Luke 11:29-54 ▼

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.

37 While he was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine his house, where he went, and sat down at table.

38 but the Pharisee was surprized to see that he did not wash before dinner.

39 upon which the Lord said to him, you Pharisees won't leave any filth upon the outside of a cup or a platter: while your consciences are abandon'd to rapine, and sensuality.

40 do you stupidly imagine that he, who made the outward man, did not make the inward too?

41 be but charitable to the utmost of your ability, and every thing will be pure to you.

42 but wo unto you Pharisees: for you will pay the tythes of mint, and rue, and all sorts of herbs, but as for justice and true piety, those you neglect, these you ought to have practised, without omitting however the other.

43 wo unto you Pharisees, for you affect to have the first rank in the synagogue, and to be complimented in publick places.

44 wo unto you: for you resemble subterraneous monuments, which men walk over, without perceiving them.

45 Then a doctor of the law objected to him, saying, master, your discourse is an insult upon us also.

46 but Jesus said, wo unto you likewise, doctors of the law; for you load men with insupportable burthens, the least part of which you will not yourselves bear:

47 wo unto you, for you rebuild the sepulchres of those prophets, whom your fathers put to death:

48 they were guilty of slaughter, and you raise monuments to their memory.

49 agreeably to this, in the Wisdom of God 'tis said, "I will send them prophets and apostles: some they will kill, and others they will persecute:

50 " so that the blood of all the prophets, which has been shed since the creation of the world, may be required of this generation,

51 from the blood of Abel to that of Zacharias, who perished between the altar and the temple: yes, I assure you, this generation shall be responsible for it all.

52 wo unto you, doctors of the law; for after having taken the key of knowledge, you remain still in the dark, and hinder others, who desire to have light.

53 As he was pursuing his discourse, the Scribes and Pharisees passionately urg'd him with many captious questions, in order to ensnare him,

54 and draw something from his own mouth, that might be brought as evidence against him.