Luke 11

1 One day [in a certain place, as he was] in a place where Jesus had just finished [ceasing from, stopping] praying, one of His disciples [a learner, follower] requested, “Lord [Master, God, the One in authority], teach [instruct, guide] us to pray [to worship, communicate with God], just as [in the same way, similarly] John [the Baptist, a prophet] taught [instructed, guided] his disciples [followers, learners].” word study 2 So Jesus told them, “When you pray [in communion with God], say: ‘Father [our heavenly Parent, the One who cares for us], hallowed [sanctified, revered] be Your name [Your character, authority]. Your kingdom [divine reign, heavenly rule] come [be established, manifest]. word study 3 Give us [day by day, every day] each day [according to our daily needs, for the day] our daily bread. word study 4 And forgive [release, let go of] us our sins [transgressions, missing the mark], for we also forgive [pardon, show mercy to] everyone who sins [commits wrong, falls short] against us. And lead [guide, direct] us not into temptation [testing, trial]. ’” word study 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you [a disciple, a follower] goes to his friend [a close companion] at midnight [the middle of the night] and says, ‘Friend, lend me [to borrow or loan] three [a specific number] loaves of bread [food or nourishment], word study 6 because a friend [close companion, someone who is friendly] of mine has come [arrived, appeared] to me on a journey [traveling, from a distance], and I have nothing [no food, not anything] to set before [present, offer] him [as a guest, to show hospitality].’ word study 7 And suppose the one inside [from within] answers, ‘Do not [absolutely not] bother me [trouble me, give me labor]. My door [the entrance] is already [even now] shut [closed], and my children [young ones] and I are in bed [on the marriage bed]. I cannot [am not able] get up [arise] to give [bestow] you [to you] anything [anything at all].’ word study 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up to provide for him because of his [close, intimate] friendship, yet because of the man’s [persistent, shameless] persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he [truly, deeply] needs. word study 9 So I tell you: Ask [make requests, confidently expect], and it will be given to you [bestowed, granted as a gift]; seek [look for, try to find], and you will find [discover, meet with]; knock [rap, strike], and the door [a barrier, an opportunity] will be opened [made accessible, revealed] to you. word study 10 For everyone [all people, every individual] who asks [requests, seeks from God] receives [is given, obtains]; he who seeks [searches, looks for] finds [discovers, meets]; and to him who knocks [raps, strikes the door], the door [the way, the opportunity] will be opened [made accessible, revealed]. word study 11 What father [a male parent, a caregiver] among you, if his son [a child, an offspring] asks for a fish [a type of food, a symbol of provision], will give him a snake [a symbol of danger, a harmful creature] instead [as a substitute, in place of]? word study 12 Or [as an alternative, or if] if he asks [requests, or shall ask] for an egg [a simple food, a basic necessity], will give [offer, or deliver] him a scorpion [a small but dangerous insect]? word study 13 So if you [being evil, having a sinful nature] who are evil know how to give [bestow, provide] good [beneficial, righteous] gifts to your children, how much more [to a greater extent, abundantly] will your Father [the heavenly Parent, divine Father] in heaven [the spiritual realm, God’s dwelling place] give the Holy [set apart, sacred] Spirit [the divine Presence, breath of God] to those who ask [request, petition] Him!” word study 14 One day Jesus [the Messiah, Savior] was driving out [expelling, casting out] a demon [an evil spirit, unclean being] that was mute [deaf, unable to speak]. And when the demon [unclean spirit] was gone [had departed, been expelled], the man who had been mute [unable to speak, deaf] spoke [uttered words, communicated]. The crowds [large groups of people, multitudes] were amazed [marveled, filled with wonder], word study 15 but some of them [certain ones, a few] said, “It is by Beelzebul [the Lord of the flies, Satan], the prince [ruler, chief] of the demons [evil spirits, unclean beings], that He drives out [expels, casts out] demons [unclean spirits, evil beings].” word study 16 And others [different ones, tempting him] tested [tried, tempted] Him by demanding [seeking, looking for] a sign [miraculous token, indication] from [out of, beside] heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place]. word study 17 Knowing [having spiritual insight into] their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every [all, every single] kingdom [God’s royal power] divided [split apart, in conflict] against itself [its own nature] will be laid waste [desolated, brought to ruin], and a house [a family or household] divided [split apart, in conflict] against a house [another family or household] will fall [collapse, come to an end]. word study 18 If Satan [the adversary, accuser] is divided [at war with himself, in conflict] against himself, how can his kingdom [royal power, dominion] stand [endure, remain established]? After all, you say that I drive out [expel, cast out] demons [evil spirits, unclean beings] by [through the power of] Beelzebul [the Lord of the flies, a name for Satan]. word study 19 And if I [by the power of] drive out demons [evil spirits, unclean beings] by Beelzebul [the Lord of the flies, Satan], by whom [which authority, what power] do your sons [disciples, children of God] drive them out? So then [in that case, therefore], they will be your judges [those who condemn, authorities over you]. word study 20 But if I drive out [expel, cast out] demons [evil spirits, unclean beings] by the finger [power, authority] of God [the one true deity], then the kingdom [royal power, dominion] of God [the supreme ruler] has come [arrived, overtaken] upon [to, against] you. word study 21 When a strong [powerful, mighty] man, fully armed [well-equipped, completely prepared], guards [watches over, protects] his house [palace, courtyard], his possessions [goods, belongings] are secure [in peace, safe from harm]. word study 22 But when someone stronger [more powerful] attacks [comes upon, invades] and overpowers [conquers, subdues] him, he takes away [removes, lifts up] the armor [complete armor, full set of protective gear] in which the man trusted [had put his faith, depended on], and then he divides up [distributes, shares] his plunder [spoils of war, goods]. word study 23 He who is not [against, in opposition to] with Me [in unity and harmony, as a disciple] is against Me, and he who does not gather [collect, assemble, or bring together] with Me [in my name, for my purpose] scatters [disperses, spreads out, or drives away]. word study 24 When an unclean [morally impure] spirit [the vital principle] comes out [to go out] of a man [a human being], it passes through [to traverse] arid [waterless, dry] places [a specific spot] seeking [to look for] rest [a state of cessation] and does not find [to discover] it. Then it says [to speak], ‘I will return [to turn back] to the house [a physical dwelling] I left [to go out].’ word study 25 On its return [when it comes back, after a period of time], it finds the house [its former dwelling place, a person’s life] swept [cleaned, emptied] clean and put [arranged, decorated] in order [made tidy, restored to a state of harmony]. word study 26 Then it goes [to travel, journey through life] and brings [takes, receives] seven other [different, distinct] spirits [breath, vital principle] more [exceedingly] wicked [evil, morally wrong] than itself, and they go in [enter, come into] and dwell [reside, make their home] there [in that place, location]. And the final [last, ultimate] plight [state, condition] of that man [human being, person] is worse [more evil, harmful] than the first [initial, beginning].” word study 27 As Jesus was saying these things [at that very moment, as he spoke], a woman [a certain female, a lady] in the crowd [among the multitude, in the gathering] raised her voice [lifted up her sound, spoke loudly] and said, “Blessed [happy, supremely fortunate] is the womb [the belly, the place of birth] that bore [carried, gave birth to] You, and blessed [fortunate, highly favored] are the breasts [the nursing breasts, the source of nourishment] that nursed [suckled, fed] You [cared for and sustained you]!” word study 28 But He replied, “Blessed [happy, supremely fortunate] rather are those who hear [listen and obey, give heed to] the word [Logos, divine message] of God [the one true deity] and obey [keep, guard, and observe] it [faithfully, with diligence].” word study 29 As the crowds [multitudes, large groups of people] were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked [evil] generation [people living at the same time]. It demands [seeks after, looks for] a sign [supernatural indication, token], but none [no, not any] will be given it except [unless, other than] the sign [token, indication] of Jonah [the prophet, Ionas the Prophet]. word study 30 For [as a reason, explaining why] as Jonah [the prophet, a sign to the people] was a sign [a supernatural token, an indication of God’s power] to the Ninevites [inhabitants of Nineveh, a city in Assyria], so [in the same way, thus] the Son [having a divine nature, the Messiah] of Man [a human being] will be [exist, come into being] a sign [a miracle, a wonder] to this [present, current] generation [a group of people living at the same time]. word study 31 The Queen [a woman of great wisdom] of the South will rise [arise, stand up] at the judgment [day of reckoning, time of verdict] with the men [adult males, people] of this generation [people living at the same time] and condemn [judge against, give a negative verdict] them; for she came [traveled, went] from the ends [boundaries, limits] of the earth [soil, ground, the world] to hear [listen to, obey] the wisdom [higher understanding, spiritual insight] of Solomon [the son of King David, a king of Israel], and now One [a person, someone] greater [more powerful, superior] than Solomon [the king of Israel] is here [present, in this place]. word study 32 The men [people, inhabitants] of Nineveh [the capital of Assyria] will stand [rise up, be resurrected] at the judgment [time of divine verdict, day of reckoning] with this generation [people living at the same time] and condemn [judge against, give a negative verdict] it; for they repented [changed their minds, turned away from sin] at the preaching [proclamation, message] of Jonah [the prophet who was swallowed by a whale], and now One [a person, Jesus] greater [more powerful, superior] than Jonah [the prophet] is here [present, among them]. word study 33 No one [nobody, none] lights a lamp [a portable light source, symbolizing spiritual guidance] and puts it in a cellar [a hidden place, secret location] or under a basket [a container, a bushel]. Instead, he sets it on a stand [a lampstand, a holder for the lamp], so those who enter [come in, associate with] can see the light [the brightness, spiritual illumination]. word study 34 Your eye [the lamp of your soul] is the lamp [a symbol of spiritual guidance] of your body [the whole physical person]. When your eyes [the windows of your soul] are good [single and sincere], your whole body [the entire being] also is full of light [shining with spiritual understanding]. But when they are bad [evil and corrupt], your body [the whole physical person] is full of darkness [lacking spiritual illumination]. word study 35 Be careful [take heed, watch out], then, that the light [spiritual illumination] within you is not [lest it be] darkness [spiritual blindness]. word study 36 So if your whole [entire, complete] body is full of light [spiritual illumination, divine understanding], with no part [portion, area] of it in darkness [lacking spiritual insight, devoid of God’s presence], you will be radiant [shining brightly, full of joy], as though a lamp [symbol of spiritual guidance] were shining on you [illuminating your path, guiding your way].” word study 37 As Jesus was speaking [to the crowds, teaching them], a Pharisee [a member of a strict Jewish sect] invited Him [personally, with a request] to dine [to eat an early meal, have a meal together] with him; so He went in [entered the house, came inside] and reclined [sat down, leaned back] at the table [to eat, for the meal]. word study 38 But the Pharisee [a strict Jewish sect member] was surprised [marveled, felt great wonder] to see [perceive, attend to] that Jesus did not first [before all else, initially] wash [baptize, ceremonially cleanse] before [prior to, in preparation for] the meal [dinner, the main course]. word study 39 “Now then,” said the Lord [God, the supreme authority], “you Pharisees [strict religious sect] clean [purify, make ritually clean] the outside [external appearance] of the cup [drinking vessel] and dish [platter], but inside [inwardly, from the heart] you are full [completely filled] of greed [covetousness, plunder] and wickedness [evil, depravity]. word study 40 You [foolish ones, unthinking] fools! Did not the One [who created all things, the divine Maker] who made the outside [externally, from without] make the inside [inwardly, from within, the heart] as well [also, in like manner]? word study 41 But [however, on the contrary] give as alms [charity, acts of kindness] the things that are [exist, reside] within you [in your heart, inner being], and you will see [perceive, understand] that everything [all things, every aspect] is clean [pure, ceremonially acceptable] for you [to you, in your behalf]. word study 42 Woe [a curse, deep sorrow] to you Pharisees [strict followers of Jewish tradition]! You pay tithes [a tenth of your income, a portion] of mint [a sweet-smelling plant], rue [a bitter herb], and every herb [all manner of plants], but you disregard [pass over, neglect] justice [righteousness, fairness] and the love [agape, unconditional affection] of God [the one true deity]. You should have practiced [done, made a habit of] the latter [these important things] without neglecting [leaving undone, ignoring] the former [the other duties]. word study 43 Woe [alas, a cry of sorrow] to you Pharisees [strict religious leaders]! You love [have great affection for, esteem highly] the chief seats [positions of honor, seats of prominence] in the synagogues [gatherings, places of worship] and the greetings [salutations, respectful acknowledgments] in the marketplaces [public areas, places of commerce]. word study 44 Woe [a cry of sorrow, alas] to you! For you are like unmarked [hidden, unclear] graves [tombs, places of remembrance], which men [people, humans] walk over [live their lives, tread] without even noticing [being aware, perceiving].” word study 45 One [a certain, specific] of the experts [lawyers, teachers] in the law [God’s commandments, divine instruction] told Him, “Teacher [Master, Instructor], when You say [speak, proclaim] these things [words, teachings], You insult [mistreat, reproach] us [we, ourselves] as well [also, too].” word study 46 “Woe [alas, a cry of sorrow] to you as well, experts [lawyers, teachers] in the law [God’s commandments]!” He replied. “You weigh [load, burden] men down with heavy [grievous, oppressive] burdens [loads, responsibilities], but you yourselves will not lift [touch, help with] a finger [even one, a single effort] to lighten [ease, alleviate] their load [burden, responsibility]. word study 47 Woe [alas, a curse] to you! You build [construct, erect] tombs [memorials, graves] for the prophets [messengers of God, spokesmen], but it was your fathers [ancestors, forefathers] who killed [murdered, destroyed] them. word study 48 So you are witnesses [testifying, giving evidence] consenting [agreeing, approving] to the deeds [works, actions] of your fathers [ancestors, forefathers]: They killed [murdered, put to death] the prophets [messengers, spokesmen of God], and you build [construct, erect] their tombs [graves, monuments, places of remembrance]. word study 49 Because of this [through or as a result of these circumstances], the wisdom [higher or spiritual understanding] of God [the one true deity] said, ‘I will send [dispatch on a mission] them prophets [interpreters of God’s will] and apostles [delegates or messengers of Jesus Christ]; some of them they will kill [take their lives, destroy] and others they will persecute [chase away, drive out, harass].’ word study 50 As a result [consequently, therefore], this generation [people living at the same time] will be charged [held accountable, required to pay] with the blood [life, sacrifice] of all [every, entire] the prophets [messengers of God, spokesmen] that has been shed [poured out, spilled] since [from, away from] the foundation [beginning, creation] of the world [earth, universe], word study 51 from the blood [shed, sacrifice] of Abel [the son of Adam, a righteous man] to the blood [murder, violence] of Zechariah [a prophet, God’s messenger], who was killed [murdered, slain] between [in the space, during the time] the altar [a table for sacrifice, a place of worship] and the sanctuary [the holy place, God’s dwelling]. Yes [verily, truly], I tell you, all of it [every sin, every injustice] will be charged [required, demanded] to this generation [the people living now, the current era]. word study 52 Woe [a lamentation, a cry of sorrow] to you experts [lawyers, teachers] in the law [God’s commandments, spiritual principles]! For you have taken away [removed, withheld] the key [symbol of authority, spiritual insight] to knowledge [understanding, spiritual truth]. You yourselves have not entered [come to know, experienced], and you have hindered [prevented, forbidden] those who were entering [seeking to understand, coming to know].” word study 53 As Jesus went on from there, the scribes [scholars and teachers of the law] and Pharisees [a Jewish sect that followed strict religious rules] began to oppose [to be against, to resist] Him bitterly [terribly, excessively] and to ply [to question closely, to interrogate] Him with questions [to provoke Him to speak] about many things [about a great number of matters, concerning various issues], word study 54 waiting [lying in wait, to ambush] to catch Him [in order to accuse] in something [one thing, a word] He might say [out of His mouth, a statement]. word study