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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Luke 18 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/luke/18.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/luke/18-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > Luke 18</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../luke/17.htm" title="Luke 17">◄</a> Luke 18 <a href="../luke/19.htm" title="Luke 19">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">A Widow and a Judge</h3><p class="par"><span class="v42_18_1"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.1" class="v42_18_1">1</span>Jesus told his disciples a story about how they should keep on praying and never give up:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v42_18_2"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.2" class="v42_18_2">2</span>In a town there was once a judge who didn't fear God or care about people. </span><span class="v42_18_3"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.3" class="v42_18_3">3</span>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.”</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v42_18_4"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.4" class="v42_18_4">4</span>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, </span><span class="v42_18_5"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.5" class="v42_18_5">5</span>I will help this widow because she keeps on bothering me. If I don't help her, she will wear me out.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_18_6"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.6" class="v42_18_6">6</span>The Lord said:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v42_18_6">Think about what that crooked judge said. </span><span class="v42_18_7"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.7" class="v42_18_7">7</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.18.7!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Won't God protect his chosen ones who pray to him day and night? Won't he be concerned for them? </span><span class="v42_18_8"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.8" class="v42_18_8">8</span>He will surely hurry and help them. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find on this earth anyone with faith?</span></p><h3 class="s1">A Pharisee and a Tax Collector</h3><p class="par"><span class="v42_18_9"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.9" class="v42_18_9">9</span>Jesus told a story to some people who thought they were better than others and who looked down on everyone else:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v42_18_10"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.10" class="v42_18_10">10</span>Two men went into the temple to pray.<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.18.10!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.18.10!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span><span class="v42_18_11"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.11" class="v42_18_11">11</span>The Pharisee stood over by himself and prayed,<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.18.11!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> “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. </span><span class="v42_18_12"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.12" class="v42_18_12">12</span>I go without eating<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.18.12!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> for two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all I earn.”</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v42_18_13"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.13" class="v42_18_13">13</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.18.13!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> 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.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_18_14"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.14" class="v42_18_14">14</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.18.14!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> 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.”</span></p><h3 class="s1">Jesus Blesses Little Children</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MAT 19:13-15">Matthew 19.13-15</ref>; <ref loc="MRK 10:13-16">Mark 10.13-16</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v42_18_15"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.15" class="v42_18_15">15</span>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. </span><span class="v42_18_16"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.16" class="v42_18_16">16</span>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.<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.18.16!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span><span class="v42_18_17"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.17" class="v42_18_17">17</span>You will never get into God's kingdom unless you enter it like a child!”</span></p><h3 class="s1">A Rich and Important Man</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MAT 19:16-30">Matthew 19.16-30</ref>; <ref loc="MRK 10:17-31">Mark 10.17-31</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v42_18_18"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.18" class="v42_18_18">18</span>An important man asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to have eternal life?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_18_19"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.19" class="v42_18_19">19</span>Jesus said, “Why do you call me good? Only God is good. </span><span class="v42_18_20"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.20" class="v42_18_20">20</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.18.20!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> 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.’ ”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_18_21"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.21" class="v42_18_21">21</span>He told Jesus, “I have obeyed all these commandments since I was a young man.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_18_22"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.22" class="v42_18_22">22</span>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.” </span><span class="v42_18_23"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.23" class="v42_18_23">23</span>When the man heard this, he was sad, because he was very rich.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_18_24"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.24" class="v42_18_24">24</span>Jesus saw how sad the man was. So he said, “It's terribly hard for rich people to get into God's kingdom! </span><span class="v42_18_25"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.25" class="v42_18_25">25</span>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.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_18_26"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.26" class="v42_18_26">26</span>When the crowd heard this, they asked, “How can anyone ever be saved?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_18_27"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.27" class="v42_18_27">27</span>Jesus replied, “There are some things that people cannot do, but God can do anything.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_18_28"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.28" class="v42_18_28">28</span>Peter said, “Remember, we left everything to be your followers!”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_18_29"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.29" class="v42_18_29">29</span>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 </span><span class="v42_18_30"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.30" class="v42_18_30">30</span>will be given much more in this life. And in the future world they will have eternal life.”</span></p><h3 class="s1">Jesus Again Tells about His Death</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MAT 20:17-19">Matthew 20.17-19</ref>; <ref loc="MRK 10:32-34">Mark 10.32-34</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v42_18_31"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.31" class="v42_18_31">31</span>Jesus took the twelve apostles aside and said:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v42_18_31">We are now on our way to Jerusalem. Everything that the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will happen there. </span><span class="v42_18_32"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.32" class="v42_18_32">32</span>He will be handed over to foreigners,<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.18.32!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> who will make fun of him, mistreat him, and spit on him. </span><span class="v42_18_33"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.33" class="v42_18_33">33</span>They will beat him and kill him, but three days later he will rise to life.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_18_34"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.34" class="v42_18_34">34</span>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.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MAT 20:29-34">Matthew 20.29-34</ref>; <ref loc="MRK 10:46-52">Mark 10.46-52</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v42_18_35"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.35" class="v42_18_35">35</span>When Jesus was coming close to Jericho, a blind man sat begging beside the road. </span><span class="v42_18_36"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.36" class="v42_18_36">36</span>The man heard the crowd walking by and asked what was happening. </span><span class="v42_18_37"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.37" class="v42_18_37">37</span>Some people told him that Jesus from Nazareth was passing by. </span><span class="v42_18_38"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.38" class="v42_18_38">38</span>So the blind man shouted, “Jesus, Son of David,<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.18.38!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> have pity on me!” </span><span class="v42_18_39"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.39" class="v42_18_39">39</span>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!”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_18_40"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.40" class="v42_18_40">40</span>Jesus stopped and told some people to bring the blind man over to him. When the blind man was getting near, Jesus asked, </span><span class="v42_18_41"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.41" class="v42_18_41">41</span>“What do you want me to do for you?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_18_41">“Lord, I want to see!” he answered.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_18_42"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.42" class="v42_18_42">42</span>Jesus replied, “Look and you will see! Your eyes are healed because of your faith.” </span><span class="v42_18_43"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.18.43" class="v42_18_43">43</span>At once the man could see, and he went with Jesus and started thanking God. When the crowds saw what happened, they praised God.</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">18.10 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">into the temple to pray: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Jewish people usually prayed there early in the morning and late in the afternoon.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">18.10 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">tax collector: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 3.12.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">18.11 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">stood over by himself and prayed: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Some manuscripts have “stood up and prayed to himself.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">18.12 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">without eating: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 2.37.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">18.16 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">People who are like these children belong to God's kingdom: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “God's kingdom belongs to people who are like these children.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">18.32 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">foreigners: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Romans, who ruled Judea at this time.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">18.38 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Son of David: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Jewish people expected the Messiah to be from the family of King David, and for this reason the Messiah was often called the “Son of David.”</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. 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