Luke 11:1-4:
11:1And it came-to-pass in him being praying in some place as he stopped someone of his learning-disciples said towards him, "Lord, you must teach us to pray according as also John taught his learning-disciples." .2But he said to them, "Whenever you may pray you must say: 'Father, Your name must be made-holy, Your kingdom must come. .3You must give to us our bread, the coming (bread), the daily, .4and You must dismiss from us our sins for also we dismiss all being owed to us, and let You not carry us into temptation.'"
It came-to-pass (happened, became, occurred) during the time that Jesus was praying (communicating to/with God, speaking generally towards God) in a certain location as he stopped (willingly came to an end, caused himself to cease the activity of praying) someone of his learning-disciples (students) said towards him, "Lord (Master), it is imperative that you teach (instruct) us to pray according as (just as, according to how, in comparison to the way that) also John taught his learning-disciples."
Jesus said to them, "Whenever (at whatever time that) you would be praying - it is imperative that you say:
When praying there is to be no doubt about what God has already said. Those who pray must believe it and state it definitely when talking to/with God, not asking God if He could do something which He has already told them that He will do, that this would happen and therefore it will come to pass. Jesus uses the imperative mood because he has no doubt but believes what his Father says He does and can provide for/to him, and so he speaks with his Father in the sense of "please do this because You said You could and would when I ask You my Father." Jesus is not commanding his Father, God, to do something, nor is he thanking God for something that God has not done yet as though trying to force God into doing what Jesus says!
Also, it must be noted that what Jesus said as an example in verses 2 and 3 has a much deeper meaning than the surface reading of these verses, which can be understood from other passages of God's Word which Jesus spoke himself elsewhere, and from what the law of Moses and the prophets had already written. Those who were listening to Jesus and who also looked forward to being in the kingdom of God would have understood the deeper meaning for they would also have looked-at or heard the already-revealed Word of God plus would have continued to listen to Jesus throughout his ministry. Jesus was speaking to the nation of Israel/Judah before he had accomplished redemption and salvation to/for mankind and before the gift of holy spirit was made available on the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2!
[Reference: I Corinthians 10:13. Some Greek texts include other words in these verses. There is a similar record in Matthew 6:9-13.]
Verses 5-13:
.5And he said towards them, "Who out-from you will have a friend and will journey towards him of midnight and may say to him, 'Friend, you must furnish to me three breads .6since-indeed my friend arrived from a way towards me and I do not have that-which I will put-beside him.' .7And that-person from-inside having answered may say, 'You must not present labors to me; already the door was shut2 and my young-children are with me into the bed; I am not able having stood-up to give to you.' .8I say to you, even if he will not give to him having stood-up because-of being his friend, indeed because-of his unreservedness having been raised-up he will give to him as-many-things-as he needs. .9And I say to you: you must ask and it will be given to you, you must seek-after and you will find, you must knock and it will be opened to you, .10for every-person asking receives, and the (person) seeking-after finds, and to the (person) knocking it will be opened. .11But what father from you the son will ask a fish and in-the-place of a fish he will give a snake upon him? .12Or, also he will ask an egg, will he give a scorpion upon him? .13Therefore since you, being-from-the-beginning evil, knew2 to give good gifts to your children, how-much rather the Father out-from heaven will give holy spirit to the (people) asking Him."
Jesus continues to teach about prayer to God and he said towards his learning-disciples, "Who from among you will have a friend (someone whom you love with the brotherly or friendly kind of love) and will journey (pass) towards your friend of/at midnight and would say to him...
And that friend from-inside (internally, within himself) might answer by saying, 'You must not present labors to me (don't have/hold beside me, do not offer actions or causes to me to exert wearisome efforts, toils, beating myself figuratively regarding what you are asking me to do for you); because...
I say to you (all of you), even if he will not stand-up and give to him on account of being his friend, indeed (surely, emphatically, definitely) on account of...
...after he has raised-up (arisen from his bed inside of his house) he will give to his friend as much as he needs (has a necessity to use).
And emphatically I say to you (in Greek there is a definite word for “and I” plus the verb meaning “I say” giving emphasis – also I myself lay out this collection of words to/for you continuing in the context of unreservedness):
...in truth, all/every person who is asking receives (actively takes hold of the object that is given to him to use), and the person who is looking for something finds it, and it will be opened to the person who is knocking.
Following-on logically from what I just said...
During that past time, historically while Jesus was teaching on prayer, God was able to give holy spirit-life to people conditionally and temporarily. However, in these verses Jesus was prophesying about the future time when God by means of the resurrected Christ Jesus would baptize in holy spirit (not an evil spirit that would hurt them but a genuine and holy spirit). The word "holy" means: sanctified, set-apart from the state of being common, defiled or unclean against God, being in the state of corresponding to the essence of God. This baptism came to pass on the day of Pentecost (recorded in Acts 2:1-4).
[Reference: There is a similar record in Matthew 7:7-11.]
Verses 14-26:
.14And he used-to-be throwing-out a dumb devil, but it came-to-pass (after) the devil having gone-out the dumb-person uttered-forth and the crowds marveled. .15But some-people from them said, "In Beelzebul the ruler of the devils he throws-out the devils"; .16but different-people tempting used-to seek-after a sign out-from heaven from him. .17But he having known2 their through-mindful-devices said to them, "Every kingdom having been throughly-distributed on itself is deserted, and a house on a house falls, .18but if also satan was throughly-distributed on himself, how will his kingdom be caused-to-stand? Because you say (regarding) me to throw-out the devils in Beelzebul, .19but if I in Beelzebul throw-out the devils, in whom do your sons throw-out (devils)? Because-of-this they will be judges of you. .20But if in (the) finger of God I throw-out the devils, consequently the kingdom of God went-ahead on you. .21Whenever the strong-person having fully-armed-himself2 may keep-watch (regarding) his uncovered-area the-things beginning-from him are in peace; .22but upon-ever a stronger-than him having come-on may be-victorious-over him, he lifts his full-armor on which he had been persuaded and he throughly-gives his spoils. .23The (one) not being with me is against me, and the (one) not gathering-together with me scatters. .24Whenever the unclean spirit may go-out away-from the man, it goes through waterless places seeking-after a resting-up and not finding it says, 'I will return into my house from-where I came-out.' .25And having gone it finds (the house) having been swept2 and having been orderly-arranged2. .26Then it journeys and takes-beside seven different spirits more-evil-than itself, and having gone-into (the house) it dwells-down there. And the last-things of that man become worse-than the first-things."
During that past time, historically, Jesus was casting out a dumb devil (demon) from a human-being.
The word translated "devil" is the Greek word daimonion, which was used in Greek mythology (falsehoods) to describe supernatural intermediary beings between false-gods and men. In reality, these are the lower-ranking demons, evil spirits like “privates” which take their direction from the higher-ranking evil spirits (daimon) in the devil's "army" which take their orders and direction from the chief or top-ranking devil-spirit himself who is the devil/satan.
This devil-spirit had the quality of being dumb. The word translated "dumb" from the Greek text can refer to someone who is deaf or to someone who is dumb, but in this context it refers to someone who is not able to speak - the devil-spirit caused this man to be dumb.
But it came-to-pass (happened, became, occurred) after the devil went/came out - the man who had not been able to speak uttered-forth (spoke) and the throngs of people marveled (were astonished and looked-on with wonder and amazement).
However, some of the people from among them said, "In Beelzebul the ruler of the devils he throws/casts out the devils (demons, lower-ranking evil spirits; Greek: daimonion)." They were saying that the only reason that Jesus was casting out devils was within the sphere of action of Beelzebul, using his power and authority, etc. 'Beelzebul' (sometimes spelled 'Beelzebub' etc) was one of the contemptuous and derogatory names made to refer to the devil/satan or a ruling high-ranking evil spirit under satan's command, a derivation of the false-god/idol referred to in II Kings chapter 1. Here in Luke they describe Beelzebul as "ruler of the devils" - chief or first-placed devil over other devils (daimonion).
Different-people tempting Jesus were continuing to seek-after (look for) a sign originating from heaven (a designated signal or standard of authenticity to them out-from the heaven, from the sky above, but figuratively referring to God) proceeding from Jesus. The verb "to tempt" in this context means: to make trial-of or try in the bad sense of putting to the test with evil and ill-intent enticing to do wrong, trying to cause another to fall-aside from the truth of God's Word, enticing to make someone disbelieve what God says during that specific situation. The devil is the source of tempting with/by evil. The motivation of these people was to tempt Jesus; they did not really want to see a sign from God via Jesus!
But emphatically he (Jesus himself) - after he knew and continued to know their through-mindful-devices (Jesus was receiving information from God via the holy spirit within him and so he perceived, saw to the end of understanding with his mind regarding the thorough contrivances or products of their minds' thinking, the full plans issuing from the action of their minds) - said to them:
Even though they tempted Jesus with evil, he continued to stay in alignment with God's Word which provided him with the way-out from that bad situation.
Jesus continues: "At whatever time that the strong-person (inherently has strength, physically strong), after he has fully armed himself and continues fully armed (put on the complete weapons, tools, implements of war/battle needed for protection, offense and defense), would be keeping-watch regarding his uncovered-area (being vigilant to watch and guard his enclosure without a roof where the animals would be put during the nighttime, keeping it safe) the-things beginning-from him are in peace (his belongings, the things in his domain, his possessions in that uncovered-area are in tranquil harmony, tranquility, peaceful wholeness - nobody is striving to obtain his belongings and disagreeing with him about them).
Jesus is explaining what was happening in the spirit realm by using this analogy that people would understand. The devil/satan must first bind a particular man/woman if he is able to bind him/her, before he could enter in and harm any man/woman. It was up to each person to keep himself from satan’s influence which, if he did not, could lead to devil-spirits entering into that person. Plus, Jesus at that time was saying and doing things by God’s power via the holy spirit that he had received from God. Jesus was spiritually stronger than satan and any of his spirits, and therefore Jesus could do what was necessary to cast a devil out from a person’s body. God’s spirit realm had definitely come and was overcoming satan’s spirit realm.
Of course, we must recognize that at this time Jesus had not yet accomplished redemption and salvation for mankind and therefore nobody could receive the permanent holy spirit-life that was first made available on the day of Pentecost (refer to Acts chapter 2).
Today when a person believes what God says regarding Himself and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ, that person receives the gift of holy spirit which is the spirit of Christ in him/her and this holy spirit makes this person a holy-person, a Christian – therefore no devil-spirit could possibly enter into that person at any time from the day the person first received holy spirit. A Christian can of course be influenced by satan if the Christian allows himself to listen, and see, and do what satan propounds via his beguiling methods and schemes used by those who work for him (spirits and people).
Even during the old covenant times, including when Jesus was carrying out his ministry before the day of Pentecost, no person could have an evil spirit at exactly the same time as having God’s temporary and conditional holy spirit (example: King Saul, etc).
Returning to Luke, Jesus continues in verse 23: "The one who is not being in company and association with me is against me (down against, opposed to, opposing, contrary to what I say and do - there is no neutral position), and the one who is not gathering-together (assembling) in company and association with me scatters (disperses - again there is no neutral position).
At whatever time that the unclean spirit (a spirit that is not free from mixture of that-which is against the only true God, it is mixed with something else, it has impurity from God's viewpoint mixed with it, referring to a devil-spirit, demon)...
Then it journeys (at that time it passes into the man) and takes-beside (receives alongside itself) seven different spirits more-evil-than itself (7 devil-spirits of a different kind/sort regarding their activities which are comparatively more active with malignancy, exercising more badness than itself), and after they have all gone into the house the unclean spirit permanently dwells there. And the last-things of that man become worse-than the first-things (the latest state, quality of living, condition, situation, etc, pertaining-to that man come to pass to be comparatively more bad, worse, than the man’s former state, quality of living, condition, situation, etc)."
Jesus was referring to such a man who willingly believes and does what satan wants to be done – evil; Jesus was not talking about those who willingly believe and do what the only true God wants to be done – good. Jesus himself had holy spirit within him, which he had received from God, and that’s how he said and did what he said and did; but there were other men who had unclean devil-spirit(s) inside of them and that’s how they were saying and doing their evil activities.
[Reference: II Kings chapter 1. There are similar records in Matthew 12:22-30 and 43-45, and Mark 3:22-30. Also refer to the article The devil, satan, and evil (http://www.truebiblestudy.com/devil_satan_evil.htm).]
Verses 27 and 28:
.27But it came-to-pass in him saying these-things some woman having lifted-up (her) sound out-from the crowd said to him, "Happy (is) the womb, the (womb) having lifted you up and breasts which you suckled." .28But he said, "Certainly happy (are) the (people) having heard the word of God and keeping-watch."
It happened (occurred) during the time that Jesus was saying these things (refer to verses 17-26 above), there was a woman who lifted-up her sound (raised or took her voice upwards, high so as to go downwards onto Jesus' ears to hear her) from among the throng of people saying to him...
But emphatically he said (in Greek there is a definite word for “he” plus the verb meaning “he said” giving emphasis – he himself - Jesus said)...
Jesus' mother Mary was prophesied as being happy previously by Elizabeth in Luke 1:45 and by Mary herself in Luke 1:48 - why? - because she heard the word of/from God and kept-watch, which gave her the availability to become Jesus' mother. Jesus emphasizes and confirms this truth by explaining it and he expands it to include himself and everyone else who hears God's Word and keeps watch regarding it.
[Reference: Luke 1:41-48.]
Verses 29-32:
.29But (during) the gathering-on of crowds he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks-after a sign, and a sign will not be given to it except the sign of Jonah; .30for according as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, thus also the son of man will be to this generation. .31Queen of (the) south will be raised-up in the judgment with the adult-males of this generation and she will condemn them because she came out-from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and look!, more-than Solomon (is) here. .32Ninevetian adult-males will resurrect in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it because they repented into the heralded-proclamation of Jonah, and look!, more-than Jonah (is) here.
While throngs of people are gathering-on (assembling with the crowd already at that location) Jesus started to say, "This generation (time-period of a race, descent or kind of living-beings) is an evil generation (one that is actively malignant, exercising badness); it looks for a sign (a designated signal or standard of authenticity from me), and a sign will not be given to it except the sign of Jonah (referring to Jonah the prophet who previously gave this generation that sign)...
The queen of the south will be caused to rise-up in the judgment (during the action or process of pronouncing sentence, the decision being made in judgment by God at a future time) in company and association with the adult-males of this generation (the grown-men who are part of the generation that was there when Jesus was speaking) and she will condemn them (bring a decision, pronounce sentence, judgment down against those men) because she came out-from the ends/extremities of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon (Solomon’s skillful or expert application of personal-knowledge, which he received from God), and look (behold, see, pay attention)!, more-than Solomon is here (comparatively more, a lot more, bigger than Solomon, in God’s viewpoint, is in this location - I also receive God’s wisdom and I am here right-now with you).
The grown-men of Nineveh will resurrect (stand-up) in the judgment in company and association with this generation and will condemn it...
[Reference: I Kings 10:1-13; II Chronicles 9:1-12; the Book of Jonah; I Corinthians 1:22. There is a similar record in Matthew 12:38-42. Also refer to the article Hope and Resurrection (http://www.truebiblestudy.com/Hope_Resurrection.htm).]
Verses 33-36:
.33Not-one-person having touched a lamp puts into a hiding-place but on the lamp-stand in order that the (people) journeying-into (the house) may observe the light. .34The lamp of the body is your eye; whenever your eye may be single also your whole body is light, but upon-ever it may be evil also your body (is) dark; .35therefore you must scope the light, the (light) in you is not darkness; .36therefore if your whole body (is) light, not having some part dark, (the) whole will be light as whenever the lamp may lighten you with lightning."
A 'lamp' is used to make light so that things can be seen and is usually supplied with oil to burn from a limited container of oil. The 'eye' is the organ that receives light from outside of itself onto its light receptors, and this allows the rest of the body to be aware of the objects it sees within its field of vision. Normally a person has two eyes, but both eyes are supposed to function together looking in the same direction, etc, to give the body a more complete picture from the right and left sides.
Jesus says: "No-one, after he has touched a lamp (to make it light) puts into a hiding-place (places it inside of a hidden location being concealed from view by anyone else [some Greek texts include the words "neither under the bushel-container"]) - but on the contrary, he puts the lamp after he has made it light on the lamp-stand (which holds the lamp up above it so it can burn easily emitting light, thereby giving light to what is around it) for the purpose and result that the people who are journeying (passing) into the house would observe the light (look at the light, mentally envision and contemplate what they can see with their eyes because of the light coming from the lamp and thereby allowing them to see obstacles that are in their vicinity).
The lamp of the physical body is your eye...
Following-on logically, if your entire body is light (lightened), not having some part dark (without any portion of it being darkened), the truth is that your entire body will be light as whenever the lamp would lighten you with lightning (pour the light of lightning - which is the sudden speedy flash of shining bright light, the quick supplying of light - upon you, give that bright shining light on you and thereby make it available to/for you to partake of it, emanate it, and cause you to be seen with/by it)."
Jesus received the true light of/from God his Father, and he continued to receive God's information and to emanate it during the everyday living of his life. Other people could come towards Jesus and see his behavior and then they could walk in that light if they wanted to.
[Reference: Deuteronomy 15:9; Isaiah 5:20. There are similar records in Matthew 5:15, 6:22 and 23, Mark 4:21, and Luke 8:16.]
Verses 37-44:
.37But in the uttering-forth a Pharisee asks him so-that he may eat-a-meal with him, and having gone-into (his house) he fell-up. .38But the Pharisee having seen marveled because he was not firstly baptized before the meal. .39But the Lord said towards him, "Now you, the Pharisees, clean the-thing from-outside of the cup and of the platter, but the-thing from-inside of you is-full of catching and evilness. .40Thoughtless-people, the (One) having made the-thing from-outside also made the-thing from-inside, didn't He? - (yes.) .41Besides the-things being-in, you must give a merciful-deed, and look!, all clean-things are by you. .42But woe to you, the Pharisees, because you tithe mint and rue and every tilled-herb and you go-by the judgment and the love1 of God; but it used-to-be necessary to do these-things and those-things not to let-go-beside. .43Woe to you, the Pharisees, because you love1 the first-seat in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces. .44Woe to you because you are as the memorial-places, the unclear (memorial-places) and the men did not see2 walking on (them)."
During the time that Jesus was speaking a Pharisee asks him (with familiarity inquiring from him, requesting him to do something) - what? - in such a manner that Jesus would eat a meal at rest beside, at or with him, and after Jesus went into his house he fell-up (he set himself in the usual position for eating the meal).
But after the Pharisee saw (perceived that Jesus was ready to eat) he marveled (he was astonished and looked-on with wonder and amazement) because Jesus was not firstly baptized before (immersed in water to wash his hands ahead of, in front of, in advance of, prior to) eating the meal.
The Lord (Jesus) said towards him...
In verses 40 and 42 the Greek root verb poieo is translated as either "to do" or "to make" depending on the context in order to communicate the meaning in English of a specific phrase.
[Reference: Numbers 19:16; Mark 7:1-4.]
Verses 45-54:
.45But someone of the law-people having answered says to him, "Teacher, saying these-things also you are-hurtful-towards us." .46But the (one) said, "Also to the law-people - woe because you specifically-load men with hard-to-lift-up specific-loads and you yourselves do not touch one of your fingers towards the specific-loads. .47Woe to you because you build the memorial-places of the prophets but your fathers killed them, .48consequently you are witnesses and you consider-it-good-together with the works of your fathers because they indeed killed them but you build (the memorial-places for them). .49Because-of-this also the wisdom of God said, 'I will apostle prophets and apostles into them, and they will kill and persecute out-from them' .50in order that the blood of all the prophets, the (blood) having been poured-out2, may be sought-out from (the) throwing-down of (the) world from this generation, .51from (the) blood of Abel until (the) blood of Zacharias, the (blood) having destroyed-itself between the sacrificial-altar and the house. Yes, I say to you, it will be sought-out from this generation. .52Woe to you, the law-people, because you lifted the key of the knowledge - you yourselves did not go-into (the knowledge), and the people going-into (it) you hindered." .53And-from-there (after) his having gone-out the scribes and the Pharisees began to hold-in terribly and to mouth-against him concerning more-things, .54lying-in-ambush-against him to hunt something out-from his mouth.
A certain one of the law-people (skillful in the law of Moses) answered by saying to Jesus, "Teacher (instructor), saying these-things (in verses 39-44 above) in addition you are hurtful towards us (you are acting with hurt, wanton-violence, insolence and insult resulting in injury towards the law-people)."
But Jesus said...
After Jesus went out from the location of that Pharisee's house (refer to verse 37 above), the scribes (the word "scribes" refers to the writers, the students and copiers of the scrolls being knowledgeable of the laws from their own viewpoint) and the Pharisees started...
...lying in ambush against him (as sitting or lying waiting to attack Jesus) to hunt something out-from his mouth (as a chase in progress whereby he will be destroyed when caught by them, they were preparing the means of/for his ruin as a result of what he says in response to them).
[Reference: Genesis 4:8-10; Zechariah 1:1 and 7; Revelation 16:16, 18:24. There is a similar record in Matthew 23:29-36. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (2) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]
