One 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."
He said to them,"When you pray, say: "'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.'"
Then he said to them,"Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing tos et before him.'
"Then the one inside answeres, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.'
I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will; get up and give him as much as he needs.
"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.
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
"'Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fich, will give him a snake instead?
Or if he asks for an egg will give him a scorpion?
If 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!"
Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed.
But some of them said,"By Beelzebub, the prince of demons , he is driving out demons."
Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall
If Satan is divided against himself , how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebubm
Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe.
But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils
"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.
"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest andd oes not find it. Then it says,'I will return to the house I left.'
When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.
Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first."
As Jesus was saying these things , a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you."
He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
As the crowds increased, Jesus said, "This is a wicked generation, It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of John
For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.
The Queen of the South wil rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.
The men of Nineveh wills tand up 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.
"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl, Inbstead he outs it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light
Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light . NBut when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness.
See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.
Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you."
When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table
But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised.
Then 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
You foolish people ! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?
But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.
"Woe to ypou Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justico and the love of God . You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone
"Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greethings in the markeplaces
"Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it."
One of the experts in the law answered him "Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also."
Jeus 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
"Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your forefathers who killed them
So you testify that you approve of what your forefathers did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs
Because 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
Therefore this genratiom will e held responsibke for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sancruary. Yes , I tell you, this generation will be held resposible for it all
"Woe to you excepts 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."
When Jesus left there, the Pharisees and teh teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions.
waiting to catch him in something he might say.
Luke 12
Meabwgikle , when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: "Be on your guard agains the yeast of the Phariseesm which is hypocrisy.
There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known
What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclimed from the roofs.
"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more
But I will show you whom you should fear; Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God,
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered, Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows
"I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.
But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God
And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blaspohemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
"When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authories, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say,
for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."
Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
Jeus replied,"Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?"
Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's lift does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.
He thought to himself,'What shall I do? I have no place tos tore my crops.'
"Then he said, "This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
And I'll say to myself,"You have plenty of good things laid up for many years, Take life easy; eat, drink and be mercy,"'
"But God said to him,"You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.
Life is more than food, and teh body more than clothes.
Consider the ravens; They do nbot sow or reap , they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more caluable you are than birds!
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
Since you cannot do this very little thing why do you worry about the rest?
"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solo,on in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of teh field, which is here today, and tommorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!
And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.
For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.
But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom
Sell your possessions and give to the poor, ;Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning.
'=like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet., so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him
It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself tos erve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them
It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.
But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into
You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
Peter asked,"Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to evryone?"
The Lord answered,"Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?
It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns
I tell you the truth, he will put him inm charge of all his possessions.
But suppose teh servant says to himself,'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and toe at andd rink and get drunck
The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers
"That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows
But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
"I have come to bring fire in the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!
Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.
From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.
They will be divided, father against son and son against father. mother against daughter and daughter -in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
He said to the crowd: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it does.
And when the south wind blows, you say,'It's going to be hot,' and it is
Hypocrities! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth abd the sky . How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time?
"Why don't you judge for yourselveswhat is right"
As you are going with your adversary to themagistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him on the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him on the way, or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and teh officer throw you into prison.
I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penney.
Luke 13
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices
Jesus answered,"Do you think that these Galileans because they suffered this way?
I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them- do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?
I tell you, no'1 But unless you repnt, you too will all perish."
Then he told this parable:"A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.
So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard,"For three years now I've beencoming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?"
"'Sir,' the man replied,'leave it alone for one more year, and I' ll dig around it and fertilize it.
If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down,'"
On a Sabbath Jesus was teacing in one of teh synagogues,
and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years, She was bent over and could not straghten up at all
When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her,"Woman, you are set free from your infirmity."
Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sbbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people,"There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbathg,"
The Lord answered him,"You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?
Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbah day from what bound her?"
When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.
Then Jesus asked,"What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to?
It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches."
Again he asked,"What whall I compare the kingdom of God to?
It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dought."
Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem
Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?"He said to them,
"Make every effort to enter trough the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.
Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading,'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer,'I don't know you or where you come from.'
"Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets."
"But he will reply,'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me. all you evildoers!'
"There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Issac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.
People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God
Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last,"
Ar that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him,"Leave this place and go some where else. Herod wants to kill you."
He replied,"Go tell that fox,'I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.'
In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and teh enxt day- for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stome those sent to you, how often I have longed togather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,'
Luke 14
One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.
There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy.
Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law,"Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?"
But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away.
Then he asked them,"If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?"
And they had nothing to say.
When he noticed how the guests picked the parable
"When someone invites you honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.
If son, the host whi invited both of you will come and say to you,'Giv this man your seat' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place
But when you are invited, take the lowest place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted,"
Then Jesus said to his host,"When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives , or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.
But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame. the blind
and your will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus,"Blessed is the man who will eat att he feast in the kingdom of God."
Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests
At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, "Come for everything is now ready,'
"But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field and I must go and see it, Please excuse me.'
"Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I' m on my way to try them out, Please excuse me.'
"Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'
"The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordenred his servant,'Go out quickly into thes treets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'
"'Sir ,' the servant said, "what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'
"Then the master told his servant ,'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will befull
I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet,'"
Large crowds were traveling with Jesus and turning to them he said.
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brother and sisters- yes, even his own life0 he cannot be my disciple
And anyone who does not carry his cross and folow me cannot be my disciple
"Suppose one of you wants to build tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?
For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him
saying,"This fell ow began to build and was not able to finish.'
"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terns of peace.l
In the same way, any of you who does nt give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?
It is fit neither for the soil nr for the manure pile; it is thrown out."He who has ears to hear. let him hear."
Luke 15
No the tax collectors and "sinners" were allg athering around to hear him
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered,"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
Then Jesus told them this parable:
"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety -nne in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders
and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says. 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'
I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweeo the house and search carefully until she finds it?
And when she finds it, whe calls her friends and neighbors together and says,'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'
In the same way, I tell you there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over sinner who repents,"
Jesus contimued: "There was a man who had two sons.
The younger one said to his father,'Father, give me my share of teh estate,' So he divided his property between them.
"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living
After he had spent everything , there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country , who sent him to his fields to feed pigs
He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eting , but no one gave him anything.
"When he came to his sences, he said,'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
I will set out and go back to my father and say to him; Father , I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'
So he got up and went to his father,"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
"The son said to him,'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you, I am no longer wirthy to be called your son.'
"But the father said to his servants,"Quick! Bring teh best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Bring the fattened call and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.
For this son of mine was dead and is alive again ; hewas lost and is found,' So they began to celebrate.
"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
'Your brother has come,' he replied, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound."
"The older brother became angry and refused to go in, So his fater went out and pleaded with him.
But he answered! his father,'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my freinds
But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
"'My son,' the father said,'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again he was lost and is found.'"