< Luke 11 >

1 And it came to pass as he was in a certain place praying, that when he ceased, a certain man of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray as John also taught his disciples.
One day Jesus was somewhere praying. When he finished [praying], one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us [what to say when] we [(exc)] pray, as John [the Baptizer] taught his disciples!”
2 And he said to them, When ye pray, say, Our Father in the heavens, hallowed be thy name. May thy kingdom come, may thy will happen on the earth as also in heaven.
He said to them, “When you pray, say [things like this]: ‘Father, we want you [(sg)] [MTY] to be honored/revered. [We want people to let you(sg)] [MTY, MET] rule over their lives.
3 Give us our bread sufficient for each day.
Give us [(exc)] each day the food [SYN] that we need.
4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive every man who is indebted to us. And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Forgive us [for] the wrong things that we have done, because we forgive people for the wrong things that they do to us. Do not let us do wrong things when we are tempted {[someone or something] tempts us}.’”
5 And he said to them, Which of you will have a friend, and will go to him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves,
Then he said to them, “Suppose that one of you goes to the house of a friend at midnight. Suppose that you [(sg) stand outside and] call out to him, ‘My friend, please lend me three buns!
6 since a friend arrived from the road to me, and I do not have what I would set before him,
Another friend of mine who is traveling has just arrived [at my house], but I have no food [ready] to give to him!’
7 and that man from inside, having answered, would say, Do not cause toils for me. The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I am not able, after getting up, to give thee?
Suppose that he answers you from inside [his house], ‘Do not bother me! The door has been locked {[We(exc)] have locked the door} and all my family are in bed. [So] I cannot get up and give you [(sg)] anything!’
8 I say to you, though he will not give him, after getting up, because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, having awaken, he will give him as many as he needs.
I will tell you that even if he does not [want to] get up and give you [any food], to avoid being ashamed [for not helping you] because you are his friend (OR, if without being ashamed you continue asking him to do that), he certainly will get up and give you whatever you need.
9 And I say to you, ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and ye will find. Knock, and it will be opened.
So I tell you this: Keep asking [God for what you need]. If you do that, [he] will give it to you [(pl)]. Confidently keep expecting [God to give you the things that you need], and [he] will give them to you [MET]. [It will be like] looking for what you need and finding it. Keep on [praying urgently to God. Then God will answer you. It will be like] knocking [on a door] so that [God] will open [the way] for you [to get what you pray for].
10 For every man who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Remember that [God] will give things to everyone who continues to ask [him for them]. [He] will give things to whoever confidently keeps asking. [He] will open [the way] for people [to get the things that they keep urgently praying for].
11 And which father of you, if the son will ask a loaf, will give him a stone, or also if a fish, in place of a fish will give him a serpent?
If one of you had a son who asked you [(sg)] for a fish [to eat], (you [(sg)] certainly would not give him a [poisonous] snake instead!/would you give him a [poisonous] snake instead?) [RHQ]
12 Or if he should ask for an egg, will he give him a scorpion?
If he asked you for an egg, (you [(sg)] certainly would not give him a scorpion!/would you give him a scorpion?) [RHQ]
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more the Father from heaven will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?
Even though you people are evil, you know how to give good things to your children. So your Father in heaven will certainly [give good things] to those who ask him, [including] giving the Holy Spirit, [who is the best gift].”
14 And he was casting out a demon, and it was mute. And it happened when the demon was gone out, the mute man spoke. And the multitudes marveled,
[One day there was a man there who, because a demon controlled him] [MTY], was unable to speak. After [Jesus expelled] the demon, the man [began to] talk. [Most of] the people [there] were amazed.
15 but some of them said, He casts out the demons by Beelzebub, ruler of the demons.
But some of them said, “It is Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons, who enables [this man] to expel demons!”
16 And others, challenging, sought from him a sign from the sky.
Other [people there] asked Jesus to perform a miracle [to prove (he was the Messiah/that he had come] from God) [MTY/EUP]. They wanted to trap him [into not being able to perform a miracle or into doing something ridiculous].
17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom that was divided against itself is made desolate, and a house against a house falls.
But Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, “If [the people in] one nation fight against each other, their nation will be destroyed {[they] will destroy their nation}. If [the people in] [MTY] one house are divided, they will cease to remain as one [family].
18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom be made to stand? Because ye say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebub.
[Similarly], if Satan [and his demons] were fighting against each other, (his rule over them would [certainly] not last!/how would his rule over them last?) [RHQ] [I say this] because you are saying that I am expelling demons by [the power of] the ruler of [his own demons]
19 And if I cast out the demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Because of this they will be your judges.
Furthermore, if [it is true that] Satan enables me to expel demons, [is it also true that] your disciples [who] expel demons [do so] by [Satan’s] power [RHQ]? [No, that is not true]. So they will show that you [are not thinking logically].
20 But if by a finger of God I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
But because it is by the power [MTY] of God [that I expel demons], I am showing you [that the power of] God to [MET] rule [people’s lives] has come to you.”
21 When the fully armed strong man guards his palace, the things possessed by him are in peace,
Then, [to show that by expelling evil spirits he was making it clear that he was much more powerful than Satan, Jesus said] [MET], “When a strong man who has many weapons guards his own house, no one can steal the things in his house.
22 but when a stronger than he comes, after defeating him, he takes away his full armor in which he trusted, and divides his booty.
But when someone else who is stronger attacks that man and subdues him, he is able to take away the weapons in which the man trusted. Then he can take from that man’s house anything he [wants to].
23 He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
[No one can be neutral]. Those who do not help me [are opposing] me, and those who do not gather [people to become] my [disciples] are causing [those people] to go away [from me].”
24 When the unclean spirit departs out of the man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest. And not finding, it says, I will return to my house from where I came out.
[Then Jesus said this]: “[Sometimes when] an evil spirit leaves someone, it wanders around in desolate areas seeking [someone in whom it can] rest. If it does not find anyone, it says [to itself], ‘I will return to the person in whom I used to live!’
25 And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order.
So it goes back and finds that [the Spirit of God is not in control of that person’s life. The person’s life is like] a house that has been {that someone has} swept clean and everything put {put everything} in order, [but a house that is empty].
26 Then it goes, and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and having enter in, it dwells there. And the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.
Then [this evil spirit] goes and gets seven other spirits that are [even] more evil than it is. They [all] enter [that person] and [begin] living there. [So], [although] that person’s condition [was bad] before, it became much worse.”
27 And it came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman, having lifted up her voice out of the crowd, said to him, Blessed is the belly that bore thee, and the breasts that thou suckled.
When Jesus said that, a woman who was listening called out [to him], “[God is] pleased with the woman who gave birth to you [(sg)] and let you nurse [at her breasts]!”
28 But he said, Blessed rather, are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.
But he replied, “God [is] much more pleased with those who hear his message and obey it!”
29 And when the multitudes gathered together he began to say, This generation is evil. They seek a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah, the prophet.
When the group of people around [Jesus] got larger, he said, “[Many of] you people who have been observing my ministry are evil. You want [me to perform] a miracle [to prove that I have come from God], but the only miracle that [I] will perform for you is one [like happened to] Jonah.
30 For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of man will be to this generation.
[After Jonah was inside a huge fish for three days, God performed] a miracle [to restore] Jonah. [Jonah then went and testified about that] to the people in Nineveh [city. God will perform] a similar miracle [for me], the one who came from heaven. [When you people have seen that miracle, you will believe my message].
31 The queen of the south will awake in the judgment with the men of this generation, and will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
[Long ago the] queen from [Sheba], [far] south [of Israel, traveled a long distance to hear Solomon speak many] wise things. But now [I, a man] who [is much] greater [and wiser] than Solomon, am here, [but you have not listened to what I have told you]. Therefore, at the time when [God] judges [all people], the queen from [Sheba] will stand there, [along] with you people, and will condemn you.
32 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, a greater than Jonah is here.
The people who lived in Nineveh [city] turned from their sinful ways when Jonah preached to them. But now I, who am greater than Jonah, have come [and preached to you], [but you have not turned from your sinful ways]. Therefore, at the time when God judges [all people], the people who lived in Nineveh will stand there with you and condemn you.”
33 And no man, having lit a lamp, puts it in a concealed place, nor under the bushel, but on the lampstand, so that those who enter in may see the light.
[Then, to show them that they did not need more miracles, but that they needed only to understand better what he had already told them, he said to them] [MET], “People who light a lamp do not then hide it, or put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on a lampstand so that those who enter [their house] can see [things from] its light. [Similarly, I have not concealed God’s truth. I have revealed it to you].
34 The lamp of thy body is the eye. Therefore, when thine eye is sound, thy whole body is also bright, but when it is bad, thy body is also dark.
Your eyes [MET] are like a lamp for your body, because they enable you to see things. If your eyes are healthy, you are able to see everything well [MET]. [Similarly, if you(sg) accept my teaching, you will be able to know all that God wants you to know]. But if your eyes are bad, you are not able to see anything. It is like being in darkness [MET]. [And similarly, if you(pl) do not accept what I teach, you will not be able to know all the things that God wants you to know].
35 Watch therefore the light in thee not be darkness.
Therefore, [you(pl) do not need to see more miracles. You need to think carefully about what I have already] told you, so that the things that you have heard from others do not cause you to remain in spiritual darkness [MET].
36 If therefore thy whole body is bright, not having any part dark, the whole will be bright, as when the lamp illuminates thee by the radiance.
If you [live completely according to God’s truth, you will be able to know everything that God wants you to know. It will be like] being in a room with a lamp shining brightly, enabling you to see everything clearly.”
37 Now as he spoke a certain Pharisee asks him that he might dine with him. And having entered in, he sat down.
While Jesus finished saying those things, a Pharisee invited him to eat a meal with him. So Jesus went to [his house] and ate with him.
38 And when the Pharisee saw, he marveled that he did not first wash before dinner.
The Pharisee was surprised when he saw that Jesus did not follow the Pharisees’ ritual by washing his hands before eating. [The Pharisees washed their hands in a certain way to be cleansed from anything that might have contaminated them. They were afraid that God might reject them if they] had [touched something unacceptable to God].
39 And the Lord said to him, Now ye Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your interior is full of plundering and wickedness.
The Lord [Jesus] said to him, “You Pharisees are [concerned about things that are outside your bodies, not with what is in your] ([inner beings/hearts]) [MET]. You wash the outside of cups and dishes [before you eat because you think that doing that will make you acceptable to God], but within yourselves you are very greedy and wicked.
40 Ye foolish men, did not he who made the outside also make the inside?
You foolish people! [God] is concerned about things that are outside [our bodies], but (he is certainly also concerned about our inner [beings]!/isn’t he also concerned about our hearts?) [RHQ]
41 But give compassion, things that are inside, and behold, all things are clean to you.
Give [money] to those who are poor. [Give according to what you know within] your (inner [/heart]) [that you should give]. Then you [will be surprised to realize that] you will be acceptable [to God without having to perform all those rituals about washing].
42 But woe to you Pharisees! Because ye tithe mint and rue and every plant, and pass by justice and the love of God. It is necessary to do these things, and not to neglect those things.
But there will be terrible punishment for you Pharisees! You give to God a tenth of [all you produce, even] the various herbs that you grow, but you do not [remember that you must act] justly [toward others] and love God! It is good to [give a tenth of your income to God], but you ought to do these other things also!
43 Woe to you Pharisees! Because ye love the place of honor in the synagogues, and the greetings in the marketplaces.
There will be terrible punishment for you Pharisees, because you like [to sit in] the best seats in our worship places [so that people will think highly of you], and you like people to greet you [respectfully] in the marketplaces.
44 Woe to you scholars and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because ye are like the unseen sepulchers, and the men who walk over them do not know.
There will be terrible punishment for you, because you are like ground where there is no marker [to indicate that there is a] grave [underneath]. People walk there, but they cannot see [what is rotten down below] [MET]! [Similarly, people who see you do not realize how polluted you are within yourselves].”
45 And having answered, a certain man of the lawyers says to him, Teacher, in saying these things thou rebuke us also.
One of those who taught the [Jewish] laws replied, “Teacher, by saying this you [(sg)] are criticizing us [also]!”
46 And he said, Woe also to you lawyers! Because ye load men with burdens difficult to bear, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
Jesus said, “It will be terrible also for you who teach the [Jewish] laws! You require people [to obey many rules that are difficult to obey] [MET]. [That is like making them] carry heavy burdens on their backs. But you yourselves do not obey the laws [that you require others to obey]. (OR, you do not do anything to help [others to obey the laws].)
47 Woe to you! Because ye build the sepulchers of the prophets, but your fathers killed them.
There will be terrible punishment for you! You decorate the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors killed, [but you do not live according to what the prophets taught].
48 Consequently, ye testify and approve the works of your fathers, because they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchers.
So you are declaring that you approve of what your ancestors did. They killed the prophets, and you [are not honoring the prophets! You just] decorate their tombs!
49 Because of this also the wisdom of God said, I will send to them prophets and apostles. And some of them they will kill and persecute,
So God, who is very wise [PRS], said, ‘I will send prophets and apostles [to you Jews]. [You] will kill some of them and cause some of them to suffer greatly.
50 so that the blood of all the prophets that was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation,
[As a result, I] will consider that many of you people [who have observed my Son’s ministry] will be guilty [MTY] [of murder, as if you had] killed all the prophets that other people have killed, from the time I created the world,
51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I say to you, it will be required of this generation.
starting from [Adam’s son Cain] killing [his brother] Abel and continuing until they killed the prophet Zechariah [in the holy place] between the altar and the temple.’ Yes, what I am saying [is true] [MTY]. [God] will punish you people who have observed my ministry, you people whom [he] considers to be guilty [MTY] for [killing] all those prophets!
52 Woe to you lawyers! Because ye took away the key of knowledge. Ye did not enter in yourselves, and ye hindered those who were entering in.
There will be terrible punishment for you men who teach the [Jewish] laws, because you have [not let people] know [God’s truth] [MET]! [It is as though you are] taking away a key [to a house]. You are not going into [the house] yourselves, and you are not letting other people enter it, either.”
53 And after he said these things to them, the scholars and the Pharisees began to harass him extremely, and to provoke him to speak impulsively about more things,
After Jesus finished saying those things, he left there. Then the men who taught the [Jewish] laws and the Pharisees began to act in a very hostile way toward him. They tried to make him say what he thought about many things.
54 waiting to ambush him, seeking to catch something out of his mouth so that they might accuse him.
They kept waiting for him to say something [wrong] for which they could accuse him.

< Luke 11 >