11Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."G2532G1096G1722G846G1511G4336G1722G5100G5117G5613G3973G5100G846G3101G2036G4314G846G2962G1321G2248G4336G2531G2491G2532G1321G846G3101 2Jesus said, "This is how you should pray. "Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon.G1161G2036G846G3752G4336G3004G2257G3962G3588G1722G3772G37G4675G3686G4675G932G2064G4675G2307G1096G5613G1722G3772G2532G1909G1093 3Give us each day the food we need,G1325G2254G2596G2250G2257G1967G740 4and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation."G2532G863G2254G2257G266G1063G846G2532G863G3956G3784G2254G2532G1533G2248G3361G1519G3986G235G4506G2248G575G4190 5Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: "Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him,G2532G2036G4314G846G5101G1537G5216G2192G5384G2532G4198G4314G846G3317G2532G2036G846G5384G5531G3427G5140G740 6'A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.'G1894G5384G3450G1537G3598G3854G4314G3165G2532G2192G3756G3739G3908G846 7And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, 'Don't bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can't help you.'G2548G2081G611G2036G2873G3930G3427G3361G2374G2808G2235G2808G2532G3450G3813G1526G3326G1700G1519G2845G3756G1410G450G1325G4671 8But I tell you this—though he won't do it for friendship's sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.G3004G5213G1499G1453G3756G1453G1325G846G1223G1511G846G5384G1065G1223G846G335G450G1325G846G3745G5535 9"And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.G2504G3004G5213G154G2532G1325G5213G2212G2532G2147G2925G2532G455G5213 10For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.G1063G3956G154G2983G2532G2212G2147G2532G2925G455 11"You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead?G1161G5207G154G740G5216G3962G5101G1929G3361G846G3037G1499G2486G1929G473G2486G1929G3361G846G3789 12Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not!G2228G2532G1437G154G5609G3361G1929G846G4651 13So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."G1487G5210G3767G5225G4190G1492G1325G18G1390G5216G5043G4214G3123G1325G3772G3962G1537G1325G40G4151G154G846 14One day Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn't speak, and when the demon was gone, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed,G2532G2258G1544G1140G2532G846G2258G2974G1161G1096G1140G1831G2974G2980G2532G3793G2296 15but some of them said, "No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons."G1161G5100G1537G846G2036G1544G1140G1722G954G758G1140 16Others, trying to test Jesus, demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.G1161G2087G3985G2212G3844G846G4592G1537G3772 17He knew their thoughts, so he said, "Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart.G1161G846G1492G846G1270G2036G846G3956G932G1266G1909G1438G2049G2532G3624G1909G3624G4098 18You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive?G1161G1499G4567G1499G1266G1909G1438G4459G2476G846G932G2476G3754G3004G3165G1544G1140G1722G954 19And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said.G1161G1487G1473G1722G954G1544G1140G1722G5101G1544G5216G5207G1544G1223G5124G846G2071G5216G2923 20But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.G1161G1487G1722G1147G2316G1544G1140G686G932G2316G5348G1909G5209 21For when a strong man like Satan is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe—G3752G2478G2528G5442G833G1438G846G5224G2076G1722G1515 22until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.G1161G1875G2478G846G1904G3528G846G142G846G3833G1909G3739G3982G2532G1239G846G4661 23"Anyone who isn't with me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me.G5607G3361G3326G1700G2076G2596G1700G2532G4863G3361G3326G1700G4650 24"When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.'G3752G169G4151G1831G575G444G1330G1223G504G5117G2212G372G2532G2147G3361G3004G5290G1519G3450G3624G3606G1831 25So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order.G2532G2064G2147G4563G2532G2885 26Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before."G5119G4198G2532G3880G2033G2087G4151G4191G1438G2532G1525G2730G1563G2532G2078G1565G444G1096G5501G4413 27As he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, "God bless your mother—the womb from which you came, and the breasts that nursed you!"G1161G1096G1722G846G3004G5023G5100G1135G1537G3793G1869G5456G2036G846G3107G2836G941G4571G2532G3149G3739G2337 28Jesus replied, "But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice."G1161G846G2036G3304G3107G191G3056G2316G2532G5442G846 29As the crowd pressed in on Jesus, he said, "This evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah.G1161G3793G1865G756G3004G3778G2076G4190G1074G1934G4592G2532G1325G3756G4592G1325G846G1508G4592G2495G4396 30What happened to him was a sign to the people of Nineveh that God had sent him. What happens to the Son of Man will be a sign to these people that he was sent by God.G1063G2531G2495G1096G4592G3536G3779G2071G2532G5207G444G2071G5026G1074 31"The queen of Sheba will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen.G938G3558G1453G1722G2920G3326G435G5026G1074G2532G2632G846G3754G2064G1537G4009G1093G191G4678G4672G2532G2400G4119G4672G5602 32The people of Nineveh will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.G435G3535G450G1722G2920G3326G5026G1074G2532G2632G846G3754G3340G1519G2782G2495G2532G2400G4119G2495G5602 33"No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.G1161G3762G681G3088G5087G1519G2926G3761G5259G3426G235G1909G3087G2443G3588G1531G991G5338 34"Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is bad, your body is filled with darkness.G3088G4983G2076G3788G3767G1875G4675G3788G5600G573G4675G3650G4983G2532G2076G5460G1161G3752G5600G4190G4675G4983G2532G4652 35Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness.G4648G3767G5457G3588G1722G4671G2076G3361G4655 36If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light."G1487G4675G3650G4983G3767G5460G2192G3361G5100G3313G4652G3650G2071G5460G5613G3752G796G3088G5461G4571G5461 37As Jesus was speaking, one of the Pharisees invited him home for a meal. So he went in and took his place at the table.G1161G1722G2980G5100G5330G2065G846G3704G709G3844G846G1161G1525G377 38His host was amazed to see that he sat down to eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony required by Jewish custom.G1161G5330G1492G2296G3754G907G3756G4412G907G4253G712 39Then the Lord said to him, "You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness!G1161G2962G2036G4314G846G3568G2511G5210G5330G2511G1855G4221G2532G4094G1161G5216G2081G1073G724G2532G4189 40Fools! Didn't God make the inside as well as the outside?G878G4160G3756G4160G3588G1855G4160G3588G2081G2532 41So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.G4133G1325G1654G1751G2532G2400G3956G2076G2513G5213 42"What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.G235G3759G5213G5330G3754G586G2238G2532G4076G2532G3956G3001G2532G3928G2920G2532G26G2316G5023G1163G4160G3361G863G2548G863 43"What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you love to sit in the seats of honor in the synagogues and receive respectful greetings as you walk in the marketplaces.G3759G5213G5330G3754G25G4410G1722G4864G2532G783G1722G58 44Yes, what sorrow awaits you! For you are like hidden graves in a field. People walk over them without knowing the corruption they are stepping on."G3759G5213G1122G2532G5330G5273G3754G2075G5613G3419G3588G82G2532G444G4043G1883G1492G3756G1492 45"Teacher," said an expert in religious law, "you have insulted us, too, in what you just said."G1161G611G5100G3544G3004G846G1320G5023G3004G5195G2248G2532 46"Yes," said Jesus, "what sorrow also awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden.G1161G2036G3759G5213G2532G3544G3754G5412G444G5413G1419G2532G846G4379G3756G5413G1520G5216G1147 47What sorrow awaits you! For you build monuments for the prophets your own ancestors killed long ago.G3759G5213G3754G3618G3419G4396G1161G5216G3962G615G846 48But in fact, you stand as witnesses who agree with what your ancestors did. They killed the prophets, and you join in their crime by building the monuments!G686G3140G2532G4909G2041G5216G3962G3754G846G3303G615G846G1161G5210G3618G846G3419 49This is what God in his wisdom said about you. 'I will send prophets and apostles to them, but they will kill some and persecute the others.'G1223G5124G2532G2036G4678G2316G649G1519G846G4396G2532G652G2532G1537G846G615G2532G1559 50"As a result, this generation will be held responsible for the murder of all God's prophets from the creation of the world?G2443G129G3956G4396G3588G1632G575G2602G2889G1567G575G5026G1074 51from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, it will certainly be charged against this generation.G575G129G6G2193G129G2197G3588G622G3342G2379G2532G3624G3483G3004G5213G1567G575G5026G1074 52"What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don't enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering."G3759G5213G3544G3754G142G2807G1108G1525G3756G1525G846G2532G1525G2967 53As Jesus was leaving, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees became hostile and tried to provoke him with many questions.G1161G846G3004G5023G4314G846G1122G2532G5330G756G1758G1171G2532G653G846G653G4012G4119 54They wanted to trap him into saying something they could use against him.G1748G846G2532G2212G2340G5100G1537G846G4750G2443G2723G846
12Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy.G1722G3739G1996G3461G3793G5620G2662G240G756G3004G4314G846G3101G4412G4337G1438G575G2219G5330G3748G2076G5272 2The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.G1161G2076G3762G4780G3739G601G3756G601G2532G2927G3739G1097G3756G1097 3Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!G473G3739G3745G2036G1722G4653G191G1722G5457G2532G3739G2980G4314G3775G1722G5009G2784G1909G1430 4"Dear friends, don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that.G1161G3004G5213G3450G5384G5399G3361G5399G575G615G4983G2532G3326G5023G2192G3361G5100G4055G4160 5But I'll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he's the one to fear.G1161G5263G5213G5101G5399G5399G3326G615G2192G1849G1685G1519G1067G3483G3004G5213G5399G5126 6"What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them.G4453G3780G4002G4765G4453G1417G787G2532G3756G1520G1537G846G2076G1950G1799G2316 7And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.G235G2532G2359G5216G2776G705G3956G705G5399G3361G3767G1308G4183G4765 8"I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God's angels.G1161G3004G5213G3956G3739G302G3670G1722G1698G1715G444G1722G846G3670G5207G444G2532G3670G1715G32G2316 9But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God's angels.G1161G720G3165G1799G444G533G1799G32G2316 10Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.G2532G3956G3739G2046G3056G1519G5207G444G863G846G1161G987G1519G40G4151G863G3756G863 11"And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don't worry about how to defend yourself or what to say,G1161G3752G4374G5209G1909G4864G2532G746G2532G1849G3309G3361G3309G4459G2228G5101G626G2228G5101G2036 12for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said."G1063G40G4151G1321G5209G1722G846G5610G3739G1163G2036 13Then someone called from the crowd, "Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father's estate with me."G1161G5100G1537G3793G2036G846G1320G2036G3450G80G3307G2817G3326G1700 14Jesus replied, "Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?"G1161G2036G846G444G5101G2525G3165G1348G2228G3312G1909G5209 15Then he said, "Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own."G1161G2036G4314G846G3708G2532G5442G575G4124G3754G5100G846G2222G2076G3756G1722G4052G1537G846G5224 16Then he told them a story: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops.G1161G2036G3850G4314G846G3004G5561G5100G4145G444G2164 17He said to himself, 'What should I do? I don't have room for all my crops.'G2532G1260G1722G1438G3004G5101G4160G3754G2192G3756G4226G4863G3450G2590 18Then he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods.G2532G2036G5124G4160G2507G3450G596G2532G3618G3187G2532G1563G4863G3956G3450G1081G2532G3450G18 19And I'll sit back and say to myself, "My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!"'G2532G2046G3450G5590G5590G2192G4183G18G2749G1519G4183G2094G373G5315G4095G2165 20"But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?'G1161G2316G2036G846G878G5026G3571G4675G5590G523G575G4675G1161G5101G2071G3739G2090 21"Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God."G3779G2343G1438G2532G4147G3361G4147G1519G2316 22Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear.G1161G2036G4314G846G3101G1223G5124G3004G5213G3309G3361G3309G5216G5590G5101G5315G3366G4983G5101G1746 23For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing.G5590G2076G4119G5160G2532G4983G1742 24Look at the ravens. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!G2657G2876G3754G3756G4687G3761G2325G3739G3756G2076G5009G3761G596G2532G2316G5142G846G4214G3123G1308G5210G1308G4071 25Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?G1161G5101G1537G5216G3309G1410G4369G1909G846G2244G1520G4083 26And if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?G1487G3767G1410G3777G1410G1646G5101G3309G4012G3062 27"Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.G2657G2918G4459G837G2872G3756G3514G3761G1161G3004G5213G4672G1722G3956G846G1391G4016G3761G4016G5613G1520G5130 28And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?G1487G1161G2316G3779G294G5528G5607G4594G1722G68G2532G839G906G1519G2823G4214G3123G5209G3640 29"And don't be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don't worry about such things.G2532G2212G3361G5210G5101G5315G2228G5101G4095G2532G3361G3349 30These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs.G1063G3956G5023G1934G1484G2889G1934G1161G5216G3962G1492G3754G5535G5130 31Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.G4133G2212G932G2316G2532G3956G5023G4369G5213 32"So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.G5399G3361G3398G4168G3754G2106G5216G3962G2106G1325G5213G932 33"Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.G4453G5216G5224G2532G1325G1654G4160G1438G905G3822G3361G3822G2344G1722G3772G413G3699G3756G2812G1448G3761G4597G1311 34Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.G1063G3699G5216G2344G2076G1563G2071G5216G2588G2071G2532 35"Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning,G2077G5216G3751G2077G4024G2532G3088G2545 36as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.G2532G5210G3664G444G4327G1438G2962G4219G360G1537G1062G2443G2064G2532G2925G455G846G2112 37The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat!G3107G1565G1401G3739G2962G2064G2147G1127G281G3004G5213G3754G4024G2532G347G846G347G2532G3928G1247G846 38He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.G2532G1437G2064G1722G1208G5438G2532G2064G1722G5154G5438G2532G2147G3779G3107G1526G1565G1401 39"Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into.G1161G5124G1097G3754G1487G3617G1492G4169G5610G2812G2064G302G1127G2532G302G3756G863G846G3624G1358 40You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected."G1096G5210G3767G2092G2532G3754G3739G5207G444G2064G5610G1380G3756 41Peter asked, "Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?"G1161G4074G2036G846G2962G3004G5026G3850G4314G2248G2228G2532G4314G3956 42And the Lord replied, "A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.G1161G2962G2036G5101G686G2076G4103G2532G5429G3623G3739G2962G2525G1909G846G2322G1325G4620G1722G2540 43If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.G3107G1565G1401G3739G846G2962G2064G2147G3779G4160 44I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.G230G3004G5213G3754G846G2525G1909G3956G846G5224 45But what if the servant thinks, 'My master won't be back for a while,' and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk?G1161G1437G1565G1401G2036G1722G846G2588G3450G2962G5549G2064G2532G756G5180G3816G2532G3814G5037G2068G2532G4095G2532G3182 46The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.G2962G1565G1401G2240G1722G2250G3739G4328G3756G4328G2532G1722G5610G3739G1097G3756G1097G2532G1371G846G1371G2532G5087G846G3313G3326G571 47"And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn't prepared and doesn't carry out those instructions, will be severely punished.G1161G1565G1401G3588G1097G1438G2962G2307G2532G2090G3361G3366G4160G4314G846G2307G1194G4183 48But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.G1161G1097G3361G1161G4160G514G4127G1194G3641G1161G3739G3956G4183G1325G3844G846G4183G2212G2532G3739G3908G4183G846G154G4055 49"I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning!G2064G906G4442G1519G1093G2532G5101G2309G1487G381G2235G381 50I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished.G1161G2192G908G907G2532G4459G4912G2193G3739G5055 51Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!G1380G3754G3854G1325G1515G1722G1093G3004G5213G3780G235G2228G1267 52From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against.G1063G575G3568G2071G4002G1722G1520G3624G1266G5140G1909G1417G2532G1417G1909G5140 53'Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.'"G3962G1266G1909G5207G2532G5207G1909G3962G3384G1909G2364G2532G2364G1909G3384G3994G1909G846G3565G2532G3565G1909G846G3994 54Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, "When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, 'Here comes a shower.' And you are right.G1161G3004G2532G3793G3752G1492G3507G393G575G1424G2112G3004G2064G3655G2532G3779G1096 55When the south wind blows, you say, 'Today will be a scorcher.' And it is.G2532G3752G3558G4154G3004G3754G2071G2742G2532G1096 56You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don't know how to interpret the present times.G5273G1492G1381G4383G3772G2532G1093G1161G4459G3756G1381G5126G2540 57"Why can't you decide for yourselves what is right?G1161G5101G2532G575G1438G2919G3756G1342 58When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison.G5613G1063G5217G3326G4675G476G1909G758G1722G3598G1325G2039G525G575G846G3379G2694G4571G4314G2923G2532G2923G3860G4571G4233G2532G4233G906G4571G1519G5438 59And if that happens, you won't be free again until you have paid the very last penny."G3004G4671G1831G3364G1831G1564G2532G2193G3739G591G2078G3016
Dublin, OH
. "Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon.G1161
