Study Desk

Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice,

and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan.

Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not become discouraged,

saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect any person.

"Now there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me justice against my opponent.'

"For a while he was unwilling; but later he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect any person,

"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.'

"Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."

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

"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!"

Now as Jesus was approaching Jericho, a man who was blind was sitting by the road, begging.

But when he heard a crowd going by, he began inquiring what this was.

And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich.

So he ran on ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree in order to see Him, because He was about to pass through that way.

When the people saw this, they all began to complain, saying, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner!"

And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.

Now while they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem and they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.

So He said, "A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then to return.

"But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.'