Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

He told them a parable about prayer. A judge who didn't fear God nor care about people lived in a city. There was a widow in that city who kept coming to him with her plea: "Vindicate me against my adversary." The judge wouldn't listen at first, but eventually he said to himself, "Since this widow keeps bothering me, I will vindicate her so she won't be constant nuisance."

The Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge is saying. Won't God vindicate his chosen people who cry out to him day and night even though he patiently endures their pleas? When he comes, will he find faith on earth?" Then Jesus told another parable about some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on others.

<span class="jesus-words">Two men went up into the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee,</span> and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, "God, I thank you that I'm not like other people—extortioners, unjust, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice in the week, and I give tithes of all my possessions." <span class="jesus-words">Meanwhile, the tax collector stood at a distance, wouldn't even look up</span> to heaven, but beat his chest in sorrow, saying, "God be merciful to me, a sinner."

The tax collector went home justified rather than the other man because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Some parents brought their infants to Jesus so that he would touch them, but when his disciples saw this, they rebuked them. Jesus called out to them and said, "Let little children come to me, and don't stop them because such is the kingdom of God."

Anyone who doesn't receive the kingdom of God with the humility and openness of a child will not enter it. A certain ruler asked Jesus, "What must I do to gain eternal life?" Jesus replied, "Why do you call me good? Only God is good. You know the commandments: Don't commit adultery, don't kill, don't steal, don't bear false witness, honor your father and mother."

He said, "I have kept all these commandments since my youth." When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing: sell all that you own, give the money to the poor, then follow me." But when Jesus saw how deeply grieved he was because he was extremely wealthy, he said, "It's extremely difficult for those who have wealth to enter into God's kingdom."

"It's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Those who heard it said, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus replied, "The things that are impossible with people are possible with God." Then Peter spoke up, saying, "We have left everything to follow you."

Jesus said, "There is no one who has left house, parents, brothers, wife, or children for the sake of the kingdom of God except he will receive many times more in this present time and in the age to come eternal life." He took the twelve with him and said, "We are going up to Jerusalem where everything written about the Son of Man will be fulfilled."

He will be handed over to the Gentiles who will mock him and spit on him; they will scourge him and put him to death, but on the third day he will rise again. The disciples understood none of these things, and this saying was hidden from them, nor did they know what had been said.

As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the side of the road begging. When he listened to the crowd passing by, he asked what it meant. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. The blind man cried out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." Those in front of him rebuked him, telling him to be quiet, but he cried out all the more: "Son of David, have mercy on me."

Jesus stopped and ordered the crowd to bring the man near. Then he asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said, "Lord, I want to regain my sight." Jesus replied, "Your sight is restored; your faith has saved you." And immediately the man received his sight and followed him, glorifying God. All the people saw it and gave praise to God.