Luke 18:1-18

1Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not give up.

2“There was a judge in a certain town who didn’t fear God or respect people.

3And a widow in that town kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

4“For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect people,

5yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice, so that she doesn’t wear me out by her persistent coming.’”

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

7Will not God grant justice to his elect who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay helping them?

8I tell you that he will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else:

10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11The Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people — greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’

13“But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner! ’

14I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

15People were bringing infants to him so that he might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

16Jesus, however, invited them: “Let the little children come to me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

17Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

18A ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”