Luke 11

The Lord Who Teaches Us to Pray

Lord — master; Luke's title for Jesus

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. Luke 11:1–2

After watching Jesus pray, a disciple asks the Lord to teach them. The Son teaches us to pray to the Father, just as He Himself did.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in Matthew 6:9-13 — the Lord's Prayer in the Sermon on the Mount
• a parallel account in 3 Nephi 13:9-13 — the risen Christ teaches the same prayer to the Nephites

The Finger of God

And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. Luke 11:14–20

Accused of working by Satan's power, Jesus says He casts out devils by the finger of God, the same phrase Pharaoh's magicians used of the plagues in Moses' day. His miracles prove the kingdom of God has arrived in Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Exodus 8:19 — the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God
• a parallel account in Matthew 12:28 — Matthew: if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God

The Stronger Man

When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: Luke 11:21–22

In this short parable Satan is the armed strong man guarding his captives, and Jesus is the Stronger One who overpowers him and frees what he held. Christ came to defeat the devil and set his prisoners free.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• fulfils Isaiah 49:24-25 — Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away... I will save thy children
• alludes to Isaiah 53:12 — he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death
• a parallel account in Mark 3:27 — no man can enter into a strong man's house... except he will first bind the strong man

Born of Mary

And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. Luke 11:27–28

A woman blesses the mother who bore Jesus, echoing Mary's own words that all generations would call her blessed. Jesus turns the blessing to all who hear and keep God's word.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Luke 1:42 — Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb
• fulfils Luke 1:48 — from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed

Sign of Jonas

And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. Luke 11:29–30

Jesus Himself declares that Jonah was a sign pointing to Him. As Jonah came up from the depths after three days and called Nineveh to repent, the Son of Man would rise after three days and call the world to repentance.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• typified by Jonah 1:17 — Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights
• a parallel account in Matthew 12:39-40 — so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth
• typified by Jonah 3:4-5 — Jonah's preaching and Nineveh's repentance

Greater than Solomon, Greater than Jonas

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. Luke 11:31–32

Jesus says that someone greater than wise King Solomon (David's royal son) and greater than the prophet Jonah is standing among them. He is the true Son of David and the Prophet of prophets.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to 1 Kings 10:1 — the queen of Sheba came to prove Solomon with hard questions
• alludes to Jonah 3:5 — the people of Nineveh believed God
• a parallel account in Matthew 12:41-42 — Matthew's account of the same saying

Light Within

No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light. Luke 11:33–36

Jesus teaches about filling our whole selves with light. Latter-day revelation connects this to the light that comes from Christ, promising that an eye single to His glory fills the body with light.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alluded to by D&C 88:67 — if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light
• the same title in John 8:12 — I am the light of the world

The Lord

Lord — master; Luke's title for Jesus

And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Luke 11:39–40

Luke calls Jesus 'the Lord' as He rebukes outward-only religion. He, the Maker of both body and spirit, cares about the inside of a person.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in Matthew 23:25-26 — cleanse first that which is within the cup
• alludes to 1 Samuel 16:7 — the LORD looketh on the heart

The Wisdom of God

Wisdom of God — God's wisdom personified; applied to Christ

Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: Luke 11:49–51

Jesus speaks as 'the wisdom of God' who sends prophets and apostles; in Matthew's account He says directly, 'I send unto you prophets.' It was Jehovah, the premortal Christ, who sent the prophets to Israel, and the same Lord now sends apostles.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in Matthew 23:34 — Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes
• the same title in 1 Corinthians 1:24 — Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God
• alludes to Genesis 4:10 — the voice of Abel's blood crieth unto me from the ground