Luke 11
Legacy Standard Bible
The Lord’s Prayer
11 And it happened that while [a]Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” 2 And He said to them, “(A)When you pray, say:
‘[b]Father, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
3 Give us (B)each day our [c]daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins,
For we ourselves also forgive everyone who (C)is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”
5 Then He said to them, “Which of you has a friend and will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children [d]and I are in bed; I cannot rise up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not arise and give him anything because he is his friend, yet (D)because of his [e]persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9 “So I say to you, [f](E)ask, and it will be given to you; [g]seek, and you will find; [h]knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. 11 But what father among you, if his son asks for a [i]fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or, if his son asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 (F)If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your [j]heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”
A Kingdom Divided
14 (G)And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. Now it happened that when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the crowds marveled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons (H)by (I)Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” 16 And others, testing Him, (J)were seeking from Him [k]a sign from heaven. 17 (K)But He knew their thoughts and said to them, “[l]Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a house divided against [m]itself falls. 18 But if (L)Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by (M)Beelzebul. 19 And if I by (N)Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason, they will be your judges. 20 But if I cast out demons by the (O)finger of God, then (P)the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When [n]a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are [o]undisturbed. 22 But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder. 23 (Q)He who is not with Me is against Me and he who does not gather with Me, scatters.
24 “(R)When the unclean spirit goes out of [p]a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there, and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.”
27 Now it happened that while [q]Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “(S)Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed.” 28 But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are (T)those who hear the word of God and keep it.”
The Sign of Jonah
29 Now as the crowds were increasing, He began to say, “(U)This generation is a wicked generation; it (V)seeks [r]a sign, and yet no [s]sign will be given to it but the [t]sign of Jonah. 30 For just as (W)Jonah became [u]a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The (X)Queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because (Y)they repented at the preaching of Jonah. And behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
33 “(Z)No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 (AA)The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is [v]clear, your whole body also is full of light, but when it is [w]bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 Therefore watch out that the light in you is not darkness. 36 If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays.”
Woes to the Pharisees and Lawyers
37 Now when He had spoken, a Pharisee *asked Him to have a meal with him. And He went in and reclined at the table. 38 But when the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first [x](AB)ceremonially washed before the [y]meal. 39 But (AC)the Lord said to him, “Now (AD)you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but [z]inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness. 40 (AE)You foolish ones, did not He who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But (AF)give that which is within as charity, and [aa]then all things are (AG)clean for you.
42 “(AH)But woe to you Pharisees! For you (AI)pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God, but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you (AJ)love the best seat in the synagogues and the respectful greetings in the marketplaces. 44 (AK)Woe to you! For you are like [ab]concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it.”
45 Now one of the (AL)scholars of the Law answered and said to Him, “Teacher, when You say these things, You insult us too.” 46 But He said, “Woe to you (AM)scholars of the Law as well! For (AN)you weigh men down with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 (AO)Woe to you! For you build the [ac]tombs of the prophets, but your fathers killed them. 48 So you are witnesses and approve the deeds of your fathers; because it was they who killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 For this reason also (AP)the wisdom of God said, ‘(AQ)I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and some they will [ad]persecute, 50 so that the blood of all the prophets, shed (AR)since the foundation of the world, may be [ae]charged against this generation, 51 from (AS)the blood of Abel to (AT)the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the house of God; yes, I tell you, it shall be [af]charged against this generation.’ 52 Woe to you, (AU)scholars of the Law! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; (AV)you yourselves did not enter, and you hindered those who were entering.”
53 And when He left there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile and to question Him closely on many subjects, 54 (AW)plotting (AX)to catch [ag]Him in something He might say.
Footnotes
- Luke 11:1 Lit He
- Luke 11:2 Later mss add phrases from Matt 6:9-13 to make the two passages closely similar
- Luke 11:3 Or bread for the coming day
- Luke 11:7 Lit with me
- Luke 11:8 Lit shamelessness
- Luke 11:9 Or keep asking
- Luke 11:9 Or keep seeking
- Luke 11:9 Or keep knocking
- Luke 11:11 Two early mss insert loaf, he will not give him a stone, will he, or for a...
- Luke 11:13 Lit Father from heaven
- Luke 11:16 Or an attesting miracle
- Luke 11:17 Lit Every
- Luke 11:17 Lit a house
- Luke 11:21 Lit the
- Luke 11:21 Lit in peace
- Luke 11:24 Lit the
- Luke 11:27 Lit He
- Luke 11:29 Or an attesting miracle
- Luke 11:29 Or attesting miracle
- Luke 11:29 Or attesting miracle
- Luke 11:30 Or an attesting miracle
- Luke 11:34 Or healthy
- Luke 11:34 Or evil
- Luke 11:38 Lit baptized
- Luke 11:38 Or lunch
- Luke 11:39 Lit your inside is full
- Luke 11:41 Lit behold
- Luke 11:44 Or indistinct
- Luke 11:47 Or monuments to
- Luke 11:49 Or drive out
- Luke 11:50 Or required of
- Luke 11:51 Or required of
- Luke 11:54 Lit something out of His mouth
Luke 11
New Century Version
Jesus Teaches About Prayer
11 One time Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his followers said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his followers.”
2 Jesus said to them, “When you pray, say:
‘Father, may your name always be kept holy.
May your kingdom come.
3 Give us the food we need for each day.
4 Forgive us for our sins,
because we forgive everyone who has done wrong to us.
And do not cause us to be tempted.’”[a]
Continue to Ask
5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you went to your friend’s house at midnight and said to him, ‘Friend, loan me three loaves of bread. 6 A friend of mine has come into town to visit me, but I have nothing for him to eat.’ 7 Your friend inside the house answers, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, if friendship is not enough to make him get up to give you the bread, your boldness will make him get up and give you whatever you need. 9 So I tell you, ask, and God will give to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will open for you. 10 Yes, everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened. 11 If your children ask for[b] a fish, which of you would give them a snake instead? 12 Or, if your children ask for an egg, would you give them a scorpion? 13 Even though you are bad, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Jesus’ Power Is from God
14 One time Jesus was sending out a demon who could not talk. When the demon came out, the man who had been unable to speak, then spoke. The people were amazed. 15 But some of them said, “Jesus uses the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, to force demons out of people.”
16 Other people, wanting to test Jesus, asked him to give them a sign from heaven. 17 But knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom that is divided against itself will be destroyed. And a family that is divided against itself will not continue. 18 So if Satan is divided against himself, his kingdom will not continue. You say that I use the power of Beelzebul to force out demons. 19 But if I use the power of Beelzebul to force out demons, what power do your people use to force demons out? So they will be your judges. 20 But if I use the power of God to force out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
21 “When a strong person with many weapons guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger comes and defeats him, the stronger one will take away the weapons the first man trusted and will give away the possessions.
23 “Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not work with me is working against me.
The Empty Person
24 “When an evil spirit comes out of a person, it travels through dry places, looking for a place to rest. But when it finds no place, it says, ‘I will go back to the house I left.’ 25 And when it comes back, it finds that house swept clean and made neat. 26 Then the evil spirit goes out and brings seven other spirits more evil than it is, and they go in and live there. So the person has even more trouble than before.”
People Who Are Truly Blessed
27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out to Jesus, “Blessed is the mother who gave birth to you and nursed you.”
28 But Jesus said, “No, blessed are those who hear the teaching of God and obey it.”
The People Want a Miracle
29 As the crowd grew larger, Jesus said, “The people who live today are evil. They want to see a miracle for a sign, but no sign will be given them, except the sign of Jonah.[c] 30 As Jonah was a sign for those people who lived in Nineveh, the Son of Man will be a sign for the people of this time. 31 On the Judgment Day the Queen of the South[d] will stand up with the people who live now. She will show they are guilty, because she came from far away to listen to Solomon’s wise teaching. And I tell you that someone greater than Solomon is here. 32 On the Judgment Day the people of Nineveh will stand up with the people who live now, and they will show that you are guilty. When Jonah preached to them, they were sorry and changed their lives. And I tell you that someone greater than Jonah is here.
Be a Light for the World
33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a secret place or under a bowl, but on a lampstand so the people who come in can see. 34 Your eye is a light for the body. When your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But when your eyes are evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. 35 So be careful not to let the light in you become darkness. 36 If your whole body is full of light, and none of it is dark, then you will shine bright, as when a lamp shines on you.”
Jesus Accuses the Pharisees
37 After Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee asked Jesus to eat with him. So Jesus went in and sat at the table. 38 But the Pharisee was surprised when he saw that Jesus did not wash his hands[e] before the meal. 39 The Lord said to him, “You Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are full of greed and evil. 40 You foolish people! The same one who made what is outside also made what is inside. 41 So give what is in your dishes to the poor, and then you will be fully clean. 42 How terrible for you Pharisees! You give God one-tenth of even your mint, your rue, and every other plant in your garden. But you fail to be fair to others and to love God. These are the things you should do while continuing to do those other things. 43 How terrible for you Pharisees, because you love to have the most important seats in the synagogues, and you love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces. 44 How terrible for you, because you are like hidden graves, which people walk on without knowing.”
Jesus Talks to Experts on the Law
45 One of the experts on the law said to Jesus, “Teacher, when you say these things, you are insulting us, too.”
46 Jesus answered, “How terrible for you, you experts on the law! You make strict rules that are very hard for people to obey, but you yourselves don’t even try to follow those rules. 47 How terrible for you, because you build tombs for the prophets whom your ancestors killed! 48 And now you show that you approve of what your ancestors did. They killed the prophets, and you build tombs for them! 49 This is why in his wisdom God said, ‘I will send prophets and apostles to them. They will kill some, and they will treat others cruelly.’ 50 So you who live now will be punished for the deaths of all the prophets who were killed since the beginning of the world— 51 from the killing of Abel to the killing of Zechariah,[f] who died between the altar and the Temple. Yes, I tell you that you who are alive now will be punished for them all.
52 “How terrible for you, you experts on the law. You have taken away the key to learning about God. You yourselves would not learn, and you stopped others from learning, too.”
53 When Jesus left, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees began to give him trouble, asking him questions about many things, 54 trying to catch him saying something wrong.
Footnotes
- 11:2–4 ‘Father . . . tempted.’ Some Greek copies include phrases from Matthew’s version of this prayer (Matthew 6:9–13).
- 11:11 for Some Greek copies include the phrase “for bread, which of you would give them a stone, or if they ask for . . . ”
- 11:29 sign of Jonah Jonah’s three days in the fish are like Jesus’ three days in the tomb. See Matthew 12:40.
- 11:31 Queen of the South The Queen of Sheba. She traveled a thousand miles to learn God’s wisdom from Solomon. Read 1 Kings 10:1–3.
- 11:38 wash his hands This was a Jewish religious custom that the Pharisees thought was very important.
- 11:51 Abel . . . Zechariah In the Hebrew Old Testament, the first and last men to be murdered.
Legacy Standard Bible Copyright ©2021 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org For Permission to Quote Information visit https://www.LSBible.org.
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
