Luke 18:9-19:10 - The Rich Young Ruler

  1. Jesus also told this parable to some who relied on themselves that they were righteous and despised others.
  2. “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
  3. The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
  4. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of everything I get.’
  5. But the tax collector stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
  6. I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
  7. Now people were even bringing their infants to him for him to touch. But when the disciples saw it, they began to scold those who brought them.
  8. But Jesus called for the children, saying, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
  9. I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will in no way ever enter it.”
  10. Now a certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
  11. Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
  12. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honour your father and mother.’ “
  13. The man replied, “I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws since my youth.”
  14. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
  15. But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was extremely wealthy.
  16. When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!
  17. For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
  18. Those who heard this said, “Then who can be saved?”
  19. He replied, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
  20. Then Peter said, “Look, we have left all and followed you!”
  21. So Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, there is no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of God’s kingdom
  22. who will not receive many times more in this age—and in the age to come, eternal life.”
  23. Then Jesus took the twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.
  24. For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; he will be mocked, mistreated, and spat on.
  25. They will flog him severely and kill him. Yet on the third day he will rise again.”
  26. But the twelve understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what Jesus meant.
  27. As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging.
  28. When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was going on.
  29. They told him, “Jesus the Nazarene is passing by.”
  30. So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
  31. And those who were in front scolded him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted even more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
  32. So Jesus stopped and ordered the beggar to be brought to him. When the man came near, Jesus asked him,
  33. “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, let me see again.”
  34. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”
  35. And immediately he regained his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they too gave praise to God.
  1. Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it.
  2. Now a man named Zacchaeus was there; he was a chief tax collector and was rich.
  3. He was trying to get a look at Jesus, but being a short man he could not see over the crowd.
  4. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, because Jesus was going to pass that way.
  5. And when Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, because I must stay at your house today.”
  6. So he came down quickly and welcomed Jesus joyfully.
  7. And when the people saw it, they all complained, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”
  8. But Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I now give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone of anything, I am paying back four times as much!”
  9. Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this household, because he too is a son of Abraham!
  10. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”