The Coming of the Son of Man

17:22 Then66 he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days67 of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 17:23 Then people68 will say to you, ‘Look, there he is!’69 or ‘Look, here he is!’ Do not go out or chase after them.70 17:24 For just like the lightning flashes71 and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.72 17:25 But first he must73 suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 17:26 Just74 as it was75 in the days of Noah,76 so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. 17:27 People77 were eating,78 they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage—right up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then79 the flood came and destroyed them all.80 17:28 Likewise, just as it was81 in the days of Lot, people82 were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; 17:29 but on the day Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.83 17:30 It will be the same on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 17:31 On that day, anyone who is on the roof,84 with his goods in the house, must not come down85 to take them away, and likewise the person in the field must not turn back. 17:32 Remember Lot’s wife!86 17:33 Whoever tries to keep87 his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life88 will preserve it. 17:34 I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.89 17:35 There will be two women grinding grain together;90 one will be taken and the other left.”91

17:37 Then92 the disciples93 said94 to him, “Where,95 Lord?” He replied to them, “Where the dead body96 is, there the vultures97 will gather.”98

Prayer and the Parable of the Persistent Widow

18:1 Then1 Jesus2 told them a parable to show them they should always3 pray and not lose heart.4 18:2 He said,5 “In a certain city6 there was a judge7 who neither feared God nor respected people.8 18:3 There was also a widow9 in that city10 who kept coming11 to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 18:4 For12 a while he refused, but later on13 he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor have regard for people,14 18:5 yet because this widow keeps on bothering me, I will give her justice, or in the end she will wear me out15 by her unending pleas.’ ”16 18:6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says!17 18:7 Won’t18 God give justice to his chosen ones, who cry out19 to him day and night?20 Will he delay21 long to help them? 18:8 I tell you, he will give them justice speedily.22 Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith23 on earth?”

The Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector

18:9 Jesus24 also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down25 on everyone else. 18:10 “Two men went up26 to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee27 and the other a tax collector.28 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this:29 ‘God, I thank30 you that I am not like other people:31 extortionists,32 unrighteous people,33 adulterers—or even like this tax collector.34 18:12 I fast twice35 a week; I give a tenth36 of everything I get.’ 18:13 The tax collector, however, stood37 far off and would not even look up38 to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful39 to me, sinner that I am!’40 18:14 I tell you that this man went down to his home justified41 rather than the Pharisee.42 For everyone who exalts43 himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus and Little Children

18:15 Now people44 were even bringing their babies45 to him for him to touch.46 But when the disciples saw it, they began to scold those who brought them.47 18:16 But Jesus called for the children,48 saying, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God49 belongs to such as these.50 18:17 I tell you the truth,51 whoever does not receive52 the kingdom of God like a child53 will never54 enter it.”

The Wealthy Ruler

18:18 Now55 a certain ruler56 asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”57 18:19 Jesus58 said to him, “Why do you call me good?59 No one is good except God alone. 18:20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’ ”60 18:21 The man61 replied, “I have wholeheartedly obeyed62 all these laws63 since my youth.”64 18:22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have65 and give the money66 to the poor,67 and you will have treasure68 in heaven. Then69 come, follow me.” 18:23 But when the man70 heard this he became very sad,71 for he was extremely wealthy. 18:24 When Jesus noticed this,72 he said, “How hard73 it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!74 18:25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle75 than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 18:26 Those who heard this said, “Then76 who can be saved?”77 18:27 He replied, “What is impossible78 for mere humans79 is possible for God.” 18:28 And Peter said, “Look, we have left everything we own80 to follow you!”81 18:29 Then82 Jesus83 said to them, “I tell you the truth,84 there is no one who has left home or wife or brothers85 or parents or children for the sake of God’s kingdom 18:30 who will not receive many times more86 in this age87—and in the age to come, eternal life.”88