Luke 11-19

Holman Christian Standard Bible

The Model Prayer

11 He was praying^(A) in a certain place, and when He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”^(B)

² He said to them, “Whenever you pray, say:^(C)

Keep Asking, Searching, Knocking

⁵ He also said to them: “Suppose one of you^[f] has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, ⁶ because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’^{[g] 7} Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ ⁸ I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s persistence,^[h] he will get up and give him as much as he needs.^(L)

⁹ “So^(M) I say to you, keep asking,^[i](N) and it will be given to you. Keep searching,^[j](O) and you will find. Keep knocking,^[k](P) and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ¹¹ What father among you, if his son^[l] asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, who are evil,^(Q) know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father^(R) give^[m] the Holy Spirit^(S) to those who ask Him?”

A House Divided

¹⁴ Now^(T) He was driving out a demon^(U) that was mute.^[n](V) When the demon came out, the man who had been mute, spoke, and the crowds were amazed. ¹⁵ But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul,^(W) the ruler^(X) of the demons!”^{(Y) 16} And others, as a test,^(Z) were demanding of Him a sign^(AA) from heaven.

¹⁷ Knowing their thoughts,^(AB) He told them: “Every kingdom divided^(AC) against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls. ¹⁸ If Satan^(AD) also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom^(AE) stand? For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul. ¹⁹ And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, who is it your sons^[o](AF) drive them out by? For this reason they will be your judges. ²⁰ If I drive out demons by the finger of God,^(AG) then the kingdom of God^(AH) has come to you. ²¹ When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure.^{[p] 22} But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers^(AI) him, he takes from him all his weapons^[q](AJ) he trusted^(AK) in, and divides up his plunder.^{(AL) 23} Anyone who is not with Me is against Me,^(AM) and anyone who does not gather with Me scatters.

An Unclean Spirit’s Return

²⁴ “When^(AN) an unclean spirit^(AO) comes out of a man, it roams through waterless places looking for rest,^(AP) and not finding rest, it then^[r] says, ‘I’ll go back to my house where I came from.’ ²⁵ And returning, it finds the house swept and put in order. ²⁶ Then it goes and brings seven other spirits^(AQ) more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that man’s last condition is worse than the first.”^(AR)

True Blessedness

²⁷ As He was saying these things, a woman from the crowd^(AS) raised her voice and said to Him, “The womb that bore You and the one who nursed You^(AT) are blessed!”

²⁸ He said, “Even more, those who hear the word of God^(AU) and keep it^(AV) are blessed!”

The Sign of Jonah

²⁹ As the crowds were increasing, He began saying: “This generation^(AW) is an evil generation.^(AX) It demands a sign,^(AY) but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.^{[s](AZ) 30} For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so also the Son of Man^(BA) will be to this generation. ³¹ The queen of the south^(BB) will rise up at the judgment^(BC) with the men of this generation and condemn^(BD) them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon,^(BE) and look—something greater than Solomon is here! ³² The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah’s proclamation, and look—something greater than Jonah is here!

The Lamp of the Body

³³ “No^(BF) one lights a lamp^(BG) and puts it in the cellar or under a basket,^[t] but on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see its light. ³⁴ Your eye is the lamp of the body.^(BH) When your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light. But when it is bad,^(BI) your body is also full of darkness. ³⁵ Take care then, that the light in you is not darkness. ³⁶ If, therefore, your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be entirely illuminated, as when a lamp shines its light on you.”^[u]

Religious Hypocrisy Denounced

³⁷ As He was speaking, a Pharisee^(BJ) asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and reclined at the table. ³⁸ When the Pharisee saw this, he was amazed that He did not first perform the ritual washing^[v](BK) before dinner.^{(BL) 39} But the Lord said to him: “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed^(BM) and evil.^{(BN) 40} Fools!^(BO) Didn’t He who made the outside make the inside too? ⁴¹ But give from what is within to the poor,^[w](BP) and then everything is clean^(BQ) for you.

⁴² “But woe^(BR) to you Pharisees! You give a tenth^[x](BS) of mint, rue, and every kind of herb, and you bypass^[y] justice^(BT) and love for God.^[z](BU) These things you should have done without neglecting the others.

⁴³ “Woe to you Pharisees! You love the front seat^(BV) in the synagogues^(BW) and greetings in the marketplaces.

⁴⁴ “Woe to you!^[aa] You are like unmarked graves;^(BX) the people who walk over them don’t know it.”

⁴⁵ One of the experts in the law^(BY) answered Him, “Teacher, when You say these things You insult us too.”

⁴⁶ Then He said: “Woe also to you experts in the law! You load people with burdens^(BZ) that are hard to carry, yet you yourselves don’t touch these burdens with one of your fingers.^(CA)

⁴⁷ “Woe to you! You build monuments^[ab] to the prophets,^(CB) and your fathers killed^(CC) them. ⁴⁸ Therefore, you are witnesses^(CD) that you approve^[ac](CE) the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their monuments.^{[ad] 49} Because of this, the wisdom of God^(CF) said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles,^(CG) and some of them they will kill and persecute,’^{(CH) 50} so that this generation^(CI) may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world^[ae](CJ)— ⁵¹ from the blood of Abel^(CK) to the blood of Zechariah,^(CL) who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.

“Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible.^[af]

⁵² “Woe to you experts in the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge!^(CM) You didn’t go in yourselves, and you hindered^(CN) those who were going in.”

⁵³ When He left there,^[ag] the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose^(CO) Him fiercely and to cross-examine Him about many things; ⁵⁴ they were lying in wait^(CP) for Him to trap Him in something He said.^[ah](CQ)

Beware of Religious Hypocrisy

12 In these circumstances,^[ai] a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling^(CR) on one another. He began to say to His disciples first:^(CS) “Be on your guard^(CT) against the yeast^[aj](CU) of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.^{(CV) 2} There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered,^(CW) nothing hidden that won’t be made known.^{(CX) 3} Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms^(CY) will be proclaimed on the housetops.^(CZ)

Fear God

⁴ “And I say to you, My friends,^(DA) don’t fear^(DB) those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. ⁵ But I will show you the One to fear: Fear^(DC) Him who has authority to throw people into hell^(DD) after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the One to fear! ⁶ Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies?^[ak] Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.^{(DE) 7} Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows!

Acknowledging Christ

⁸ “And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges^(DF) Me before men, the Son of Man^(DG) will also acknowledge him before the angels of God,^{(DH) 9} but whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.^{(DI) 10} Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,^(DJ) but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit^(DK) will not be forgiven. ¹¹ Whenever^(DL) they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities,^(DM) don’t worry^(DN) about how you should defend^(DO) yourselves or what you should say. ¹² For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.”^(DP)

The Parable of the Rich Fool

¹³ Someone from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher,^(DQ) tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

¹⁴ “Friend,”^[al] He said to him, “who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” ¹⁵ He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard^(DR) against all greed^(DS) because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”^(DT)

¹⁶ Then He told them a parable:^(DU) “A rich^(DV) man’s land was very productive. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? ¹⁸ I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. ¹⁹ Then I’ll say to myself, “You^[am] have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy;^(DW) eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’^(DX)

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool!^(DY) This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’^(DZ)

²¹ “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure^(EA) for himself and is not rich toward God.”^(EB)

The Cure for Anxiety

²² Then He said to His disciples: “Therefore I tell you,^(EC) don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear.^{(ED) 23} For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. ²⁴ Consider the ravens:^(EE) They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them.^(EF) Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? ²⁵ Can any of you add a cubit to his height^[an] by worrying?^{(EG) 26} If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?

²⁷ “Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon^(EH) in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! ²⁸ If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will He do for you—you of little faith?^{(EI) 29} Don’t keep striving for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. ³⁰ For the Gentile world eagerly seeks^(EJ) all these things, and your Father^(EK) knows that you need them.

³¹ “But seek His kingdom,^(EL) and these things will be provided for you.^{(EM) 32} Don’t be afraid,^(EN) little flock,^(EO) because your Father delights^(EP) to give you the kingdom.^{(EQ) 33} Sell^(ER) your possessions and give to the poor.^(ES) Make money-bags^(ET) for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure^(EU) in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.^(EV)

Ready for the Master’s Return

³⁵ “Be ready for service^[ao] and have your lamps lit.^{(EW) 36} You must be like people waiting for their master^(EX) to return^[ap] from the wedding banquet^(EY) so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.^{(EZ) 37} Those slaves the master will find alert^(FA) when he comes will be blessed. I assure you: He will get ready,^[aq] have them recline at the table, then come and serve them.^{(FB) 38} If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn,^[ar] and finds them alert, those slaves are blessed. ³⁹ But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming,^(FC) he would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also be ready,^(FD) because the Son of Man^(FE) is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”^(FF)

Rewards and Punishment

⁴¹ “Lord,” Peter asked, “are You telling this parable to us or to everyone?”

⁴² The Lord said: “Who then is the faithful and sensible manager^(FG) his master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their allotted food^(FH) at the proper time? ⁴³ That slave whose master finds him working when he comes will be rewarded. ⁴⁴ I tell you the truth: He will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁵ But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’^(FI) and starts to beat the male and female slaves, and to eat and drink and get drunk, ⁴⁶ that slave’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces^[as] and assign him a place with the unbelievers.^{[at] 47} And that slave who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it^[au] will be severely beaten.^{(FJ) 48} But the one who did not know and did things deserving^(FK) of blows will be beaten lightly. Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more.^[av](FL)

Not Peace but Division

⁴⁹ “I came^(FM) to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze! ⁵⁰ But I have a baptism to be baptized with,^(FN) and how it consumes^(FO) Me until it is finished!^{(FP) 51} Do you think that I came here to give peace to the earth?^(FQ) No, I tell you, but rather division! ⁵² From now on, five in one household will be divided: three against two, and two against three.

Interpreting the Time

⁵⁴ He also said to the crowds:^(FS) “When you see a cloud rising in the west, right away you say, ‘A storm is coming,’ and so it does.^{(FT) 55} And when the south wind is blowing, you say, ‘It’s going to be a scorcher!’ and it is. ⁵⁶ Hypocrites!^(FU) You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why don’t you know how to interpret this time?^(FV)

Settling Accounts

⁵⁷ “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?^{(FW) 58} As you are going with your adversary^(FX) to the ruler, make an effort to settle with him on the way. Then he won’t drag you before the judge,^(FY) the judge hand you over to the bailiff, and the bailiff throw you into prison.^{(FZ) 59} I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last cent.”^[ax](GA)

Repent or Perish

13 At that time,^(GB) some people came and reported to Him about the Galileans^(GC) whose blood Pilate^(GD) had mixed with their sacrifices. ² And He^[ay] responded to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all Galileans because they suffered these things?^{(GE) 3} No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well! ⁴ Or those 18 that the tower in Siloam^(GF) fell on and killed—do you think they were more sinful than all the people who live in Jerusalem? ⁵ No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well!”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

⁶ And He told this parable:^(GG) “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none.^{(GH) 7} He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down!^(GI) Why should it even waste the soil?’^(GJ)

⁸ “But he replied to him, ‘Sir,^[az] leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.^{(GK) 9} Perhaps it will bear fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.’”

Healing a Daughter of Abraham

¹⁰ As He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath,^{(GL) 11} a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit^[ba](GM) for over 18 years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.^{[bb] 12} When Jesus saw her, He called out to her,^[bc] “Woman, you are free of your disability.” ¹³ Then He laid His hands on her,^(GN) and instantly she was restored^(GO) and began to glorify God.^(GP)

¹⁴ But the leader of the synagogue, indignant^(GQ) because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, responded by telling the crowd, “There are six days when work should be done;^(GR) therefore come on those days and be healed and not on the Sabbath day.”

¹⁵ But the Lord answered him and said, “Hypocrites!^(GS) Doesn’t each one of you untie his ox^(GT) or donkey from the feeding trough^(GU) on the Sabbath and lead it to water?^{(GV) 16} Satan^(GW) has bound^(GX) this woman, a daughter of Abraham,^(GY) for 18 years—shouldn’t she be untied from this bondage on the Sabbath day?”

¹⁷ When He had said these things, all His adversaries^(GZ) were humiliated,^(HA) but the whole crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things He was doing.^(HB)

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and of the Yeast

¹⁸ He said, therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like,^(HC) and what can I compare it to? ¹⁹ It’s like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.”

²⁰ Again He said, “What can I compare the kingdom of God^(HD) to? ²¹ It’s like yeast^(HE) that a woman took and mixed into 50 pounds^[bd] of flour until it spread through the entire mixture.”^[be]

The Narrow Way

²² He went through one town and village after another, teaching and making His way to Jerusalem.^{(HF) 23} “Lord,” someone asked Him, “are there few being saved?”^[bf](HG)

He said to them, ²⁴ “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door,^(HH) because I tell you, many will try to enter and won’t be able ²⁵ once the homeowner gets up and shuts the door.^(HI) Then you will stand^[bg] outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up for us!’ He will answer you, ‘I don’t know you or where you’re from.’ ²⁶ Then you will say,^[bh] ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets!’ ²⁷ But He will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you’re from. Get away from Me,^(HJ) all you workers of unrighteousness!’ ²⁸ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth^(HK) in that place,^(HL) when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God,^(HM) but yourselves thrown out. ²⁹ They will come from east and west, from north and south, and recline at the table^(HN) in the kingdom of God. ³⁰ Note this: Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”^(HO)

Jesus and Herod Antipas

³¹ At that time some Pharisees came and told Him, “Go, get out of here! Herod^(HP) wants to kill You!”^(HQ)

³² He said to them, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look! I’m driving out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day^[bi] I will complete My work.’^{[bj](HR) 33} Yet I must^(HS) travel today, tomorrow, and the next day, because it is not possible for a prophet^(HT) to perish^(HU) outside of Jerusalem!

Jesus’ Lamentation over Jerusalem

³⁴ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem!^(HV) She who kills the prophets and stones^(HW) those who are sent to her.^(HX) How often I wanted to gather your children^(HY) together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,^(HZ) but you were not willing!^{(IA) 35} See, your house^[bk] is abandoned to you.^(IB) And I tell you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One’!”^(IC)[bl]

A Sabbath Controversy

14 One Sabbath, when He went to eat^[bm] at the house of one of the leading Pharisees,^(ID) they were watching Him closely.^{(IE) 2} There in front of Him was a man whose body was swollen with fluid.^{[bn] 3} In response, Jesus asked the law experts^(IF) and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”^{(IG) 4} But they kept silent. He took the man, healed him, and sent him away. ⁵ And to them, He said, “Which of you whose son or ox falls into a well, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?”^{(IH) 6} To this they could find no answer.

Teachings on Humility

⁷ He told a parable^(II) to those who were invited, when He noticed how they would choose the best places^(IJ) for themselves: ⁸ “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don’t recline at the best place, because a more distinguished person^(IK) than you may have been invited by your host.^{[bo] 9} The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place.

¹⁰ “But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ You will then be honored^(IL) in the presence of all the other guests.^{(IM) 11} For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”^(IN)

¹² He also said to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers, your relatives, or your rich neighbors, because they might invite you back, and you would be repaid. ¹³ On the contrary, when you host a banquet,^(IO) invite those who are poor, maimed, lame, or blind.^{(IP) 14} And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid^(IQ) at the resurrection of the righteous.”^(IR)

The Parable of the Large Banquet

¹⁵ When^(IS) one of those who reclined at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “The one who will eat bread in the kingdom of God^(IT) is blessed!”

¹⁶ Then He told him: “A man was giving a large banquet and invited many. ¹⁷ At the time of the banquet, he sent his slave to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.’

¹⁸ “But without exception^[bp] they all began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. I ask you to excuse me.’

¹⁹ “Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m going to try them out. I ask you to excuse me.’

²⁰ “And another said, ‘I just got married,^[bq](IU) and therefore I’m unable to come.’

²¹ “So the slave came back and reported these things to his master. Then in anger, the master of the house told his slave, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in here the poor, maimed, blind, and lame!’^(IV)

²² “‘Master,’ the slave said, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there’s still room.’

²³ “Then the master told the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and lanes and make them come in, so that my house may be filled. ²⁴ For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will enjoy my banquet!’”

The Cost of Following Jesus

²⁵ Now^(IW) great crowds were traveling with Him. So He turned and said to them: ²⁶ “If anyone comes to Me^(IX) and does not hate^(IY) his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. ²⁷ Whoever does not bear his own cross^(IZ) and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

²⁸ “For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost^(JA) to see if he has enough to complete it? ²⁹ Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to make fun of him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

³¹ “Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with 10,000 to oppose the one who comes against him with 20,000? ³² If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. ³³ In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not say good-bye to^[br] all his possessions^(JB) cannot be My disciple.

³⁴ “Now,^(JC) salt^(JD) is good, but if salt should lose its taste, how will it be made salty? ³⁵ It isn’t fit for the soil or for the manure pile; they throw it out. Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!”^(JE)

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

15 All^(JF) the tax collectors^(JG) and sinners were approaching to listen to Him. ² And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners^(JH) and eats with them!”

³ So He told them this parable:^{(JI) 4} “What man among you, who has 100 sheep and loses one of them,^(JJ) does not leave the 99 in the open field^[bs] and go after the lost one until he finds it? ⁵ When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, ⁶ and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ ⁷ I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven^(JK) over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

⁸ “Or what woman who has 10 silver coins,^[bt] if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ When she finds it, she calls her women friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost!’ ¹⁰ I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels^(JL) over one sinner who repents.”

The Parable of the Lost Son

¹¹ He also said: “A man had two sons. ¹² The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets^[bu] to them. ¹³ Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered^(JM) his estate in foolish living.^{(JN) 14} After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing.^{[bv] 15} Then he went to work for^[bw] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.^{(JO) 16} He longed to eat his fill from^[bx] the carob pods^[by] the pigs were eating, but no one would give him any. ¹⁷ When he came to his senses,^[bz] he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger!^{[ca] 18} I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned^(JP) against heaven^(JQ) and in your sight. ¹⁹ I’m no longer worthy^(JR) to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired hands.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion.^(JS) He ran, threw his arms around his neck,^[cb] and kissed^(JT) him. ²¹ The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²² “But the father told his slaves, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe^(JU) and put it on him; put a ring^(JV) on his finger^[cc] and sandals^(JW) on his feet. ²³ Then bring the fattened calf^(JX) and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, ²⁴ because this son of mine was dead and is alive again;^(JY) he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

²⁵ “Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he summoned one of the servants and asked what these things meant. ²⁷ ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’^[cd]

²⁸ “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets^[ce] with prostitutes,^(JZ) you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’

³¹ “‘Son,’^[cf] he said to him, ‘you are always with me,^(KA) and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

The Parable of the Dishonest Manager

16 He also said to the disciples: “There was a rich^(KB) man who received an accusation that his manager^(KC) was squandering^(KD) his possessions. ² So he called the manager in and asked, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management,^(KE) because you can no longer be my manager.’

³ “Then the manager said to himself, ‘What should I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I’m not strong enough to dig; I’m ashamed to beg. ⁴ I know what I’ll do so that when I’m removed from management, people will welcome me into their homes.’

⁵ “So he summoned each one of his master’s debtors. ‘How much do you owe my master?’ he asked the first one.

⁶ “‘A hundred measures of olive oil,’ he said.

“‘Take your invoice,’ he told him, ‘sit down quickly, and write 50.’

⁷ “Next he asked another, ‘How much do you owe?’

“‘A hundred measures of wheat,’ he said.

“‘Take your invoice,’ he told him, ‘and write 80.’

⁸ “The master praised the unrighteous manager^(KF) because he had acted astutely. For the sons of this age^(KG) are more astute than the sons of light^(KH) in dealing with their own people.^{[cg] 9} And I tell you, make friends^(KI) for yourselves by means of the unrighteous money^(KJ) so that when it fails,^[ch] they may welcome you into eternal dwellings. ¹⁰ Whoever is faithful^(KK) in very little^(KL) is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much. ¹¹ So if you have not been faithful with the unrighteous money, who will trust you with what is genuine? ¹² And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what is your own? ¹³ No^(KM) household slave can be the slave of two masters, since either he will hate^(KN) one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t be slaves to both God and money.”

Kingdom Values

¹⁴ The Pharisees, who were lovers of money,^(KO) were listening to all these things and scoffing^(KP) at Him. ¹⁵ And He told them: “You are the ones who justify^(KQ) yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts.^(KR) For what is highly admired by people is revolting^(KS) in God’s sight.

¹⁶ “The^(KT) Law and the Prophets^(KU) were^[ci] until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God^(KV) has been proclaimed, and everyone is strongly urged to enter it.^{[cj] 17} But it is easier^(KW) for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter in the law to drop out.

¹⁸ “Everyone^(KX) who divorces^(KY) his wife and marries another woman commits adultery,^(KZ) and everyone who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.

The Rich Man and Lazarus

¹⁹ “There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen,^(LA) feasting lavishly every day. ²⁰ But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was left at his gate.^{(LB) 21} He longed to be filled^(LC) with what fell from the rich man’s table,^(LD) but instead the dogs^(LE) would come and lick his sores. ²² One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side.^[ck](LF) The rich man also died and was buried. ²³ And being in torment^(LG) in Hades,^(LH) he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. ²⁴ ‘Father Abraham!’^(LI) he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony^(LJ) in this flame!’

²⁵ “‘Son,’^[cl] Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things,^(LK) just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here,^(LL) while you are in agony. ²⁶ Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.’

²⁷ “‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house— ²⁸ because I have five brothers—to warn^(LM) them, so they won’t also come to this place of torment.’

²⁹ “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets;^(LN) they should listen to them.’

³⁰ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

³¹ “But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’”^(LO)

Warnings from Jesus

17 He^(LP) said to His disciples, “Offenses^[cm] will certainly come,^[cn] but woe^(LQ) to the one they come^(LR) through! ² It would be better for him if a millstone^[co] were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble.^{(LS) 3} Be^(LT) on your guard. If your brother sins,^[cp] rebuke^(LU) him, and if he repents, forgive^(LV) him. ⁴ And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Faith and Duty

⁵ The^(LW) apostles^(LX) said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”^(LY)

⁶ “If you have faith the size of^[cq] a mustard seed,”^(LZ) the Lord said, “you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

⁷ “Which one of you having a slave tending sheep or plowing will say to him when he comes in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? ⁸ Instead, will he not tell him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, get ready,^[cr] and serve me while I eat and drink; later you can eat and drink’?^{(MA) 9} Does he thank that slave because he did what was commanded?^{[cs] 10} In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are good-for-nothing^(MB) slaves; we’ve only done our duty.’”

Ten Men Healed

¹¹ While traveling to Jerusalem,^(MC) He passed between^[ct] Samaria and Galilee.^{(MD) 12} As He entered a village, 10 men with serious skin diseases^(ME) met Him. They stood at a distance ¹³ and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master,^(MF) have mercy on us!”

¹⁴ When He saw them, He told them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.”^(MG) And while they were going, they were healed.^[cu]

¹⁵ But one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned and, with a loud voice, gave glory to God.^{(MH) 16} He fell facedown^(MI) at His feet, thanking Him. And he was a Samaritan.^(MJ)

¹⁷ Then Jesus said, “Were not 10 cleansed? Where are the nine? ¹⁸ Didn’t any return^[cv] to give glory to God except this foreigner?” ¹⁹ And He told him, “Get up and go on your way. Your faith has made you well.”^[cw](MK)

The Coming of the Kingdom

²⁰ Being^(ML) asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God will come,^(MM) He answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with something observable; ²¹ no one will say,^[cx] ‘Look here!’ or ‘There!’ For you see, the kingdom of God is among you.”

²² Then He told the disciples: “The days are coming^(MN) when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you won’t see it.^{(MO) 23} They will say to you,^(MP) ‘Look there!’ or ‘Look here!’ Don’t follow or run after them.^{(MQ) 24} For as the lightning flashes from horizon to horizon and lights up the sky, so the Son of Man will be in His day.^{(MR) 25} But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.^(MS)

²⁶ “Just as it was in the days of Noah,^(MT) so it will be in the days of the Son of Man: ²⁷ People went on eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage^(MU) until the day Noah boarded the ark,^(MV) and the flood came and destroyed them all. ²⁸ It will be the same as it was in the days of Lot:^(MW) People went on eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building. ²⁹ But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed^(MX) them all. ³⁰ It^(MY) will be like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed.^{(MZ) 31} On that day, a man on the housetop, whose belongings are in the house, must not come down to get them. Likewise the man who is in the field must not turn back. ³² Remember Lot’s wife!^{(NA) 33} Whoever tries to make his life secure^[cy][cz] will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.^{(NB) 34} I tell you, on that night^(NC) two will be in one bed: One will be taken and the other will be left. ³⁵ Two women will be grinding grain together: One will be taken and the other left. [³⁶ Two will be in a field: One will be taken, and the other will be left.]”^[da]

³⁷ “Where, Lord?”^(ND) they asked Him.

He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there also the vultures^(NE) will be gathered.”

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray^(NF) always and not become discouraged:^{(NG) 2} “There was a judge in a certain town who didn’t fear God^(NH) or respect man. ³ And a widow^(NI) in that town kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

⁴ “For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect man, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps^(NJ) pestering me,^[db] I will give her justice, so she doesn’t wear me out^[dc] by her persistent coming.’”

⁶ Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. ⁷ Will not God grant justice^(NK) to His elect^(NL) who cry out to Him day and night?^(NM) Will He delay^(NN) to help them?^{[dd] 8} I tell you that He will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes,^(NO) will He find that faith^[de] on earth?”

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹ He^(NP) also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves^(NQ) that they were righteous^(NR) and looked down^(NS) on everyone else: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple complex to pray,^(NT) one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee took his stand^[df](NU) and was praying like this: ‘God, I thank You that I’m not like other people^[dg] —greedy,^(NV) unrighteous,^(NW) adulterers,^(NX) or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast^(NY) twice a week; I give a tenth^[dh](NZ) of everything I get.’

¹³ “But the tax collector, standing far off,^(OA) would not even raise his eyes to heaven^(OB) but kept striking his chest^[di](OC) and saying, ‘God, turn Your wrath from me^[dj](OD)—a sinner!’^{(OE) 14} I tell you, this one went down to his house justified^(OF) rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”^(OG)

Blessing the Children

¹⁵ Some^(OH) people were even bringing infants to Him so He might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. ¹⁶ Jesus, however, invited them: “Let the little children come to Me,^(OI) and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁷ I assure you:^(OJ) Whoever does not welcome^(OK) the kingdom of God like a little child^(OL) will never enter it.”

The Rich Young Ruler

¹⁸ A^(OM) ruler^(ON) asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”^(OO)

¹⁹ “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good but One—God. ²⁰ You know the commandments:

²¹ “I have kept all these from my youth,” he said.

²² When Jesus heard this, He told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor,^(OQ) and you will have treasure in heaven.^(OR) Then come, follow Me.”^(OS)

²³ After he heard this, he became extremely sad,^(OT) because he was very rich.

Possessions and the Kingdom

²⁴ Seeing that he became sad,^[dl] Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ Those who heard this asked, “Then who can be saved?”^(OU)

²⁷ He replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”^(OV)

²⁸ Then Peter said, “Look, we have left what we had and followed^(OW) You.”

²⁹ So He said to them, “I assure you: There is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers, parents or children because of the kingdom of God, ³⁰ who will not receive many times more at this time,^(OX) and eternal life in the age to come.”

The Third Prediction of His Death

³¹ Then^(OY) He took the Twelve aside and told them, “Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem.^(OZ) Everything that is written^(PA) through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.^{(PB) 32} For He will be handed over to the Gentiles,^(PC) and He will be mocked,^(PD) insulted, spit^(PE) on; ³³ and after they flog Him, they will kill Him, and He will rise on the third day.”^(PF)

³⁴ They understood none of these things.^(PG) This saying^[dm](PH) was hidden^(PI) from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

A Blind Man Receives His Sight

³⁵ As^(PJ) He drew near Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. ³⁶ Hearing a crowd passing by, he inquired what this meant. ³⁷ “Jesus the Nazarene^(PK) is passing by,” they told him.

³⁸ So he called out,^(PL) “Jesus, Son of David,^(PM) have mercy^(PN) on me!” ³⁹ Then those in front told him to keep quiet,^[dn] but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁰ Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him. When he drew near, He asked him, ⁴¹ “What do you want Me to do for you?”

“Lord,” he said, “I want to see!”

⁴² “Receive your sight!”^(PO) Jesus told him. “Your faith has healed you.”^{[do](PP) 43} Instantly he could see, and he began to follow Him, glorifying God.^(PQ) All the people,^(PR) when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Jesus Visits Zacchaeus

19 He entered Jericho and was passing through. ² There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. ³ He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. ⁴ So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since He was about to pass that way. ⁵ When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today I must stay at your house.”

⁶ So he quickly came down and welcomed Him joyfully. ⁷ All who saw it began to complain,^(PS) “He’s gone to lodge with a sinful man!”

⁸ But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give^[dp] half of my possessions to the poor,^(PT) Lord! And if I have extorted^(PU) anything from anyone, I’ll pay^[dq] back four times as much!”^(PV)

⁹ “Today salvation^(PW) has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham.^{(PX) 10} For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”^[dr](PY)

The Parable of the 10 Minas

¹¹ As^(PZ) they were listening to this, He went on to tell a parable because He was near Jerusalem,^(QA) and they thought the kingdom of God was going to appear right away.^(QB)

¹² Therefore He said: “A nobleman traveled to a far country to receive for himself authority to be king^[ds] and then return. ¹³ He called 10 of his slaves, gave them 10 minas,^[dt] and told them, ‘Engage in business until I come back.’

¹⁴ “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We don’t want this man to rule over us!’

¹⁵ “At his return, having received the authority to be king,^[du] he summoned those slaves he had given the money to, so he could find out how much they had made in business. ¹⁶ The first came forward and said, ‘Master, your mina has earned 10 more minas.’

¹⁷ “‘Well done, good^[dv] slave!’ he told him. ‘Because you have been faithful^(QC) in a very small matter, have authority over 10 towns.’

¹⁸ “The second came and said, ‘Master, your mina has made five minas.’

¹⁹ “So he said to him, ‘You will be over five towns.’

²⁰ “And another came and said, ‘Master, here is your mina. I have kept it hidden away in a cloth ²¹ because I was afraid of you, for you’re a tough man: you collect what you didn’t deposit and reap what you didn’t sow.’^(QD)

²² “He told him, ‘I will judge you by what you have said,^[dw] you evil slave! If you knew I was a tough man, collecting what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow, ²³ why didn’t you put my money in the bank? And when I returned, I would have collected it with interest!’ ²⁴ So he said to those standing there, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has 10 minas.’

²⁵ “But they said to him, ‘Master, he has 10 minas.’

²⁶ “‘I tell you, that to everyone who has, more will be given; and from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away.^{(QE) 27} But bring here these enemies of mine,^(QF) who did not want me to rule over them, and slaughter^[dx] them in my presence.’”

The Triumphal Entry

²⁸ When^(QG) He had said these things, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.^{(QH) 29} As He approached Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives,^(QI) He sent two of the disciples ³⁰ and said, “Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. ³¹ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say this: ‘The Lord needs it.’”

³² So those who were sent left and found it just as He had told them.^{(QJ) 33} As they were untying the young donkey, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the donkey?”

³⁴ “The Lord needs it,” they said. ³⁵ Then^(QK) they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their robes on the donkey, they helped Jesus get on it.^{(QL) 36} As He was going along, they were spreading their robes on the road.^{(QM) 37} Now He came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:

³⁹ Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”

⁴⁰ He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!”^(QR)

Jesus’ Love for Jerusalem

⁴¹ As He approached and saw the city, He wept^(QS) over it, ⁴² saying, “If you knew^(QT) this day what would bring peace—but now it is hidden^(QU) from your eyes. ⁴³ For the days will come on you^(QV) when your enemies will build an embankment against you, surround you, and hem you in on every side.^{(QW) 44} They will crush you and your children within you to the ground,^(QX) and they will not leave one stone on another^(QY) in you, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”^(QZ)

Cleansing the Temple Complex

⁴⁵ He^(RA) went into the temple complex and began to throw out those who were selling,^{[ea] 46} and He said, “It is written, My house will be a house of prayer,^(RB) but you have made it a den of thieves!”^(RC)[eb]

⁴⁷ Every day He was teaching^(RD) in the temple complex. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people were looking for a way to destroy^(RE) Him, ⁴⁸ but they could not find a way to do it, because all the people^(RF) were captivated by what they heard.^[ec]