The Story of the Widow Who Would Not Give Up
1Jesus told his disciples a story. He wanted to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said, “In a certain town there was a judge. He didn’t have any respect for God or care about what people thought. 3A widow lived in that town. She came to the judge again and again. She kept begging him, ‘Make things right for me. Someone is treating me badly.’
4“For some time the judge refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t have any respect for God. I don’t care about what people think. 5But this widow keeps bothering me. So I will see that things are made right for her. If I don’t, she will someday come and attack me!’ ”
6The Lord said, “Listen to what the unfair judge says. 7God’s chosen people cry out to him day and night. Won’t he make things right for them? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, God will see that things are made right for them. He will make sure it happens quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find people on earth who have faith?”
The Story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9Jesus told a story to some people who were sure they were right with God. They looked down on everyone else. 10He said to them, “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee. The other was a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed. ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people,’ he said. ‘I am not like robbers or those who do other evil things. I am not like those who commit adultery. I am not even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week. And I give a tenth of all I get.’
13“But the tax collector stood farther away than the Pharisee. He would not even look up to heaven. He brought his hand to his heart and prayed. He said, ‘God, have mercy on me. I am a sinner.’
14“I tell you, the tax collector went home accepted by God. But not the Pharisee. All those who lift themselves up will be made humble. And those who make themselves humble will be lifted up.”
Little Children Are Brought to Jesus
15People were also bringing babies to Jesus. They wanted him to place his hands on the babies. When the disciples saw this, they told the people to stop. 16But Jesus asked the children to come to him. “Let the little children come to me,” he said. “Don’t keep them away. God’s kingdom belongs to people like them. 17What I’m about to tell you is true. Anyone who will not receive God’s kingdom like a little child will never enter it.”
Rich People and the Kingdom of God
18A certain ruler asked Jesus a question. “Good teacher,” he said, “what must I do to receive eternal life?”
19“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good except God. 20You know what the commandments say. ‘Do not commit adultery. Do not commit murder. Do not steal. Do not be a false witness. Honor your father and mother.’ ” (Exodus 20:12–16; Deuteronomy 5:16–20)
21“I have obeyed all those commandments since I was a boy,” the ruler said.
22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You are still missing one thing. Sell everything you have. Give the money to those who are poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.”
23When the ruler heard this, he became very sad. He was very rich. 24Jesus looked at him. Then he said, “How hard it is for rich people to enter God’s kingdom! 25Is it hard for a camel to go through the eye of a needle? It is even harder for someone who is rich to enter God’s kingdom!”
26Those who heard this asked, “Then who can be saved?”
27Jesus replied, “Things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”
28Peter said to him, “We have left everything we had in order to follow you!”
29“What I’m about to tell you is true,” Jesus said to them. “Has anyone left home or wife or husband or brothers or sisters or parents or children for God’s kingdom? 30They will receive many times as much in this world. In the world to come they will receive eternal life.”
Jesus Speaks a Third Time About His Coming Death
31Jesus took the 12 disciples to one side. He told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem. Everything that the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will come true. 32He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will make fun of him. They will laugh at him and spit on him. 33They will whip him and kill him. On the third day, he will rise from the dead!”
34The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them. So they didn’t know what Jesus was talking about.
A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight
35Jesus was approaching Jericho. A blind man was sitting by the side of the road begging. 36The blind man heard the crowd going by. He asked what was happening. 37They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
38So the blind man called out, “Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!”
39Those who led the way commanded him to stop. They told him to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, “Son of David! Have mercy on me!”
40Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When the man came near, Jesus spoke to him. 41“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.
“Lord, I want to be able to see,” the blind man replied.
42Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.” 43Right away he could see. He followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
Aral Tungkol sa Pananalangin
1Nagkwento si Jesus sa mga tagasunod niya upang turuan silang laging manalangin at huwag mawalan ng pag-asa. 2Sinabi niya, “Sa isang bayan ay may isang hukom na walang takot sa Dios at walang iginagalang na tao.18:2 walang iginagalang na tao: o, balewala sa kanya ang kanyang kapwa. 3Sa bayan ding iyon ay may isang biyuda na palaging pumupunta sa hukom at nagsasabi, ‘Bigyan nʼyo po ako ng katarungan at ipagtanggol nʼyo ako laban sa mga kaaway ko!’ 4Noong una ay hindi pinapansin ng hukom ang biyuda, pero bandang huli ay sinabi niya, ‘Kahit hindi ako natatakot sa Dios at walang iginagalang na tao, 5bibigyan ko ng katarungan ang babaeng ito para hindi na niya ako gambalain ulit. Dahil kung hindi, iinisin niya ako sa kapaparito niya.’ ” 6Pagkatapos, sinabi ng Panginoon, “Narinig ninyo ang sinabi ng masamang hukom? 7Ang Dios pa kaya ang hindi magbigay ng katarungan sa mga pinili niya na tumatawag sa kanya araw at gabi? 8Tinitiyak ko sa inyo na bibigyan niya agad sila ng katarungan. Ngunit kung ako na Anak ng Tao ay bumalik na rito sa mundo, may makikita kaya akong mga taong sumasampalataya sa akin?”
Ang Kwento tungkol sa Pariseo at sa Maniningil ng Buwis
9May mga tao roon na matuwid ang tingin sa sarili at humahamak sa iba. Kaya sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila ang talinghagang ito: 10“May dalawang lalaking pumunta sa templo upang manalangin. Ang isaʼy Pariseo at ang isaʼy maniningil ng buwis. 11Tumayo ang Pariseo at nanalangin tungkol sa kanyang sarili. Sinabi niya, ‘O Dios, nagpapasalamat ako sa inyo dahil hindi ako katulad ng iba na magnanakaw, mandaraya at mangangalunya o katulad ng maniningil ng buwis na iyon. 12Dalawang beses akong nag-aayuno sa isang linggo, at nagbibigay ako ng ikapu18:12 ikapu: sa Ingles, tenth o tithe. ng lahat ng kinikita ko!’ 13Ang maniningil naman ng buwis ay nakatayo sa malayo, at hindi man lang makatingala sa langit. Dinadagukan niya ang kanyang dibdib at sinasabi, ‘Dios ko, mahabag po kayo sa akin na isang makasalanan.’ 14Sinasabi ko sa inyo na ang maniningil ng buwis na iyon ay umuwing itinuring nang matuwid ng Dios, ngunit ang Pariseo ay hindi. Sapagkat ang nagpapakataas ng kanyang sarili ay ibababa, at ang nagpapakababa ay itataas.”
Pinagpala ni Jesus ang Maliliit na Bata
(Mat. 19:13-15; Mar. 10:13-16)
15Dinala ng mga tao ang kanilang maliliit na anak kay Jesus upang patungan niya ng kamay at pagpalain. Nang makita iyon ng mga tagasunod ni Jesus, sinaway nila ang mga tao. 16Pero tinawag ni Jesus ang mga bata, at sinabihan niya ang mga tagasunod niya, “Hayaan ninyong lumapit sa akin ang mga bata. Huwag ninyo silang pigilan, dahil ang mga katulad nila ay kabilang sa kaharian ng Dios. 17Sinasabi ko sa inyo ang totoo, ang sinumang hindi tumatanggap sa paghahari ng Dios na gaya ng pagtanggap ng isang maliit na bata ay hindi mapapabilang sa kaharian ng Dios.”
Ang Lalaking Mayaman
(Mat. 19:16-30; Mar. 10:17-31)
18Isang pinuno ng mga Judio ang nagtanong kay Jesus, “Mabuting Guro, ano po ang dapat kong gawin upang magkaroon ng buhay na walang hanggan?” 19Sumagot si Jesus, “Bakit mo sinasabing mabuti ako? Ang Dios lang ang mabuti, wala nang iba! 20Alam mo ang sinasabi ng Kautusan: ‘Huwag kang mangangalunya, huwag kang papatay, huwag kang magnanakaw, huwag kang sasaksi ng kasinungalingan, at igalang mo ang iyong ama at ina.’ ”18:20 Exo. 20:12-16; Deu. 5:16-20. 21Sumagot ang lalaki, “Sinusunod ko po ang lahat ng iyan mula pagkabata.” 22Nang marinig iyon ni Jesus ay sinabi niya, “Isang bagay pa ang kulang sa iyo. Ipagbili mo ang lahat ng ari-arian mo at ipamigay mo ang pera sa mga mahihirap, at magkakaroon ka ng kayamanan sa langit. Pagkatapos, bumalik ka at sumunod sa akin.” 23Nalungkot ang lalaki nang marinig ito, dahil napakayaman niya.
24Nang makita ni Jesus na malungkot siya, sinabi niya, “Napakahirap para sa mayayaman ang mapabilang sa kaharian ng Dios. 25Mas madali pang makapasok ang isang kamelyo sa butas ng karayom kaysa sa mapabilang ang isang mayaman sa kaharian ng Dios.” 26Tinanong siya ng mga nakarinig nito, “Kung ganoon po, sino na lang ang maliligtas?” 27Sumagot si Jesus, “Ang imposible sa tao ay posible sa Dios.” 28Sinabi ni Pedro, “Paano naman kami? Iniwan namin ang lahat upang sumunod sa inyo.” 29Sumagot si Jesus, “Sinasabi ko sa inyo ang totoo, ang sinumang nag-iwan ng bahay, asawa, mga kapatid, mga magulang, at mga anak alang-alang sa kaharian ng Dios 30ay tatanggap sa panahong ito ng mas marami pa kaysa sa mga iniwan niya, at tatanggap din ng buhay na walang hanggan sa darating na panahon.”
Ang Ikatlong Pagpapahayag ni Jesus tungkol sa Kanyang Kamatayan
(Mat. 20:17-19; Mar. 10:32-34)
31Tinawag ni Jesus ang 12 apostol at sinabi sa kanila, “Makinig kayo! Pupunta tayo sa Jerusalem, at matutupad na ang lahat ng isinulat ng mga propeta tungkol sa akin na Anak ng Tao. 32Sapagkat ibibigay ako sa mga hindi Judio. Iinsultuhin nila ako, hihiyain at duduraan. 33Hahagupitin nila ako at papatayin, ngunit muli akong mabubuhay sa ikatlong araw.” 34Pero wala silang naintindihan sa mga sinabi ni Jesus, dahil itinago sa kanila ang kahulugan niyon.
Pinagaling ni Jesus ang Isang Bulag
(Mat. 20:29-34; Mar. 10:46-52)
35Nang malapit na sina Jesus sa Jerico, may isang lalaking bulag na nakaupo sa tabi ng daan at namamalimos. 36Nang marinig niya ang maraming taong nagdaraan, nagtanong siya kung ano ang nangyayari. 37Sinabi sa kanya ng mga tao, “Dumadaan si Jesus na taga-Nazaret.” 38Sumigaw ang bulag, “Jesus, Anak ni David,18:38 Anak ni David: Ito ang tawag ng mga Judio sa Mesias o Cristo dahil sa paniniwalang mula siya sa angkan ni David. maawa po kayo sa akin!” 39Sinaway siya ng mga taong nasa unahan, pero lalo pa niyang nilakasan ang pagsigaw, “Anak ni David, maawa po kayo sa akin!” 40Tumigil si Jesus at iniutos na dalhin sa kanya ang bulag. Nang makalapit ang bulag, tinanong niya ito, 41“Ano ang gusto mong gawin ko sa iyo?” Sumagot ang bulag, “Panginoon, gusto ko pong makakita!” 42Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus, “Makakita ka na! Pinagaling18:42 Pinagaling: o, Iniligtas. ka ng iyong pananampalataya.” 43Nakakita siya agad, at sumunod siya kay Jesus nang nagpupuri sa Dios. Nang makita ng mga tao ang nangyari, nagpuri rin sila sa Dios.
