| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." | 1One day in a place where Jesus had just finished praying, one of His disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” |
| 2He said to them, "When you pray, say: "'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. | 2So Jesus told them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. |
| 3Give us each day our daily bread. | 3Give us each day our daily bread. |
| 4Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.'" | 4And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ ” |
| 5Then Jesus said to them, "Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; | 5Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you goes to his friend at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, |
| 6a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.' | 6because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’ |
| 7And suppose the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' | 7And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Do not bother me. My door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ |
| 8I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. | 8I tell you, even though he will not get up to provide for him because of his friendship, yet because of the man’s persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs. |
| 9"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. | 9So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. |
| 10For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. | 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. |
| 11"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? | 11What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? |
| 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? | 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? |
| 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" | 13So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” |
| 14Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. | 14One day Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. And when the demon was gone, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowds were amazed, |
| 15But some of them said, "By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons." | 15but some of them said, “It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons.” |
| 16Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. | 16And others tested Him by demanding a sign from heaven. |
| 17Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. | 17Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and a house divided against a house will fall. |
| 18If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. | 18If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? After all, you say that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. |
| 19Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. | 19And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. |
| 20But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. | 20But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. |
| 21"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. | 21When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure. |
| 22But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder. | 22But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted, and then he divides up his plunder. |
| 23"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. | 23He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. |
| 24"When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' | 24When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ |
| 25When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. | 25On its return, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. |
| 26Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first." | 26Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first.” |
| 27As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you." | 27As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and blessed are the breasts that nursed You!” |
| 28He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." | 28But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” |
| 29As the crowds increased, Jesus said, "This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. | 29As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. |
| 30For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. | 30For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation. |
| 31The 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; and now something greater than Solomon is here. | 31The Queen of the South will rise at 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 now One greater than Solomon is here. |
| 32The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here. | 32The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here. |
| 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. | 33No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light. |
| 34Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. | 34Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body is full of darkness. |
| 35See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. | 35Be careful, then, that the light within you is not darkness. |
| 36Therefore, 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." | 36So if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, you will be radiant, as though a lamp were shining on you.” |
| 37When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. | 37As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited Him to dine with him; so He went in and reclined at the table. |
| 38But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. | 38But the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. |
| 39Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. | 39“Now then,” said the Lord, “you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. |
| 40You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? | 40You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well? |
| 41But now as for what is inside you--be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you. | 41But give as alms the things that are within you, and you will see that everything is clean for you. |
| 42"Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. | 42Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former. |
| 43"Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces. | 43Woe to you Pharisees! You love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces. |
| 44"Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it." | 44Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.” |
| 45One of the experts in the law answered him, "Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also." | 45One of the experts in the law told Him, “Teacher, when You say these things, You insult us as well.” |
| 46Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them. | 46“Woe to you as well, experts in the law!” He replied. “You weigh men down with heavy burdens, but you yourselves will not lift a finger to lighten their load. |
| 47"Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. | 47Woe to you! You build tombs for the prophets, but it was your fathers who killed them. |
| 48So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. | 48So you are witnesses consenting to the deeds of your fathers: They killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. |
| 49Because of this, God in his wisdom said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.' | 49Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’ |
| 50Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, | 50As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world, |
| 51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all. | 51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation. |
| 52"Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering." | 52Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” |
| 53When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, | 53As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things, |
| 54waiting to catch him in something he might say. | 54waiting to catch Him in something He might say. |
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