in that city, and she came often to him, saying, 'Help me get justice against my opponent.' 4 For a long time he was not willing to help her, but after a while he said to himself, 'Though I do not fear God or respect man, 5 yet because this widow causes me trouble, I will help her get justice, so that she does not wear me out by her constant coming.'” 6 Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 Now will not God also bring justice to his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I say to you that he will bring justice to them speedily. Even so, when the Son of Man comes, will he indeed find faith on the earth?” 9 Then he also spoke this parable to some who were persuaded in themselves that they were righteous and who despised other people, 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray—the one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed these things about himself, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, unrighteous people, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast two times every week. I give tithes of all that I get.' 13 But the tax collector, standing at a distance, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but hit his breast, saying, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14 I say to you, this man went back down to his house justified rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.” 15 The people were also bringing to him their infants so that he might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Permit the little children to come to me, and do not forbid them. For the kingdom of God belongs to such ones. 17 Truly I say to you, whoever will not receive the kingdom of God like a child will definitely not enter it.” 18 A certain ruler asked him, saying, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good, except God alone. 20 You know the commandments—do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not testify falsely, honor your father and mother.” 21 The ruler said, “All these things I have obeyed from the time I was a youth.” 22 When Jesus heard that, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. You must sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me.” 23 But when the ruler heard these things, he became extremely sad, for he was very rich. 24 Then Jesus, seeing him, became very sad and said, “How difficult it is for those who are rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those hearing it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus answered, “The things which are impossible with people are possible with God.” 28 Peter said, “Well, we have left everything that is our own and have followed you.” 29 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, I say to you that 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 much more in this world, and in the world to come, eternal life.” 31 After he gathered the twelve to himself, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that have been written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For he will be given over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked, and shamefully treated, and spit upon. 33 After whipping him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.” 34 They understood none of these things, and this word was hidden from them, and they did not understand the things that were said. 35 It came about that, as Jesus approached Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting by the road begging, 36 and hearing a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 So the blind man cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” 39 The ones who were walking ahead rebuked the blind man, telling him to be quiet. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me.” 40 Jesus stood still and commanded that the man be brought to him. Then when the blind man was near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, I want to receive my sight.” 42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw this, gave praise to God.
Luke 18 Unlocked Literal Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
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)