The Model Prayer

11 He was praying(A) in a certain place, and when He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”(B)

He said to them, “Whenever you pray, say:(C)

Father,[a](D)
Your name(E) be honored as holy.(F)
Your kingdom come.[b](G)
Give us each day our daily bread.[c](H)
And forgive us our sins,(I)
for we ourselves also forgive everyone
in debt to us.[d](J)
And do not bring us into temptation.”[e](K)

Keep Asking, Searching, Knocking

He also said to them: “Suppose one of you[f] has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’[g] Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s persistence,[h] he will get up and give him as much as he needs.(L)

“So(M) I say to you, keep asking,[i](N) and it will be given to you. Keep searching,[j](O) and you will find. Keep knocking,[k](P) and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son[l] asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil,(Q) know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father(R) give[m] the Holy Spirit(S) to those who ask Him?”

A House Divided

14 Now(T) He was driving out a demon(U) that was mute.[n](V) When the demon came out, the man who had been mute, spoke, and the crowds were amazed. 15 But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul,(W) the ruler(X) of the demons!”(Y) 16 And others, as a test,(Z) were demanding of Him a sign(AA) from heaven.

17 Knowing their thoughts,(AB) He told them: “Every kingdom divided(AC) against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls. 18 If Satan(AD) also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom(AE) stand? For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, who is it your sons[o](AF) drive them out by? For this reason they will be your judges. 20 If I drive out demons by the finger of God,(AG) then the kingdom of God(AH) has come to you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure.[p] 22 But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers(AI) him, he takes from him all his weapons[q](AJ) he trusted(AK) in, and divides up his plunder.(AL) 23 Anyone who is not with Me is against Me,(AM) and anyone who does not gather with Me scatters.

An Unclean Spirit’s Return

24 “When(AN) an unclean spirit(AO) comes out of a man, it roams through waterless places looking for rest,(AP) and not finding rest, it then[r] says, ‘I’ll go back to my house where I came from.’ 25 And returning, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits(AQ) more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that man’s last condition is worse than the first.”(AR)

True Blessedness

27 As He was saying these things, a woman from the crowd(AS) raised her voice and said to Him, “The womb that bore You and the one who nursed You(AT) are blessed!”

28 He said, “Even more, those who hear the word of God(AU) and keep it(AV) are blessed!”

The Sign of Jonah

29 As the crowds were increasing, He began saying: “This generation(AW) is an evil generation.(AX) It demands a sign,(AY) but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.[s](AZ) 30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so also the Son of Man(BA) will be to this generation. 31 The queen of the south(BB) will rise up at the judgment(BC) with the men of this generation and condemn(BD) them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon,(BE) and look—something greater than Solomon is here! 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah’s proclamation, and look—something greater than Jonah is here!

The Lamp of the Body

33 “No(BF) one lights a lamp(BG) and puts it in the cellar or under a basket,[t] but on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see its light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of the body.(BH) When your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light. But when it is bad,(BI) your body is also full of darkness. 35 Take care then, that the light in you is not darkness. 36 If, therefore, your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be entirely illuminated, as when a lamp shines its light on you.”[u]

Religious Hypocrisy Denounced

37 As He was speaking, a Pharisee(BJ) asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and reclined at the table. 38 When the Pharisee saw this, he was amazed that He did not first perform the ritual washing[v](BK) before dinner.(BL) 39 But the Lord said to him: “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed(BM) and evil.(BN) 40 Fools!(BO) Didn’t He who made the outside make the inside too? 41 But give from what is within to the poor,[w](BP) and then everything is clean(BQ) for you.

42 “But woe(BR) to you Pharisees! You give a tenth[x](BS) of mint, rue, and every kind of herb, and you bypass[y] justice(BT) and love for God.[z](BU) These things you should have done without neglecting the others.

43 “Woe to you Pharisees! You love the front seat(BV) in the synagogues(BW) and greetings in the marketplaces.

44 “Woe to you![aa] You are like unmarked graves;(BX) the people who walk over them don’t know it.”

45 One of the experts in the law(BY) answered Him, “Teacher, when You say these things You insult us too.”

46 Then He said: “Woe also to you experts in the law! You load people with burdens(BZ) that are hard to carry, yet you yourselves don’t touch these burdens with one of your fingers.(CA)

47 “Woe to you! You build monuments[ab] to the prophets,(CB) and your fathers killed(CC) them. 48 Therefore, you are witnesses(CD) that you approve[ac](CE) the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their monuments.[ad] 49 Because of this, the wisdom of God(CF) said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles,(CG) and some of them they will kill and persecute,’(CH) 50 so that this generation(CI) may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world[ae](CJ) 51 from the blood of Abel(CK) to the blood of Zechariah,(CL) who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.

“Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible.[af]

52 “Woe to you experts in the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge!(CM) You didn’t go in yourselves, and you hindered(CN) those who were going in.”

53 When He left there,[ag] the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose(CO) Him fiercely and to cross-examine Him about many things; 54 they were lying in wait(CP) for Him to trap Him in something He said.[ah](CQ)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 11:2 Other mss read Our Father in heaven
  2. Luke 11:2 Other mss add Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
  3. Luke 11:3 Or our bread for tomorrow
  4. Luke 11:4 Or everyone who wrongs us
  5. Luke 11:4 Other mss add But deliver us from the evil one
  6. Luke 11:5 Lit Who of you
  7. Luke 11:6 Lit I have nothing to set before him
  8. Luke 11:8 Or annoying persistence, or shamelessness
  9. Luke 11:9 Or you, ask
  10. Luke 11:9 Or Search
  11. Luke 11:9 Or Knock
  12. Luke 11:11 Other mss read son asks for bread, would give him a stone? Or if he
  13. Luke 11:13 Lit the Father from heaven will give
  14. Luke 11:14 A demon that caused the man to be mute
  15. Luke 11:19 Your exorcists
  16. Luke 11:21 Lit his possessions are in peace
  17. Luke 11:22 Gk panoplia, the armor and weapons of a foot soldier; Eph 6:11,13
  18. Luke 11:24 Other mss omit then
  19. Luke 11:29 Other mss add the prophet
  20. Luke 11:33 Other mss omit or under a basket
  21. Luke 11:36 Or shines on you with its rays
  22. Luke 11:38 Lit He did not first wash
  23. Luke 11:41 Or But donate from the heart as charity
  24. Luke 11:42 Or a tithe
  25. Luke 11:42 Or neglect
  26. Luke 11:42 Lit the justice and the love of God
  27. Luke 11:44 Other mss read you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
  28. Luke 11:47 Or graves
  29. Luke 11:48 Lit witnesses and approve
  30. Luke 11:48 Other mss omit their monuments
  31. Luke 11:50 Lit so that the blood of all . . . world may be required of this generation,
  32. Luke 11:51 Lit you, it will be required of this generation
  33. Luke 11:53 Other mss read And as He was saying these things to them
  34. Luke 11:54 Other mss add so that they might bring charges against Him

Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer(A)(B)

11 One day Jesus was praying(C) in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord,(D) teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,[a]
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom(E) come.[b]
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
    for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.[c](F)
And lead us not into temptation.[d]’”(G)

Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity[e] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.(H)

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you;(I) seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[f] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Jesus and Beelzebul(J)(K)

14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed.(L) 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebul,(M) the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.”(N) 16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.(O)

17 Jesus knew their thoughts(P) and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan(Q) is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God,(R) then the kingdom of God(S) has come upon you.

21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.

23 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.(T)

24 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ 25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.”(U)

27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”(V)

28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God(W) and obey it.”(X)

The Sign of Jonah(Y)

29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign,(Z) but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.(AA) 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom;(AB) and now something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah;(AC) and now something greater than Jonah is here.

The Lamp of the Body(AD)

33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.(AE) 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,[g] your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,[h] your body also is full of darkness. 35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”

Woes on the Pharisees and the Experts in the Law

37 When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table.(AF) 38 But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.(AG)

39 Then the Lord(AH) said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.(AI) 40 You foolish people!(AJ) Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor,(AK) and everything will be clean for you.(AL)

42 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth(AM) of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God.(AN) You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.(AO)

43 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.(AP)

44 “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves,(AQ) which people walk over without knowing it.”

45 One of the experts in the law(AR) answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”

46 Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.(AS)

47 “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. 48 So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.(AT) 49 Because of this, God in his wisdom(AU) said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’(AV) 50 Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, 51 from the blood of Abel(AW) to the blood of Zechariah,(AX) who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.(AY)

52 “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”(AZ)

53 When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, 54 waiting to catch him in something he might say.(BA)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 11:2 Some manuscripts Our Father in heaven
  2. Luke 11:2 Some manuscripts come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
  3. Luke 11:4 Greek everyone who is indebted to us
  4. Luke 11:4 Some manuscripts temptation, but deliver us from the evil one
  5. Luke 11:8 Or yet to preserve his good name
  6. Luke 11:11 Some manuscripts for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for
  7. Luke 11:34 The Greek for healthy here implies generous.
  8. Luke 11:34 The Greek for unhealthy here implies stingy.