Luke 11

This chapter belongs to the section of the Gospel of Luke that recounts Jesus' journey toward Jerusalem (from 9:51 onward). Following the account of Martha and Mary in Luke 10, the chapter opens with teaching on prayer.

Outline

• Verses 1–4 At the request of one of his disciples, Jesus teaches them to pray.
• Verses 5–13 Jesus tells the parable of the friend who goes at midnight to borrow three loaves of bread. He teaches, "Ask… seek… knock," and says that the heavenly Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.
• Verses 14–26 After Jesus casts out a demon that had made a man mute, the Beelzebub controversy arises. Jesus speaks of the strong man and one stronger than he, and of the unclean spirit that returns bringing seven other spirits with it.
• Verses 27–28 When a woman cries out that Jesus' mother is blessed, Jesus replies that those who hear the word of God and keep it are blessed.
• Verses 29–32 Jesus declares that no sign will be given except the sign of Jonah, citing the queen of the south and the men of Nineveh as examples.
• Verses 33–36 Jesus gives the sayings about the lamp and the eye.
• Verses 37–54 At a meal in a Pharisee's house, Jesus pronounces "woes" upon the Pharisees and the lawyers. Afterward, the scribes and Pharisees begin to press him vehemently with questions.

Key Verses

• Luke 11:2 "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name" — the opening of Luke's version of the Lord's Prayer.
• Luke 11:9 "Ask, and it shall be given you" — a representative verse encouraging prayer (Luke 11:5–13).
• Luke 11:13 "How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" — links answered prayer with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

People and Places

• Jesus — the speaker of all the teaching in this chapter.
• John the Baptist — mentioned as one who taught his disciples to pray.
• Beelzebub — the name Jesus' opponents gave to the "chief of the devils." Jesus answers by speaking of it in terms of the kingdom of Satan.
• Jonah and Nineveh — the city that repented at Jonah's preaching.
• The queen of the south and Solomon — the queen who came from afar to hear Solomon's wisdom (1 Kings 10).
• The Pharisees, lawyers, and scribes — groups who strictly observed and taught the Law. "Lawyers" here refers to experts in the Law.
• Abel and Zacharias — mentioned as the first and the last of those whose blood was unjustly shed. This is the Abel of the account of Cain and Abel.

Points for Reflection

• Two forms of the Lord's Prayer: Luke's version of the Lord's Prayer is shorter than Matthew's (Matthew 6:9–13). The Lord's Prayer recited in worship in Korean churches is the Matthean form with the doxology ("For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory…") appended.
• "Importunity" in verse 8: This is commonly interpreted as persistence in prayer. However, the original word is closer in meaning to "shamelessness," and some scholars read the passage differently.
• "The Holy Spirit" in verse 13: The parallel in Matthew 7:11 reads "good things." Pentecostal and charismatic traditions frequently cite this verse as a basis for praying to be filled with or baptized in the Holy Spirit. The Reformed tradition tends to read it as referring more generally to the gift of the Holy Spirit given to believers.
• "The finger of God" in verse 20: The parallel in Matthew 12:28 reads "the Spirit of God." This verse is frequently cited as evidence that the kingdom of God had already come in Jesus' ministry (Luke 11:20).
• Verses 27–28: Protestants read this passage as placing obedience to the word above ties of kinship. Catholics also interpret it as presenting Mary as the model of one who heard the word and kept it (Luke 1:38).
• Verse 42: Both sides of the tithing debate cite this verse. Those who hold that tithing remains binding today point to "these ought ye to have done." Those who hold that it is not obligatory regard the statement as addressed to Pharisees who were under the Law.
• Zacharias in verse 51: The prevailing view identifies him with Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, who was stoned to death in the court of the temple (2 Chronicles 24:20–22).

In the Korean Church

The Lord's Prayer is widely recited in unison at the close of worship services and other gatherings. Verses 9–10 are frequently cited in sermons on prayer and at prayer meetings.