Study Desk

He was praying^(a) in a certain place, and when He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples."^(b)

He said to them, "Whenever you pray, say: ^(c) Father, ^[a](d) Your name^(e) be honored as holy. ^(f) Your kingdom come. ^[b](g)

Give us each day our daily bread. ^[c](h)

And forgive us our sins, ⁽ⁱ⁾ for we ourselves also forgive everyone in debt to us. ^[d](j) And do not bring us into temptation." ^[e](k)

He also said to them: "Suppose one of you^[f] has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,

because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don't have anything to offer him.'^[g]

Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don't bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can't get up to give you anything.'

I tell you, even though he won't get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend's persistence,^[h] he will get up and give him as much as he needs. ^(l)

"So^(m) I say to you, keep asking, ^[i](n) and it will be given to you. Keep searching, ^[j](o) and you will find. Keep knocking, ^[k](p) and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

What father among you, if his son^[l] asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish?

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

If you then, who are evil,^(q) know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father^(r) give^[m] the Holy Spirit^(s) to those who ask Him?"

Now^(t) He was driving out a demon^(u) that was mute.^[n](v) When the demon came out, the man who had been mute, spoke, and the crowds were amazed.

But some of them said, "He drives out demons by Beelzebul,^(w) the ruler^(x) of the demons!"^(y)

And others, as a test,^(z) were demanding of Him a sign^(aa) from heaven.

Knowing their thoughts,^(ab) He told them: "Every kingdom divided^(ac) against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls.

If Satan^(ad) also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom^(ae) stand? For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul.

And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, who is it your sons ^[o](af) drive them out by? For this reason they will be your judges.

If I drive out demons by the finger of God,^(ag) then the kingdom of God^(ah) has come to you.

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure.^[p]

But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers^(ai) him, he takes from him all his weapons ^[q](aj) he trusted^(ak) in, and divides up his plunder.^(al)

Anyone who is not with Me is against Me,^(am) and anyone who does not gather with Me scatters.

"When^(an) an unclean spirit^(ao) comes out of a man, it roams through waterless places looking for rest,^(ap) and not finding rest, it then^[r] says, ‘I'll go back to my house where I came from.'

And returning, it finds the house swept and put in order.

Then it goes and brings seven other spirits^(aq) more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that man's last condition is worse than the first." ^(ar)

As He was saying these things, a woman from the crowd^(as) raised her voice and said to Him, "The womb that bore You and the one who nursed You^(at) are blessed!"

He said, "Even more, those who hear the word of God^(au) and keep it^(av) are blessed!"