Study Desk

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.^(a)

He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.

And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice^(b) against my adversary.'

"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don't fear God or care what people think,

yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually come and attack me!'"^(c)

And the Lord^(d) said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.

And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out^(e) to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man^(f) comes,^(g) will he find faith on the earth?"

To some who were confident of their own righteousness^(h) and looked down on everyone else,⁽ⁱ⁾ Jesus told this parable:

"Two men went up to the temple to pray,^(j) one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

The Pharisee stood by himself^(k) and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

I fast^(l) twice a week and give a tenth^(m) of all I get.'

"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast⁽ⁿ⁾ and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'^(o)

"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."^(p)

People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.

But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child^(r) will never enter it."

A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"^(t)

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone.

You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'^[a]"^(u)

"All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor,^(v) and you will have treasure in heaven.^(w) Then come, follow me."

When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy.