We must pray always. The Pharisee and the publican. The danger of riches. The blind man is restored to sight.

¹ Now he also told them a parable, that we should continually pray and not cease,

² saying: “There was a certain judge in a certain city, who did not fear God and did not respect man.

³ But there was a certain widow in that city, and she went to him, saying, ‘Vindicate me from my adversary.’¹

1. 18:3Avenge: That is, do me justice. It is a Hebraism.(Challoner)

⁴ And he refused to do so for a long time. But afterwards, he said within himself: ‘Even though I do not fear God, nor respect man,

⁵ yet because this widow is pestering me, I will vindicate her, lest by returning, she may, in the end, wear me out.’ ”

⁶ Then the Lord said: “Listen to what the unjust judge said.

⁷ So then, will not God grant the vindication of his elect, who cry out to him day and night? Or will he continue to endure them?¹

1. 18:7This last part is not saying that God is patient. It is a common error among translators to interpret an obscure verse as having a meaning that is uninformative and excessively simplified, rather than to clarify the true meaning of the verse, or to leave it obscure. We already know that God is patient. The point of the parable is not that God is patient, but rather that, if you pester God enough for something, He will give it to you, rather than continue to endure your complaints.(Conte)

⁸ I tell you that he will quickly bring vindication to them. Yet truly, when the Son of man returns, do you think that he will find faith on earth?”

⁹ Now about certain persons who consider themselves to be just, while disdaining others, he told also this parable:

¹⁰ “Two men ascended to the temple, in order to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.

¹¹ Standing, the Pharisee prayed within himself in this way: ‘O God, I give thanks to you that I am not like the rest of men: robbers, unjust, adulterers, even as this tax collector chooses to be.

¹² I fast twice between Sabbaths. I give tithes from all that I possess.’

¹³ And the tax collector, standing at a distance, was not willing to even lift up his eyes to heaven. But he struck his chest, saying: ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’

¹⁴ I say to you, this one descended to his house justified, but not the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled; and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

¹⁵ And they were bringing little children to him, so that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.

¹⁶ But Jesus, calling them together, said: “Allow the children to come to me, and do not be an obstacle to them. For of such is the kingdom of God.

¹⁷ Amen, I say to you, whoever will not accept the kingdom of God like a child, will not enter into it.”

¹⁸ And a certain leader questioned him, saying: “Good teacher, what should I do to possess eternal life?”

¹⁹ Then Jesus said to him: “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

²⁰ You know the commandments: You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony. Honor your father and mother.”

²¹ And he said, “I have kept all these things from my youth.”

²² And when Jesus heard this, he said to him: “One thing is still lacking for you. Sell all the things that you have, and give to the poor. And then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.”¹

1. 18:22Those who follow Jesus by being ordained should be men who have kept all the commandments from their youth.(Conte)

²³ When he heard this, he became very sorrowful. For he was very rich.

²⁴ Then Jesus, seeing him brought to sorrow, said: “How difficult it is for those who have money to enter into the kingdom of God!

²⁵ For it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a wealthy man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ And those who were listening to this said, “Then who is able to be saved?”

²⁷ He said to them, “Things that are impossible with men are possible with God.”

²⁸ And Peter said, “Behold, we have left everything, and we have followed you.”

²⁹ And he said to them: “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has left behind home, or parents, or brothers, or a wife, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,

³⁰ who will not receive much more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

³¹ Then Jesus took the twelve aside, and he said to them: “Behold, we are ascending to Jerusalem, and everything shall be completed which was written by the prophets about the Son of man.

³² For he will be handed over to the Gentiles, and he will be mocked and scourged and spit upon.

³³ And after they have scourged him, they will kill him. And on the third day, he will rise again.”

³⁴ But they understood none of these things. For this word was concealed from them, and they did not understand the things that were said.

³⁵ Now it happened that, as he was approaching Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting beside the way, begging.

³⁶ And when he heard the multitude passing by, he asked what this was.

³⁷ And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.

³⁸ And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me!”

³⁹ And those who were passing by rebuked him, so that he would be silent. Yet truly, he cried out all the more, “Son of David, take pity on me!”

⁴⁰ Then Jesus, standing still, ordered him to be brought to him. And when he had drawn near, he questioned him,

⁴¹ saying, “What do you want, that I might do for you?” So he said, “Lord, that I may see.”

⁴² And Jesus said to him: “Look around. Your faith has saved you.”

⁴³ And immediately he saw. And he followed him, magnifying God. And all the people, when they saw this, gave praise to God.