0 SAB Luke 18

Luke

CHAPTER 18

The avenging, lazy, unjust judge
18:1-8

1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

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

5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

Jesus told his disciples this parable to encourage them to pray always, without giving up:

There was once a judge who didn't fear God or respect people.

A widow came to him and said,

Help me avenge my enemy.

The judge ignored her for a while, but then he said to himself,

Although I don't fear God or respect people, I'll help her avenge her enemy so she'll stop bothering me.

Jesus said to them,

Listen to the unjust judge.

7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

Won't God avenge his chosen ones who cry out to him night and day?

8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

He'll quickly help you avenge your enemies.

But when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth?

The Pharisee and the publican

18:9-14

9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Jesus also told them this parable:

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

Two men went to the temple to pray, one was a Pharisee, the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

The Pharisee prayed like this:

Oh God, I thank you that I'm not like other men - extortioners, unjust, adulterers - or even like this publican.

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

I fast twice a week, and give tithes of everything I own.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

And the publican wouldn't even look up to heaven, but stood far away, striking his breast and saying,

Have mercy on me, a sinner.

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

The publican was justified, not the Pharisee.

Those who exalt themselves will be humbled.

And those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Little children
18:15-17, Cf. Mt 19:13-15, Mk 10:13-16

15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

Some people brought infants for Jesus to touch,

but the disciples told them not to.

16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

But Jesus said,

Let the little children come to me,

for such is the kingdom of God.

17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

You won't enter heaven unless you accept the kingdom of God like a little child. [1]

The rich young man
18:18-27, Cf. Mt 19:16-26, Mk 10:17-27

18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

A ruler asked Jesus,

Good teacher, what must I do to have eternal life?

19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

Jesus said,

Why do you call me good?

No one is good except God. [2]

20Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

You know the commandments. [3]

Don't commit adultery, don't kill, don't steal, don't lie, honor your father and mother. [4]

21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

The man said,

I've kept all these since I was young.

22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Jesus said,

There's one thing more that you must do.

Sell all that you have and give the money to the poor.

You'll have treasure in heaven, and come follow me.

23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

When he heard this, he was very sad, since he was very rich.

24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

When Jesus saw this, he said,

It is very hard for rich people 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 man to enter into the kingdom of God.

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. [5]

26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

The disciples asked him,

Who then can be saved?

27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Jesus said,

Impossible things are possible with God. [6]

Abandon your family for Jesus
(and you'll get much more and live forever)
18:28-30, Cf. Mt 19:27-30, Mk 10:28-31

28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

Peter said,

We've left everything to follow you.

29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,

Jesus said,

Those who leave their house, family, spouse, or children for the kingdom of God,

30Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

will receive much more in this life,

and live forever in the next. [7]

Jesus foretells his death (for the third time)
18:31-34, Cf. Mt 20:17-19, Mk 10:32-34

31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

Jesus said to the twelve apostles,

We're going to Jerusalem when all the things the prophets wrote about the Son of man will happen.

32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:

He'll be delivered to the Gentiles,

who will mock and spit upon him.

33And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

Then they'll beat him and kill him,

and on the third day he'll rise again. [8]

34And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

But none of the apostles knew what he was talking about.
One blind man
18:35-43, Cf. Mt 20:29-34, Mk 10:46-52

35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.

As Jesus approached Jericho,

a blind man sat begging by the side of the road. [9]

37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he said,

Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.

39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.

He was told to stop, but he kept shouting all the more:

Son of David, have mercy on me.

40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,

41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

Jesus said to him,

What do you want me to do to you?

And the blind man said,

Help me see.

42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

Jesus said,

See. Your faith have saved you.

43And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

And immediately he could see.

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