Seeking a Sign(A)

29 (B)And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a (C)sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah [a]the prophet. 30 For as (D)Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31 (E)The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a (F)greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for (G)they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

The Lamp of the Body(H)

33 (I)“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a (J)basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light. 34 (K)The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is [b]good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is [c]bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.”

Woe to the Pharisees and Lawyers

37 And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat. 38 (L)When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner.

39 (M)Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but (N)your inward part is full of [d]greed and wickedness. 40 Foolish ones! Did not (O)He who made the outside make the inside also? 41 (P)But rather give alms of [e]such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.

42 (Q)“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and (R)pass by justice and the (S)love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 43 (T)Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the [f]best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44 (U)Woe to you, [g]scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (V)For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 11:29 NU omits the prophet
  2. Luke 11:34 Clear, or healthy
  3. Luke 11:34 Evil, or unhealthy
  4. Luke 11:39 Lit. eager grasping or robbery
  5. Luke 11:41 Or what is inside
  6. Luke 11:43 Or places of honor
  7. Luke 11:44 NU omits scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites

The Sign of Jonah(A)

29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign,(B) but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.(C) 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;(D) 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;(E) and now something greater than Jonah is here.

The Lamp of the Body(F)

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.(G) 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,[a] your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,[b] 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.(H) 38 But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.(I)

39 Then the Lord(J) said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.(K) 40 You foolish people!(L) 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,(M) and everything will be clean for you.(N)

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

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 11:34 The Greek for healthy here implies generous.
  2. Luke 11:34 The Greek for unhealthy here implies stingy.