A Widow and a Judge
1 Jesus told his disciples a story about how they should keep on praying and never give up:
2 In a town there was once a judge who didn't fear God or care about people. 3 In that same town there was a widow who kept going to the judge and saying, “Make sure that I get fair treatment in court.”
4 For a while the judge refused to do anything. Finally, he said to himself, “Even though I don't fear God or care about people, 5 I will help this widow because she keeps on bothering me. If I don't help her, she will wear me out.”
6 The Lord said:
Think about what that crooked judge said. 7 Won't God protect his chosen ones who pray to him day and night? Won't he be concerned for them? 8 He will surely hurry and help them. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find on this earth anyone with faith?
A Pharisee and a Tax Collector
9 Jesus told a story to some people who thought they were better than others and who looked down on everyone else:
10 Two men went into the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood over by himself and prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not greedy, dishonest, and unfaithful in marriage like other people. And I am really glad that I am not like that tax collector over there. 12 I go without eating for two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all I earn.”
13 The tax collector stood off at a distance and did not think he was good enough even to look up toward heaven. He was so sorry for what he had done that he pounded his chest and prayed, “God, have pity on me! I am such a sinner.”
14 Then Jesus said, “When the two men went home, it was the tax collector and not the Pharisee who was pleasing to God. If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.”
Jesus Blesses Little Children
(Matthew 19.13-15Mark 10.13-16)15 Some people brought their little children for Jesus to bless. But when his disciples saw them doing this, they told the people to stop bothering him. 16 So Jesus called the children over to him and said, “Let the children come to me! Don't try to stop them. People who are like these children belong to God's kingdom. 17 You will never get into God's kingdom unless you enter it like a child!”
A Rich and Important Man
(Matthew 19.16-30Mark 10.17-31)18 An important man asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to have eternal life?”
19 Jesus said, “Why do you call me good? Only God is good. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Be faithful in marriage. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not tell lies about others. Respect your father and mother.’ ”
21 He told Jesus, “I have obeyed all these commandments since I was a young man.”
22 When Jesus heard this, he said, “There is one thing you still need to do. Go and sell everything you own! Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and be my follower.” 23 When the man heard this, he was sad, because he was very rich.
24 Jesus saw how sad the man was. So he said, “It's terribly hard for rich people to get into God's kingdom! 25 In fact, it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into God's kingdom.”
26 When the crowd heard this, they asked, “How can anyone ever be saved?”
27 Jesus replied, “There are some things that people cannot do, but God can do anything.”
28 Peter said, “Remember, we left everything to be your followers!”
29 Jesus answered, “You can be sure that anyone who gives up home or wife or brothers or family or children because of God's kingdom 30 will be given much more in this life. And in the future world they will have eternal life.”
Jesus Again Tells about His Death
(Matthew 20.17-19Mark 10.32-34)31 Jesus took the twelve apostles aside and said:
We are now on our way to Jerusalem. Everything that the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will happen there. 32 He will be handed over to foreigners, who will make fun of him, mistreat him, and spit on him. 33 They will beat him and kill him, but three days later he will rise to life.
34 The apostles did not understand what Jesus was talking about. They could not understand, because the meaning of what he said was hidden from them.
Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar
(Matthew 20.29-34Mark 10.46-52)35 When Jesus was coming close to Jericho, a blind man sat begging beside the road. 36 The man heard the crowd walking by and asked what was happening. 37 Some people told him that Jesus from Nazareth was passing by. 38 So the blind man shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” 39 The people who were going along with Jesus told the man to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have pity on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and told some people to bring the blind man over to him. When the blind man was getting near, Jesus asked, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord, I want to see!” he answered.
42 Jesus replied, “Look and you will see! Your eyes are healed because of your faith.” 43 At once the man could see, and he went with Jesus and started thanking God. When the crowds saw what happened, they praised God.
Līdzība par atraitni un netaisno tiesnesi
1 Tad viņš stāstīja tiem līdzību par to, ka vienmēr vajag Dievu lūgt un nezaudēt drosmi. 2 “Kādā pilsētā bija tiesnesis, kas Dieva nebijās un cilvēkus necienīja. 3 Vēl tajā pilsētā bija kāda atraitne, un tā nāca pie viņa, sacīdama: iztiesā manu lietu pret manu pretinieku. 4 Viņš ilgu laiku negribēja to darīt, bet pēc tam tomēr sacīja pie sevis: es Dieva nebīstos un cilvēkus necienu, 5 taču šī atraitne mani nomoka, tādēļ iztiesāšu viņai par labu, ka beigās viņa nenāk un nesit mani vaigā. 6 Kungs sacīja: ieklausieties, ko netaisnais tiesnesis saka! 7 Vai tad Dievs lai neiztiesātu par labu saviem izredzētajiem, kas viņu piesauc dienu un nakti? Vai viņš vilcināsies? 8 Es jums saku: viņš viņu lietu iztiesās ātri. Bet vai Cilvēka Dēls atnācis atradīs uz zemes ticību?”
Līdzība par farizeju un muitnieku
9 Un dažiem, kas sevi uzskatīja par taisniem, bet pārējos nicināja, viņš stāstīja šādu līdzību: 10 “Divi cilvēki ienāca templī Dievu lūgt, viens bija farizejs un otrs – muitnieks. 11 Farizejs, nostājies savrup, lūdza tā: Dievs, es tev pateicos, ka neesmu kā pārējie cilvēki – laupītāji, ļaundari, laulības apgānītāji vai arī kā šis te muitnieks; 12 es gavēju divreiz nedēļā un dodu desmito tiesu no visa, ko iegūstu. 13 Bet muitnieks, attālāk stāvēdams, neuzdrošinājās pat acis pacelt uz debesīm, bet, sitot sev pie krūtīm, sacīja: Dievs, esi man grēciniekam žēlīgs! 14 Es jums saku: šis nogāja savās mājās attaisnots, bet tas otrs ne, jo katrs, kas pats sevi paaugstina, tiks pazemināts, bet, kas sevi pazemina, tiks paaugstināts.”
Jēzus svētī bērniņus
(Mt 19:13–15Mk 10:13–16)15 Ļaudis nesa pie viņa bērniņus, lai viņš tiem pieskartos, bet mācekļi, to redzēdami, viņus norāja. 16 Bet Jēzus sauca viņus klāt, sacīdams: “Ļaujiet bērniņiem pie manis nākt un neliedziet tiem, jo tādiem pieder Dieva valstība. 17 Patiesi es jums saku: kas Dieva valstību nesaņems kā bērniņš, tas neieies tajā.”
Par bagāto vīru
(Mt 19:16–30Mk 10:17–31)18 Kāds augsts vīrs viņam jautāja: “Labais Skolotāj, kas man būtu jādara, lai iemantotu mūžīgo dzīvību?” 19 Bet Jēzus tam sacīja: “Kādēļ tu mani sauc par labu? Neviens nav labs kā vienīgi Dievs. 20 Vai baušļus tu zini? Nepārkāp laulību; nenogalini; nezodz; nedod nepatiesu liecību; godā savu tēvu un māti! ” 21 Bet tas sacīja: “To visu es esmu pildījis kopš jaunības.” 22 To dzirdējis, Jēzus viņam sacīja: “Vienas lietas tev vēl trūkst. Pārdod visu, kas tev pieder, un izdali to nabagiem, tad tev būs manta debesīs, un nāc, seko man.” 23 Bet viņš, to dzirdējis, kļuva gauži bēdīgs, jo bija ļoti bagāts. 24 Redzot viņu nobēdājušos , Jēzus sacīja: “Cik grūti tiem, kam daudz mantas, ieiet Debesu valstībā. 25 Vieglāk kamielim iziet caur adatas aci, nekā bagātam ieiet Dieva valstībā.” 26 Tie, kas to dzirdēja, jautāja: “Kas tad var tikt izglābts?” 27 Viņš sacīja: “Kas nav iespējams cilvēkiem, ir iespējams Dievam.” 28 Bet Pēteris sacīja: “Redzi, mēs esam atstājuši visu un tev sekojām.” 29 Viņš tiem sacīja: “Patiesi es jums saku: nav neviena, kas, Dieva valstības dēļ atstājis māju vai sievu, vai brāļus, vai vecākus, vai bērnus, 30 nesaņemtu daudz vairāk jau šajā laikā un nākamajā laikā – mūžīgo dzīvību.”
Jēzus trešo reizi māca par savu nāvi un augšāmcelšanos
(Mt 20:17–19Mk 10:32–34)31 Ņēmis pie sevis tos divpadsmit, viņš tiem sacīja: “Redzi, mēs dodamies uz Jeruzālemi, un piepildīsies viss, ko pravieši rakstījuši par Cilvēka Dēlu. 32 Viņš tiks nodots pagāniem un apsmiets, un mocīts, un apspļaudīts. 33 Un tie šaustīs viņu pātagām un nonāvēs, un trešajā dienā viņš augšāmcelsies.” 34 Viņi no tā neko nesaprata – sacītais viņiem palika apslēpts, un viņi nespēja teikto izprast.
Jēzus dziedina aklo ubagu pie Jērikas
(Mt 20:29–34Mk 10:46–52)35 Kad viņš tuvojās Jērikai, kāds akls sēdēja ceļmalā un ubagoja. 36 Izdzirdējis, ka ļaužu pūlis iet garām, viņš taujāja, kas tur ir. 37 Viņam pavēstīja: “Jēzus, Nācarietis, iet garām.” 38 Un viņš iesaucās: “Jēzu, Dāvida dēls, apžēlojies par mani!” 39 Un tie, kas gāja pa priekšu, apsauca viņu, lai viņš apklust, bet viņš kliedza vēl skaļāk: “Jēzu, Dāvida dēls, apžēlojies par mani!” 40 Jēzus apstājies lika viņu atvest pie sevis. Kad tas pienāca tuvāk, viņš tam jautāja: 41 “Ko tu gribi, lai es tev daru?” Viņš atbildēja: “Kungs, lai es redzētu!” 42 Un Jēzus viņam sacīja: “Topi redzīgs! Tava ticība tevi ir dziedinājusi.” 43 Un tūlīt viņš kļuva redzīgs un, Dievu slavēdams, gāja viņam līdzi. Un visi ļaudis, kas to redzēja, godināja Dievu.
