Luke 18
18One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.G1161G3004G2532G3850G846G4314G1163G3842G4336G2532G3361G15732"There was a judge in a certain city," he said, "who neither feared God nor cared about people.G3004G2258G1722G5100G4172G5100G2923G5399G3361G2316G2532G3361G1788G4443A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, 'Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.'G1161G2258G5503G1722G1565G4172G2532G2064G4314G846G3004G1556G3165G575G3450G4764The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, 'I don't fear God or care about people,G2532G2309G3756G1909G5550G1161G5023G3326G2036G1722G1438G1499G5399G3756G2316G2532G3756G1788G4445but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'"G1065G1223G5026G5503G3930G2873G3427G1556G846G3363G1519G5056G2064G5299G31656Then the Lord said, "Learn a lesson from this unjust judge.G1161G2962G2036G191G5101G93G2923G30047Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?G1161G1557G3364G2316G4160G1557G846G1588G3588G994G2250G2532G3571G4314G846G2532G3114G1909G8468I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?"G3004G5213G3754G4160G1557G846G5034G1722G4133G687G5207G444G2064G2147G4102G1909G10939Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else.G1161G2036G2532G5026G3850G4314G5100G3588G3982G1909G1438G3754G1526G1342G2532G1848G306210"Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.G1417G444G305G1519G2411G4336G1520G5330G2532G2087G505711The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: 'I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don't cheat, I don't sin, and I don't commit adultery. I'm certainly not like that tax collector!G5330G2476G4336G5023G4314G1438G2316G2168G4671G3754G1510G3756G5618G3062G444G727G94G3432G2228G2532G5613G3778G505712I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.'G3522G1364G4521G586G3956G3745G293213"But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.'G2532G5057G2476G3113G2309G3756G1869G3761G3788G1519G3772G235G5180G1519G846G4738G3004G2316G2433G3427G26814I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."G3004G5213G3778G2597G1519G846G3624G1344G2228G1565G3754G3956G5312G1438G5013G1161G5013G1438G531215One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.G1161G4374G846G2532G1025G2443G680G846G1161G3101G1492G2008G84616Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.G1161G2424G4341G846G2036G863G3813G2064G4314G3165G2532G2967G846G3361G1063G5108G2076G932G231617I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."G281G3004G5213G3739G1209G3362G1209G932G2316G5613G3813G1525G3364G1525G1519G84618Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: "Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?"G2532G5100G758G1905G846G3004G18G1320G5101G4160G2816G166G222219"Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "Only God is truly good.G1161G2424G2036G846G5101G3004G3165G18G3762G18G1508G1520G231620But to answer your question, you know the commandments: 'You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.'"G1492G1785G3431G3361G3431G5407G3361G5407G2813G3361G2813G5576G3361G5576G5091G4675G3962G2532G4675G338421The man replied, "I've obeyed all these commandments since I was young."G1161G2036G3956G5023G5442G1537G3450G350322When Jesus heard his answer, he said, "There is still one thing you haven't done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."G1161G2424G191G5023G2036G846G2089G3007G4671G1520G4453G3956G3745G2192G2532G1239G4434G2532G2192G2344G1722G3772G2532G1204G190G342723But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.G1161G191G5023G1096G4036G1063G2258G4970G414524When Jesus saw this, he said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!G1161G2424G1492G846G1096G4036G2036G4459G1423G1525G2192G5536G1525G1519G932G231625In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!"G1063G2076G2123G2574G1525G1223G4476G5168G2228G4145G1525G1519G932G231626Those who heard this said, "Then who in the world can be saved?"G1161G191G2036G5101G2532G1410G498227He replied, "What is impossible for people is possible with God."G1161G2036G102G3844G444G2076G1415G3844G231628Peter said, "We've left our homes to follow you."G1161G4074G2036G2400G2249G863G3956G2532G190G467129"Yes," Jesus replied, "and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God,G1161G2036G846G281G3004G5213G3754G2076G3762G3739G863G3614G2228G1118G2228G80G2228G1135G2228G5043G1752G932G2316G175230will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come."G3739G618G3364G618G4179G1722G5129G2540G2532G1722G165G2064G2222G16631Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, "Listen, we're going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true.G1161G3880G1427G2036G4314G846G2400G305G1519G2414G2532G3956G1125G1223G4396G5207G444G505532He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon.G1063G3860G1484G2532G1702G2532G5195G2532G171633They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again."G2532G3146G615G846G615G2532G5154G2250G45034But they didn't understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.G2532G846G4920G3762G5130G2532G5124G4487G2258G2928G575G846G2532G3756G1097G300435As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road.G1161G1096G1722G846G1448G1519G2410G5100G5185G2521G3844G3598G431936When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening.G1161G191G3793G1279G4441G5101G5124G149837They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by.G1161G518G846G3754G2424G3480G392838So he began shouting, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"G2532G994G3004G2424G5207G1138G1653G316539"Be quiet!" the people in front yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"G2532G4254G2008G846G2443G4623G1161G846G2896G4183G3123G5207G1138G1653G316540When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him,G1161G2424G2476G2753G846G71G4314G846G1161G846G1448G1905G84641"What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord," he said, "I want to see!"G3004G5101G2309G4160G4671G1161G2036G2962G2443G30842And Jesus said, "All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you."G2532G2424G2036G846G308G4675G4102G4982G457143Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.G2532G3916G308G2532G190G846G1392G2316G2532G3956G2992G1492G1325G136G2316
Luke 19
19Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town.G2532G1525G1330G24102There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich.G2532G2400G435G3686G2564G2195G2532G846G2258G754G2532G3778G2258G41453He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd.G2532G2212G1492G2424G5101G2076G2532G1410G3756G575G3793G3754G2258G3398G22444So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.G2532G4390G1715G305G1909G4809G2443G1492G846G3754G3195G1330G1223G15655When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. "Zacchaeus!" he said. "Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today."G2532G5613G2424G2064G1909G5117G308G1492G846G2532G2036G4314G846G2195G4692G2597G1063G4594G3165G1163G3306G1722G4675G36246Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.G2532G4692G2597G2532G5264G846G54637But the people were displeased. "He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner," they grumbled.G2532G1492G1234G537G1234G3004G3754G1525G2647G3844G435G2688Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, "I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!"G1161G2195G2476G2036G4314G2962G2400G2962G2255G3450G5224G1325G4434G2532G1536G4811G1536G5100G4811G591G50739Jesus responded, "Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham.G1161G2424G2036G4314G846G3754G4594G1096G4991G1096G5129G3624G2530G846G2532G2076G5207G1110For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost."G1063G5207G444G2064G2212G2532G4982G62211The crowd was listening to everything Jesus said. And because he was nearing Jerusalem, he told them a story to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right away.G1161G846G191G5023G4369G2036G3850G1223G846G1511G1451G2419G2532G846G1380G3754G932G2316G3195G3916G39812He said, "A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return.G2036G3767G5100G444G2104G4198G1519G3117G5561G2983G1438G932G2532G529013Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, 'Invest this for me while I am gone.'G1161G2564G1438G1176G1401G1325G846G1176G3414G2532G2036G4314G846G4231G2193G206414But his people hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We do not want him to be our king.'G1161G846G4177G3404G846G2532G649G4242G3694G846G3004G2309G3756G2309G5126G936G1909G224815"After he was crowned king, he returned and called in the servants to whom he had given the money. He wanted to find out what their profits were.G2532G1096G1722G846G1880G2983G932G2532G2036G5128G1401G5455G846G3739G1325G694G2443G1097G5101G5101G128116The first servant reported, 'Master, I invested your money and made ten times the original amount!'G1161G3854G4413G3004G2962G4675G3414G4333G1176G341417"'Well done!' the king exclaimed. 'You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward.'G2532G2036G846G2095G18G1401G3754G1096G4103G1722G1646G2192G2468G1849G1883G1176G417218"The next servant reported, 'Master, I invested your money and made five times the original amount.'G2532G1208G2064G3004G2962G4675G3414G4160G4002G341419"'Well done!' the king said. 'You will be governor over five cities.'G1161G2036G2532G5129G1096G4771G2532G1883G4002G417220"But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, 'Master, I hid your money and kept it safe.G2532G2087G2064G3004G2962G2400G4675G3414G3739G2192G606G1722G467621I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn't yours and harvesting crops you didn't plant.'G1063G5399G4571G3754G1488G840G444G142G3739G5087G3756G5087G2532G2325G3739G4687G3756G468722"'You wicked servant!' the king roared. 'Your own words condemn you. If you knew that I'm a hard man who takes what isn't mine and harvests crops I didn't plant,G1161G3004G846G1537G4675G4750G2919G4571G4190G1401G1492G3754G1473G1510G840G444G142G3739G5087G3756G5087G2532G2325G3739G4687G3756G468723why didn't you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.'G1302G2532G1325G3756G1325G3450G694G1909G5132G2532G2064G1473G302G4238G846G4862G511024"Then, turning to the others standing nearby, the king ordered, 'Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who has ten pounds.'G2532G2036G3936G142G575G846G3414G2532G1325G2192G1176G341425"'But, master,' they said, 'he already has ten pounds!'G2532G2036G846G2962G2192G1176G341426"'Yes,' the king replied, 'and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.G1063G3004G5213G3754G3956G3588G2192G1325G1161G575G2192G3361G2532G3739G2192G142G575G84627And as for these enemies of mine who didn't want me to be their king—bring them in and execute them right here in front of me.'"G4133G1565G3450G2190G3588G2309G3361G3165G936G1909G846G71G5602G2532G2695G1715G345028After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples.G2532G5023G2036G4198G1715G305G1519G241429As he came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead.G2532G1096G5613G1448G1519G967G2532G963G4314G3735G2564G1636G649G1417G846G310130"Go into that village over there," he told them. "As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.G2036G5217G1519G2968G2713G1722G3739G1531G2147G4454G1210G1909G3739G3762G444G2523G4455G3089G846G7131If anyone asks, 'Why are you untying that colt?' just say, 'The Lord needs it.'"G2532G1437G5100G2065G5209G1302G3089G3779G2046G846G3754G2962G2192G5532G84632So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said.G1161G649G565G2147G2531G2036G84633And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, "Why are you untying that colt?"G1161G846G3089G4454G2962G846G2036G4314G846G5101G3089G445434And the disciples simply replied, "The Lord needs it."G1161G2036G2962G2192G5532G84635So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on.G2532G71G846G4314G2424G2532G1977G1438G2440G1909G1977G4454G1977G1913G2424G191336As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him.G1161G846G4198G5291G846G2440G1722G359837When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.G846G1448G1161G2235G4314G2600G3735G1636G537G4128G3101G756G5463G134G2316G3173G5456G4012G3956G1411G3739G149238"Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!"G3004G2127G935G2064G1722G3686G2962G1515G1722G3772G2532G1391G1722G531039But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, "Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!"G2532G5100G5330G575G3793G2036G4314G846G1320G2008G4675G310140He replied, "If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!"G2532G611G2036G846G3004G5213G3754G1437G3778G4623G3037G289641But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep.G2532G5613G1448G1492G4172G2799G1909G84642"How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.G3004G3754G1487G1097G2532G4771G2534G1722G5026G4675G2250G3588G4314G4675G1515G1161G3568G2928G575G4675G378843Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side.G3754G2250G2240G1909G4571G2532G4675G2190G4016G5482G4016G4671G2532G4033G4571G4033G2532G4912G4571G4912G384044They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not accept your opportunity for salvation."G2532G1474G4571G1474G2532G4675G5043G1722G4671G2532G863G3756G863G1722G4671G3037G1909G3037G473G3739G1097G3756G2540G4675G198445Then Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people selling animals for sacrifices.G2532G1525G1519G2411G756G1544G4453G1722G846G2532G5946He said to them, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves."G3004G846G1125G3450G3624G2076G3624G4335G1161G5210G4160G846G4693G302747After that, he taught daily in the Temple, but the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders of the people began planning how to kill him.G2532G2258G1321G2596G2250G1722G2411G1161G749G2532G1122G2532G4413G2992G2212G622G84648But they could think of nothing, because all the people hung on every word he said.G2532G2147G3756G2147G5101G4160G1063G537G2992G1582G191G846