Luke 11:1-36 ▼

1 One day Jesus had been praying in a certain place, and as soon as he had done, one of his disciples said to him, instruct us about prayer, as John the baptist instructed his disciples.

2 he said therefore to them, when ye pray, say, "our father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as in heaven.

3 give us every day our portion of bread.

4 and forgive us our sins: since we forgive every one that has offended us, and leave us not under temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

5 Then he said to them, suppose any of you should go to his friend at midnight; and say to him, friend, lend me three loaves:

6 for a friend of mine, a traveller, is come to my house, and I have nothing to entertain him with.

7 and he within should give this answer, don't trouble me now: the door is made fast, and my family are all in bed: I can't get up to supply you.

8 I tell you, tho' he will not rise, to supply him, out of friendship: yet out of regard to his importunity, he will rise, and lend him whatever he has occasion for.

9 I tell you likewise, ask, and it shall be given: seek, and ye shall find: knock, and the door shall be opened.

10 for every one that asketh, receives: he that seeketh, finds: and he that knocks has admittance.

11 what father among you would give his son a stone, when he asketh for bread? or if for a fish, instead of a fish would he give him a serpent?

12 or instead of an egg will he offer him a scorpion?

13 if ye then, wicked as ye are, know how to give what is proper to your children: how much more shall your heavenly father give the holy spirit to them that ask him?

14 At another time Jesus was casting out a demon, that was dumb: and as soon as the demon was gone out, the dumb man spoke: and the people wondred.

15 but some of them said, he casteth out demons by Beelzebub the prince of the demons.

16 others, to try him, desir'd he would show some miraculous sign in the heaven.

17 but Jesus perceiving their suspicions, said to them, every kingdom divided against itself will soon be desolate: one family divided against another, falls to ruin.

18 so if satan be divided against himself, how can his kingdom subsist?

19 for you assert, that I cast out demons by Beelzebub, but if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? wherefore they shall be your judges.

20 but if I cast out demons by the finger of God, it follows, that the reign of the Messiah is now begun among you.

21 when a man that is stout and well arm'd guards his palace, his possessions are safe.

22 but if a stronger than he should assault, and overcome him, he will strip him of all his furniture on which he relyed, and divide the plunder.

23 He that does not join with me, is against me: and he that is not active for me, is a deserter.

24 When the impure spirit is gone out of a man, he wanders about the wilds in quest of some repose: but finding none, I will return, says he, to the abode I have quitted.

25 and at his return he findeth it swept and garnished.

26 then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself: they all enter in and dwell there, and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.

27 As he was discoursing thus, a certain woman in the middle of the crowd lift up her voice, and said to him, happy the mother, who bare thee: happy the nurse, who gave thee milk.

28 but rather, said he, happy are they who hear the word of God, and put it in practice.

29 and as the crowd grew more numerous, he thus began, this is a degenerate race of men: they demand a miracle: but no miracle shall be exhibited, but such as happen'd in the person of Jonas the prophet.

30 for as the case of Jonas was a miraculous instance to the Ninevites, so shall the son of man be to this generation.

31 the queen of the south shall rise up in the day of judgment against this generation, and condemn it: for she came from the remote parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; but now, a greater than Solomon is here.

32 the people of Nineve shall rise up in the day of Judgment, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; but now, a greater than Jonas is here.

33 However, when a man has once lighted his lamp, he does not hide it in a by-place, or under a bushel; but sets it on a stand, that all who come in may have light.

34 the eye is the light of the body: if therefore your eye be clear, every member of your body will have the benefit of the light: but if it be spoil'd, they must all rest in darkness.

35 take care therefore, that the light which is in thee do not become darkness.

36 for if thy whole body be enlightned, and no part dark, your whole conduct will be regulated, just as the light of a lamp directs all your motions.