(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
Persistence in prayer
- And He was telling them a parable on the necessity of them always praying and not losing heart,
- saying: “There was a judge in a city, one not fearing God and not respecting man.
- “And there was a widow in that city, and she was regularly going to him, saying: “Judge my case justly so I’ll have protection from my legal opponent.
- “And he wasn’t willing for a time. But afterward, this judge said inside himself: “Even if I don’t fear God nor respect man,
- “because this widow indeed causes weariness in me, I will judge her case justly so that she won’t harass me by continually coming to the end of the case.”
- And the Lord said: “Listen to what the unrighteous judge is saying,
- and won’t God certainly accomplish avenging justice of His elect, the men crying out to Him day and night and be patient on their account?
- “I tell you that He will accomplish their avenging justice with swiftness. Nevertheless, will the Son of Man even find faith on the earth when He comes?”
Pride, humility, and children
- And to some men *trusting in themselves (that they are righteous) and looking down on others, He also told this parable:
- “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
- “Having stood, the Pharisee was praying this to himself: “God, I thank you that I’m not like the rest of men; extortioners, unrighteous, and men who have sex with other men’s wives,1“men who have sex with other men’s wives” is one word in the Greek, typically translated “adulterers” here. However, the Greek word (and Hebrew too) is more limited in scope than our English word adultery. In English, “adultery” means illicit sex between a married person – man or woman – and someone who isn’t their spouse. In Greek (and Hebrew also), it meant “a man having sex with another man’s wife”. A married man having sex with an unmarried woman was still a serious sin, but the not the specific sin of adultery. or even like this tax collector.
- “I fast twice a week; I tithe all things, as many as I acquire.
- “But *standing far away, the tax collector definitely wasn’t even willing to raise his eyes to heaven, but was beating his chest, saying: “God, have mercy on me, a sinner!”
- “I tell you that this man went down to his house *made righteous rather than that man, because every man exalting himself will be humbled, but the man humbling himself will be exalted.”
- And they were also bringing the babies to Him so that He might touch them. But having seen this, the disciples were rebuking them.
- But Jesus summoned them, saying: “Allow the young children to come to Me and don’t hinder them, for the kingdom of God is composed of such children.
- “Amen I tell you: whoever doesn’t welcome the kingdom of God like a child, he definitely won’t enter into it.”
The rich young ruler
- And a ruler asked Him, saying: “Good teacher, what should I do so I will inherit the life of ages?”
- And Jesus said to him: “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
- “You *know the commandments: you shouldn’t have sex with another man’s wife,2 quotation/allusion to Exodus 20:14 “have sex with another man’s wife” is one word in the Greek, typically translated “commits adultery”. However, the Greek word (and Hebrew too) is more limited in scope than our English word adultery. In English, “adultery” means illicit sex between a married person – man or woman – and someone who isn’t their spouse. In Greek (and Hebrew also), it meant “a man having sex with another man’s wife”. A married man having sex with an unmarried woman was still a serious sin, but the not the specific sin of adultery. you shouldn’t murder, you shouldn’t steal, you shouldn’t commit perjury, you must honor your father and mother.”3quotation/allusion to Exodus 20:12-16
- And he said: “I kept all these commandments from my youth.”
- And having heard this, Jesus told him: “There’s still one thing lacking for you: sell all that you own, as much as you have, and distribute it to the poor, and you’ll have treasure in the heavens, and come follow Me.”
- And having heard these things, he became deeply grieved, for he was exceedingly rich.
- And having seen him, Jesus [became deeply grieved and] said: “Oh, how the men having riches enter into the kingdom of God with difficulty,
- “for it’s easier for a camel to enter in through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
- And the men who heard said: “Then who is even able to be saved?”
- And He said: “The things that are impossible with men are possible with God.”
- And Peter said: “Behold, we left our own things and followed you.”
- And He told them: “Amen I tell you that there’s no man who left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children for the sake of the kingdom of God,
- “who won’t assuredly receive back many times more in this season; and in the coming age, he’ll receive the life of ages.”
- And having taken the twelve with Him, He said to them: “Behold, we’re going up to Jerusalem and all things *written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished,
- “For He will be betrayed into the hands of the gentiles, and will be ridiculed, and will be insulted, and will be spit on;
- “and having flogged Him, they will kill Him and He will rise again on the third day.”
- And they comprehended not one of these things, and this statement was *hidden from them, and they weren’t understanding the things being said.
Healing a blind man
- And it happened during His approach to Jericho that a blind man was sitting next to the road begging.
- And having heard a crowd traveling past, he was inquiring what this may mean.
- And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.
- And he shouted, saying: “Jesus! Son of David! have mercy on me!”
- And the men walking past in front4“walking past in front” is more literally “going past in front” of him were rebuking him so that he would be silent. But he was shouting much more: “Son of David! have mercy on me!”
- And having stood still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to Him. And with him having approached, He asked him:
- “What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said: “Lord, I ask that I would recover my sight.”
- And Jesus told him: “Recover your sight; your faith has saved you.”
- And he immediately recovered his sight and was following Him, glorifying God. And having seen this, every one of the people gave praise to God.
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