Luke 9-12

1Then Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and power to cure diseases.

2And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

3“Take nothing for the journey,” He told them, “no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no second tunic.

4Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that area.

5If anyone does not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that town, as a testimony against them.”

6So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

7When Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, he was perplexed. For some were saying that John had risen from the dead,

8others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that a prophet of old had arisen.

9“I beheaded John,” Herod said, “but who is this man I hear such things about?” And he kept trying to see Jesus.

10Then the apostles returned and reported to Jesus all that they had done. Taking them away privately, He withdrew to a town called Bethsaida.

11But the crowds found out and followed Him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and He healed those who needed healing.

12As the day neared its end, the Twelve came to Jesus and said, “Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside for lodging and provisions. For we are in a desolate place here.”

13But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.”

14(There were about five thousand men.) He told His disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”

15They did so, and everyone was seated.

16Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples to set before the people.

17They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

18One day as Jesus was praying in private and the disciples were with Him, He questioned them: “Who do the crowds say I am?”

19They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that a prophet of old has arisen.”

20“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

21Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.

22“The Son of Man must suffer many things,” He said. “He must be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

23Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

25What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self?

26If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

27But I tell you truly, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

28About eight days after Jesus had said these things, He took with Him Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray.

29And as He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became radiantly white.

30Suddenly two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with Jesus.

31They appeared in glory and spoke about His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

32Meanwhile Peter and his companions were overcome by sleep, but when they awoke, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with Him.

33As Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters —one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

34While Peter was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.

35And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to Him!”

36After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was present with them. The disciples kept this to themselves, and in those days they did not tell anyone what they had seen.

37The next day, when they came down from the mountain, Jesus was met by a large crowd.

38Suddenly a man in the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only child.

39A spirit keeps seizing him, and he screams abruptly. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It keeps mauling him and rarely departs from him.

40I begged Your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable.”

41“O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

42Even while the boy was approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

43And they were all astonished at the greatness of God. While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus was doing, He said to His disciples,

44“Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.”

45But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

46Then an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.

47But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, had a little child stand beside Him.

48And He said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. For whoever is the least among all of you, he is the greatest.”

49“Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany us.”

50“Do not stop him,” Jesus replied, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

51As the day of His ascension approached, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

52He sent messengers on ahead, who went into a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him.

53But the people there refused to welcome Him, because He was heading for Jerusalem.

54When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”

55But Jesus turned and rebuked them.

56And He and His disciples went on to another village.

57As they were walking along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow You wherever You go.”

58Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

59Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

60But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

61Still another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family.”

62Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

1After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit.

2And He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.

3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

4Carry no purse or bag or sandals. Do not greet anyone along the road.

5Whatever house you enter, begin by saying, ‘Peace to this house.’

6If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.

7Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

8If you enter a town and they welcome you, eat whatever is set before you.

9Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’

10But if you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go into the streets and declare,

11‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off as a testimony against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’

12I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

13Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

14But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

15And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades!

16Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”

17The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”

18So He told them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

19Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.

20Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

21At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.

22All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”

23Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.

24For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

25One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26“What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?”

27He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

28“You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.”

29But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.

31Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side.

33But a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, and when he saw him, he had compassion.

34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense.’

36Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37“The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

38As they traveled along, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.

39She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His message.

40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!”

41“Martha, Martha,” the Lord replied, “you are worried and upset about many things.

42But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”

1One day in a place where Jesus had just finished praying, one of His disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

2So Jesus told them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.

3Give us each day our daily bread.

4And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

5Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you goes to his friend at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,

6because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’

7And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Do not bother me. My door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’

8I tell you, even though he will not get up to provide for him because of his friendship, yet because of the man’s persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

9So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

11What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?

12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

13So if you who 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!”

14One day Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. And when the demon was gone, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowds were amazed,

15but some of them said, “It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons.”

16And others tested Him by demanding a sign from heaven.

17Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and a house divided against a house will fall.

18If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? After all, you say that I drive out demons by Beelzebul.

19And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.

20But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

21When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure.

22But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted, and then he divides up his plunder.

23He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

24When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’

25On its return, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.

26Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first.”

27As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and blessed are the breasts that nursed You!”

28But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

29As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.

30For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.

31The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.

32The men of Nineveh will stand 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.

33No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.

34Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body is full of darkness.

35Be careful, then, that the light within you is not darkness.

36So if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, you will be radiant, as though a lamp were shining on you.”

37As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited Him to dine with him; so He went in and reclined at the table.

38But the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.

39Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

40You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well?

41But give as alms the things that are within you, and behold, everything will be clean for you.

42Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.

43Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.

44Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”

45One of the experts in the law told Him, “Teacher, when You say these things, You insult us as well.”

46“Woe to you as well, experts in the law!” He replied. “For you weigh men down with heavy burdens, but you yourselves will not lift a finger to lighten their load.

47Woe to you! For you build tombs for the prophets, but it was your fathers who killed them.

48So you are witnesses consenting to the deeds of your fathers: They killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.

49Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’

50As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world,

51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation.

52Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”

53As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things,

54waiting to catch Him in something He might say.

1In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

2There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.

3What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.

4I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.

5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!

6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.

7And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

8I tell you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God.

9But whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

10And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

11When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.

12For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.”

13Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

14But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?”

15And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

16Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance.

17So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’

18Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods.

19Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

20But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’

21This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”

22Then 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.

23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds!

25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

26So if you cannot do such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27Consider how the lilies grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.

28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith!

29And do not be concerned about what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it.

30For the Gentiles of the world strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

31But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added unto you.

32Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.

33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.

34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

35Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.

36Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.

37Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them.

38Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed.

39But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”

41“Lord,” said Peter, “are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”

42And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?

43Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.

44Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

45But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk.

46The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

47That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.

48But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.

49I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

50But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

51Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division.

52From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.

53They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

54Then Jesus said to the crowds, “As soon as you see a cloud rising in the west, you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and that is what happens.

55And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It will be hot,’ and it is.

56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky. Why don’t you know how to interpret the present time?

57And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?

58Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison.

59I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.”