Luke 11
11
The Lord’s Prayer
1Now Jesus#11:1 Greek he was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, #See ch. 5:33as John taught his disciples.” 2And he said to them, #For ver. 2-4, [Matt. 6:9-13] “When you pray, say:
#
John 20:17; 1 Pet. 1:17 “Father, #
Isa. 29:23; [ch. 1:49; 1 Pet. 3:15] hallowed be #
John 17:6 your name.
# [Matt. 3:2; 4:17] Your kingdom come.
3 #
Prov. 30:8 Give us # [Matt. 6:34] each day our daily bread, # 11:3 Or our bread for tomorrow
4 and # See ch. 7:48 forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And # ch. 22:40, 46; Matt. 26:41; Mark 14:38; [1 Cor. 10:13] lead us not into temptation.”
5And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything #[ch. 18:1-6]because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence#11:8 Or persistence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9And I tell you, #For ver. 9-13, see Matt. 7:7-11 ask, and #Matt. 18:19; 21:22; Mark 11:24; John 14:13; 15:7, 16; 16:23, 24; James 1:5, 6, 17; 1 John 3:22; 5:14, 15 it will be given to you; #1 Chr. 28:9; 2 Chr. 15:2; Prov. 8:17; Jer. 29:13; [Isa. 55:6] seek, and you will find; #[Rev. 3:20]knock, and it will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11What father among you, if his son asks for#11:11 Some manuscripts insert bread, will give him a stone; or if he asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, #Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Matt. 12:34 who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father #[John 4:10; Acts 2:38]give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Jesus and Beelzebul
14 # For ver. 14, 15, see Matt. 12:22-24; [Matt. 9:32-34] Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. 15But some of them said, “He casts out demons #See Matt. 10:25by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” 16while others, #See John 8:6to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. 17#For ver. 17-22, see Matt. 12:25-29; Mark 3:23-27 But he, #See Matt. 9:4knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, #[Acts 19:13] by whom do #[2 Kgs. 2:7]your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20But if it is by #Ex. 8:19; 31:18; Deut. 9:10; Ps. 8:3 the finger of God that I cast out demons, then #ch. 17:21; Matt. 19:24; 21:31, 43the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22#Isa. 49:24-26 but when one stronger than he attacks him and #[John 16:33] overcomes him, he takes away his #Eph. 6:11 armor in which he trusted and #[Isa. 53:12]divides his spoil. 23#Matt. 12:30; [ch. 9:50; Mark 9:40]Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Return of an Unclean Spirit
24 # For ver. 24-26, see Matt. 12:43-45 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through # [Ps. 63:1; Jer. 2:6] waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And #2 Pet. 2:20-22; [John 5:14]the last state of that person is worse than the first.”
True Blessedness
27As he said these things, #ch. 12:13 a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, #[2 Chr. 9:7]; See ch. 1:48“Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28But he said, #[Rev. 1:3; 22:7] “Blessed rather are those #ch. 8:21; See James 1:22 who hear the word of God and #Lev. 22:31keep it!”
The Sign of Jonah
29 # ch. 12:1 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, #For ver. 29-32, see Matt. 12:39-42; [Mark 8:11, 12] “This generation is an evil generation. #ver. 16; See Matt. 12:38It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30For as #Jonah 1:17Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31#1 Kgs. 10:1; 2 Chr. 9:1 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and #Heb. 11:7; [Jer. 3:11; Ezek. 16:51, 52; Rom. 2:27] condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, #[Matt. 12:6]something greater than Solomon is here. 32#Jonah 1:2 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and #[See ver. 31 above] condemn it, for #Jonah 3:5 they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, #[See ver. 31 above]something greater than Jonah is here.
The Light in You
33 # ch. 8:16; Matt. 5:15; Mark 4:21 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34Your eye is #Matt. 6:22, 23 the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is #Deut. 15:9bad, your body is full of darkness. 35#[See ver. 34 above]Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, #[Matt. 5:16]as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”
Woes to the Pharisees and Lawyers
37While Jesus#11:37 Greek he was speaking, #ch. 7:36; 14:1a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. 38The Pharisee was astonished to see #Matt. 15:2; Mark 7:3, 4that he did not first wash before dinner. 39And the Lord said to him, #Matt. 23:25, 26; [ch. 20:47] “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of #[ch. 16:14]greed and wickedness. 40#ch. 12:20 You fools! #[See ver. 39 above]Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41But #ch. 12:33; [ch. 16:9; Dan. 4:27] give as alms those things that are within, and behold, #[Titus 1:15]everything is clean for you.
42 #
Matt. 23:23 “But woe to you Pharisees! For # ch. 18:12; Deut. 14:22 you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect #
Ps. 33:5; Jer. 5:1; Mic. 6:8; Zech. 7:9 justice and # [1 John 3:17] the love of God. # [1 Sam. 15:22] These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 43Woe to you Pharisees! For #ch. 20:46; Matt. 23:6, 7; Mark 12:38, 39; [ch. 14:7]you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44Woe to you! #Matt. 23:27For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.”
45One of #ver. 46, 52; See ch. 7:30the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” 46And he said, “Woe to you #ver. 45, 52 lawyers also! For #Matt. 23:4; [Matt. 11:28-30; Acts 15:10]you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47#Matt. 23:29, 30Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. 48#Matt. 23:31 So you are witnesses and you #See Rom. 1:32 consent to the deeds of #Acts 7:51, 52your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49Therefore also #[ch. 7:35; Prov. 8:12, 22, 23, 30; Matt. 11:19; 1 Cor. 1:24, 30; Col. 2:3] the Wisdom of God said, #For ver. 49-51, [Matt. 23:34-36] ‘I will send them #See Acts 13:1; 1 Cor. 12:28 prophets and apostles, #See Matt. 21:35 some of whom they will #1 Thess. 2:15 (Gk.)kill and persecute,’ 50so that #Rev. 18:24 the blood of all the prophets, shed #See Matt. 13:35 from the foundation of the world, may be #Gen. 42:22; 2 Chr. 24:22; Ezek. 3:18charged against this generation, 51from the blood of #Gen. 4:4, 8; Heb. 11:4; 1 John 3:12 Abel to the blood of #2 Chr. 24:20, 21 Zechariah, who perished between #Ex. 40:6; 2 Kgs. 16:14; Ezek. 40:47 the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be #[See ver. 50 above]required of this generation. 52Woe to you #ver. 45, 46 lawyers! #Matt. 23:13; [Mal. 2:7, 8] For you have taken away the key of #Rom. 2:20 knowledge. You #[ch. 7:30; Matt. 5:20; 21:31]did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”
53As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, 54#ch. 20:20; Mark 3:2; John 8:6; [Isa. 29:21] lying in wait for him, #Matt. 22:15; Mark 12:13to catch him in something he might say.
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Luke 11
11
Jesus Teaches about Prayer
1One day, as Jesus was in prayer, one of his disciples came over to him as he finished and said, “Would you teach us a model prayer that we can pray, just as John did for his disciples?”
2So Jesus taught them this prayer: “Our heavenly Father, # 11:2 Some Greek manuscripts read simply “Father.” The Aramaic is Abba. may the glory of your name be the center on which our life turns. # 11:2 An alternate reading of the Aramaic text. The Aramaic word for “name” is shema (or the Hebrew word, shem), a word with multiple meanings. It can also be translated as “light,” “sound,” or “atmosphere.” Placing a light in an enclosed space, like a lantern, magnifies that light. This is the meaning here of God’s name being made sacred and magnified as we focus our lives on him. May your Holy Spirit come upon us and cleanse us. # 11:2 Translated from some of the earliest Greek manuscripts. Manifest your kingdom on earth. 3And give us our needed bread for the coming day. # 11:3 This is more than asking for food, for Jesus has taught us not to worry about the needs of our body. It is the request for tomorrow’s living bread to come and feed us today. 4Forgive our sins as we ourselves release forgiveness to those who have wronged us. And rescue us every time we face tribulations.” # 11:4 Or “Do not let us enter into ordeals.”
5Then Jesus gave this illustration: “Imagine what would happen if you were to go to one of your friends in the middle of the night, pound on his door, and shout, ‘Please! Do you have some food you can spare? 6A friend just arrived at my house unexpectedly and I have nothing to serve him.’ # 11:6 In the culture of the day, it was important to honor every guest and provide a meal when they arrived. 7But your friend says, ‘Why are you bothering me? The door is locked and my family and I are all in bed. Do you expect me to get up and give you our food?’ 8I tell you—because of your shameless persistence, even though it’s the middle of the night, your friend will get up out of his bed and give you all that you need. 9-10So it is with your prayers. Ask and you’ll receive. Seek and you’ll discover. Knock on heaven’s door, and it will one day open for you. Every persistent person will receive what he asks for. Every persistent seeker will discover what he needs. And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door.
11“Let me ask you this: Do you know of any father who would give his son a snake on a plate when he asked for a serving of fish? # 11:11 Some manuscripts substitute the word “fish” with “loaf” (bread) and the word “snake” with “a stone.” Of course not! 12Do you know of any father who would give his daughter a spider when she had asked for an egg? Of course not! 13If imperfect parents know how to lovingly take care of their children and give them what they need, how much more will the perfect heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit’s fullness when his children ask him.”
Jesus Responds to Controversy
14One day a crowd gathered around Jesus, and among them was a man who was mute. Jesus drove out of the man the spirit that made him unable to speak. When the demon left him, the mute man’s tongue was loosed and immediately he was able to speak. The stunned crowd saw it all and marveled in amazement over this miracle! 15But there were some in the crowd who protested, saying, “He casts out demons by the power of Satan, # 11:15 The word used here is Beelzelbul, which was an Aramaic word for “the prince of devils,” whom the Philistines worshiped. In Hebrew Beelzebub means “lord of the flies.” the demon king.” 16Others were skeptical and tried to persuade Jesus to perform a spectacular display of power to prove that he was the Messiah.
17Jesus, well aware of their every thought, said to them, “Every kingdom that is split against itself is doomed to fail and will eventually collapse. 18If it is true that Satan casts out his own demons through me, how could his kingdom remain intact? 19If Satan gives me the power to cast out his demons, who is it that gives your exorcists # 11:19 Literally “your sons,” which is a figure of speech for their followers. their power? Let them become your judges! Go, ask them, and they will tell you. 20But if I am casting out demons by God’s mighty power, # 11:20 The text literally states “in the finger of God,” a Hebrew phrase denoting God’s power. See Ex. 8:19; 31:18. God’s kingdom is now released upon you—but you still reject it!
21“When a strong man, with many weapons, guards his palace, his possessions are safe. 22But when one stronger than he comes to attack and overpower him, the stronger one will empty the arsenal in which he trusted. The conqueror will ransack his kingdom and distribute all the spoils of victory. 23Whoever is not on my side is against me, and whoever does not gather the spoils with me will be forever scattered.
24“When a demon is cast out of a person, it goes to wander in a waterless realm, searching for rest. But finding no place to rest, it says, ‘I will go back and reoccupy the body I left.’ 25When it returns, it finds the person like a house swept clean and made tidy, but empty. # 11:25 Implied in the text is the truth that if a person is delivered from a demon but does not receive Christ and become filled with him, that individual’s condition can become even worse. True conversion fills a life with Christ and his Spirit. 26Then it goes and enlists seven demons more evil than itself, and they all enter and possess the person, leaving that one in a much worse state than before.” # 11:26 Christ’s power is still available for all. Even Mary Magdalene had seven demons cast out of her. See Luke 8:2.
27While he was saying all this, a woman shouted from the crowd, “God bless the one who gave you birth and nursed you as a child!”
28“Yes,” said Jesus, “but God will bless all who listen to the word of God and carefully obey everything they hear.”
The Miracle Sign of Jonah the Prophet
29As the crowds continued to swell, Jesus went on to say, “How evil is this generation! When you demand a mighty display of power simply to prove who I am, you demonstrate your unbelief. The only sign you will see will be a repeat of the miracle of Jonah. 30In the same way Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation. # 11:30 The Aramaic is “tribe.” See v. 31. The Ninevites were a different Semitic tribe from the Jews.
31“The Queen of Sheba # 11:31 Literally “the queen of the south.” See 1 Kings 10:1–13. Sheba is modern-day Yemen. will rise up on the day of judgment to accuse and condemn this generation for its unbelief. She journeyed from a far and distant land just to listen to the wisdom of King Solomon. One greater than Solomon speaks with you today, but you refuse to listen. 32Yes, the people of Nineveh will also rise up on the day of judgment to accuse and condemn this generation. # 11:32 The Aramaic is “tribe.” The Ninevites were of Semitic origin, and although they were pagans, after the preaching of one prophet they converted. The people of Israel had many prophets throughout their history, and the greatest prophet of all was now preaching to them, yet they refused to listen. For they all repented when they heard the preaching of Jonah, but you refuse to repent. Yet there is one greater than Jonah who is preaching to you today.”
Revelation-Light
33“No one would think of lighting a lamp and then hiding it in the basement where no one would benefit. A lamp belongs on a lampstand, where all who enter may see its light. 34The eyes of your spirit allow revelation-light # 11:34 The teachings of Jesus are the “revelation-light” referred to here. to enter into your being. When your heart is open the light floods in. # 11:34 Or “The eye is like a lamp to your body.” The literal Greek text reads “Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is sick, your body is full of darkness.” The eye becomes a metaphor for spiritual perception. The body is our spirit. The lamp is Jesus’ teachings. The darkness is formed by the lies and opinions that blind us. These metaphors have been made explicit. But when your heart is hard and closed, the light cannot penetrate and darkness takes its place. 35Open your heart and consider my words. Watch out that you do not mistake your opinions for revelation-light! 36If your spirit burns with light, fully illuminated with no trace of darkness, you will be a shining lamp, reflecting rays of truth by the way you live.”
Jesus Warns Hypocrites
37-38After Jesus finished saying these things, a Pharisee asked him to come for a meal at his home. When everyone had been seated at the table, the religious leader noticed that Jesus had not performed the cleansing ritual # 11:37–38 This was not required by the law of Moses, but was a rule imposed by the Pharisees. before he began eating. He was shocked.
39The Lord said, “You Pharisees are like those who will wipe clean only the outside of a cup or bowl, leaving the inside filthy. 40You are foolish to ignore the greed and wickedness within you! Shouldn’t the one who cleans the outside also clean the inside? # 11:40 Translated from the Aramaic text. 41If you free your heart of greed, show compassion and true generosity to the poor, you will have more than clean hands; you will be clean within.
42“You Pharisees are hypocrites! For you are obsessed with peripheral issues, like paying meticulous tithes on the smallest herbs that grow in your gardens. # 11:42 Literally “You pay tithes even on mint and dill and every other garden herb.” Of course, these matters you should do, but when you unjustly cheat others, you ignore the most important duty of all: to walk in the love of God. # 11:42 See Micah 6:8. Readjust your values and place first things first.
43“You Pharisees are hypocrites! You love to be honored before others with titles of respect, seeking public recognition, # 11:43 Literally “greeted with respect in the marketplaces.” aspiring to seem more important than others. # 11:43 The Aramaic text states, “You aspire to leadership of the synagogues.”
44“You Pharisees, what hypocrites! Your true character is hidden, like an unmarked grave that hides the corruption inside, defiling all who come in contact with you.” # 11:44 A strictly religious Jew was forbidden to touch a dead body or walk over a grave. It was common to whitewash the grave so no one would walk on it and be ceremonially defiled. Jesus taught that people who followed the example of the Pharisees would become morally unclean.
45Just then a specialist in interpreting religious law blurted out, “Teacher, don’t you realize that your words insult us?!”
46Jesus responded, “You are also hypocrites, you experts of the law! You crush people beneath the burden of obeying impossible religious regulations, yet you would never even think of doing them yourselves. # 11:46 The Greek text is literally “You compel men to carry burdens that you yourselves do not touch.” 47What hypocrites! You build monuments to honor the prophets of old, yet it was your murdering ancestors who killed them. The only prophet you’ll honor is a dead one! 48In fact, by erecting monuments to the prophets your ancestors killed, you demonstrate your agreement with those murderers and bear witness to their deeds. You’re no better than they! 49That is why God’s wisdom is proclaiming: ‘I will send to them apostles and prophets though some they will murder and others they will persecute.’
50“God will hold this generation accountable for every drop of blood of every murdered prophet shed from the beginning of time until now, 51from the blood of Abel, who was killed by his brother, to the blood of Zechariah, # 11:51 See 2 Chron. 24:21–22. Second Chronicles is the last book in the Hebrew order of the Old Testament. So the implied time frame is from Genesis throughout the period of the Old Testament. who was murdered in the middle of the temple court. Yes, I tell you, you will be responsible for it all.
52“You are nothing but hypocrites, you experts of religion! You take away from others the key that opens the door to the house of knowledge. Not only do you lock the door and refuse to enter, but you also do your best to keep others from the truth.”
53-54All that Jesus said enraged the religious leaders and experts of the law and they began to oppose him furiously. They harassed Jesus all the way out the door, spewing out their hostility, arguing over everything he said—wanting nothing more than to find a reason to entrap him with his own words.
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