Luke 18:1-18

1Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they 1ought to pray and not to 2lose heart, 2saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not 3respect man. 3There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘4Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ 4For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor 5respect man, 5yet 6because this widow bothers me, I will 7give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will 89wear me out.’” 6And 10the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; 7now, will not God 11bring about justice for His 12elect who cry to Him day and night, 13and will He 14delay long over them? 8I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, 15will He find 16faith on the earth?”

9And He also told this parable to some people who 17trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and 18viewed others with contempt: 10“Two men 19went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee 20stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12I 21fast twice a week; I 22pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13But the tax collector, 23standing some distance away, 24was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but 25was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be 26merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; 27for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

1528And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. 16But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17Truly I say to you, 29whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

1830A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”