Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

As Jesus was praying in a certain place, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples." When you pray, say, "Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy; your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, just as we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

Jesus then told a parable about a friend who comes to his neighbor at midnight asking for three loaves of bread because another has come from a journey and he has nothing. The neighbor refuses, saying the door is shut and his children are in bed, but the persistence of the friend eventually wins him over.

"This teaches you," Jesus said. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." He emphasized that if a son asks his father for bread, would he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, would he give him a serpent instead?

Jesus also said that if you, who are evil, 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. He was then casting out a demon from a man who had been made mute, and when it left, the man began to speak.

Some of the people were amazed by this, but others accused Jesus of casting out demons through Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons. They asked for a sign from heaven, but Jesus responded that if Satan was divided against himself, his kingdom would not stand. If he cast out demons by Beelzebub, then why do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges.

But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Jesus also told a parable about a strong man who guards his own domain but is overpowered by someone even stronger, who takes away his armor and divides up all his plunder. He said that he who is not with him is against him, and he who does not gather with him scatters.

When an unclean spirit leaves a person, it wanders through desolate regions seeking rest but finds none. It returns to its house, only to find it swept and garnished, so it goes out and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, which enter in and dwell there; the last state of that man is worse than the first.

A woman from the crowd stood up and said to Jesus, "Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts that nursed you." But he replied, "Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it."

As the crowds gathered around him, Jesus began to say, "This generation is evil; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah was a sign to the people of Nineveh, so too will the Son of Man be a sign to this generation." He also said that the queen of the south would rise up in judgment with this generation and condemn them, for she came from the farthest reaches of the earth to hear Solomon's wisdom.

The men of Nineveh shall rise up in judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at Jonah's preaching; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here. Jesus then said that no one puts a lamp under a basket or under a bed but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. He also taught that the light of your body is your eye: if it is clear and focused, your entire being is full of light, but when it is clouded by evil, your life is filled with darkness.

Jesus warned them to take heed that the light within you is not extinguished by darkness. If your entire being is filled with light, with no part of you in darkness, then it will be completely filled with light, just as a lamp shines brightly to illuminate you.

As Jesus spoke, a certain Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and Jesus went in and sat down at table. The Pharisee was astonished that Jesus had not first washed before dinner, so the Lord said to him, "You Pharisees carefully clean the outside of cups and platters, but your inner selves are filled with greed and wickedness."

"You fools," he said, "didn't he who made the outside also make what is within? But rather give alms of such things as you have; behold, all things are clean unto you." Jesus then condemned the Pharisees for tithing mint and rue and every herb but neglecting justice and the love of God. He also rebuked them for loving the most prominent seats in the synagogues and receiving greetings in the marketplaces.

Jesus warned that woe to those who tithe but neglect justice, and woe to those who love praise from people rather than from God. He called them unmarked graves that people walk over without realizing it. One of the lawyers responded by saying that Jesus was also reproaching them, and Jesus replied with a series of woes against the lawyers for burdening people with heavy loads that are hard to carry.

He told them they build tombs for the prophets whom their ancestors killed and bear witness that they allow the deeds of their fathers. The wisdom of God said it would send prophets and apostles, but some of them they shall kill and persecute, so Jesus warned that the blood of all the prophets will be required of this generation.

Finally, Jesus accused the lawyers of taking away the key of knowledge, entering not in themselves, and hindering those who were trying to enter. As he spoke these things to them, the scribes and Pharisees began to press him urgently, provoking him to speak about many things. They lay in wait to catch something he would say so they could accuse him.