Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer
1One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
2He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“ ‘Father,11:2 Some manuscripts Our Father in heaven
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.11:2 Some manuscripts come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
3Give us each day our daily bread.
4Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.11:4 Greek everyone who is indebted to us
And lead us not into temptation.11:4 Some manuscripts temptation, but deliver us from the evil one’ ”
5Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity11:8 Or yet to preserve his good name he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
9“So I say to 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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for11:11 Some manuscripts for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you 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!”
Jesus and Beelzebul
14Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” 16Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.
17Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers 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.
21“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.
23“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
24“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ 25When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.”
27As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”
28He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
The Sign of Jonah
29As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. 32The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.
The Lamp of the Body
33“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 34Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,11:34 The Greek for healthy here implies generous. your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,11:34 The Greek for unhealthy here implies stingy. your body also is full of darkness. 35See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”
Woes on the Pharisees and the Experts in the Law
37When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.
39Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.
42“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.
43“Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.
44“Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”
45One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”
46Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
47“Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. 48So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. 49Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ 50Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning 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, this generation will be held responsible for it all.
52“Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”
53When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, 54waiting to catch him in something he might say.
Yesu Kyerɛ Mpaebɔ
1Da bi, na Yesu rebɔ mpae wɔ baabi. Owiei no, nʼasuafo no mu baako ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Awurade, kyerɛ yɛn mpaebɔ sɛnea Yohane kyerɛɛ nʼasuafo mpaebɔ no.”
2Ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Sɛ morebɔ mpae a, monka se,
“‘Agya,
wo din ho ntew,
wʼahenni mmra.
3Ma yɛn yɛn ano aduan daa.
4Fa yɛn bɔne kyɛ yɛn
sɛnea yɛn nso, yɛde wɔn a wɔfom yɛn no bɔne kyɛ wɔn no.
Na nnyaa yɛn mma yɛnnkɔ sɔhwɛ mu.’”
5Yesu bisaa wɔn se, “Mo mu hena na ɔbɛkɔ ne yɔnko hɔ ɔdasu mu akɔka akyerɛ no se, ‘Me nua, fɛm me aduan kakra, 6efisɛ ɔhɔho bi abefu me mu, na minni aduan biara a mede bɛma no,’ 7na ɔbɛma no mmuae afi ne dan mu se, ‘Nhaw me! Mato me pon mu ne me mma ada. Merentumi nsɔre mma wo biribiara.’ 8Mereka akyerɛ mo se, na ade asa no nti, ɔyɛ ne yɔnko koraa mpo a ɔrensɔre. Nanso esiane sɛ ɔkɔɔ so srɛɛ no no nti ɛbɛma wasɔre ama no nea ehia no no nyinaa.
9“Ɛno nti mereka akyerɛ mo se; Mummisa, na wɔbɛma mo; monhwehwɛ na mubehu; mompem na wobebue mo. 10Na obiara a obisa no, wɔma no; na obiara a ɔhwehwɛ no, ohu; na nea ɔpem no, wobue no.
11“Agya bɛn na ɔwɔ mo mu na ne ba bisa no brodo a ɔbɛma no ɔbo, 12anaasɛ obisa no apataa a ɔbɛma no ɔwɔ, anaasɛ obisa nkesua a ɔbɛma no akekantwɛre? 13Na sɛ mo a moyɛ nnebɔneyɛfo mpo nim sɛnea moma mo mma nnepa a, ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mo Agya a ɔwɔ ɔsoro no remfa Honhom Kronkron no mma wɔn a wobisa no no?”
Yesu Ne Beelsebul
14Bere bi Yesu tuu honhommɔne bi a ɛyɛ mum fii onipa bi mu. Honhommɔne no tu fii ne mu no, ɔkasa ma ɛyɛɛ nnipa a na wɔwɔ hɔ no nyinaa ahodwiriw. 15Nanso ebinom kae se, “Ɔnam ahonhommɔne panyin Beelsebul tumi so na etu ahonhommɔne.” 16Afoforo nso pɛe sɛ wɔsɔ no hwɛ nti, wɔka kyerɛɛ no se, ɔnyɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne bi a efi ɔsoro nkyerɛ wɔn.
17Nanso ohuu wɔn adwene maa wɔn mmuae se, “Kurow biara a emu akyekyɛ no dan amamfo. Saa ara nso na ofi biara a emu kyekyɛ no gu. 18Na sɛ ɔbonsam nso ko tia ne ho a, ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na nʼahenni begyina? Nea enti a mereka saa asɛm yi ne sɛ, muse menam Beelsebul tumi so na mitu ahonhommɔne. 19Na sɛ menam Beelsebul tumi so na mitu ahonhommɔne a, hena so na mo nkurɔfo nam tu ahonhommɔne? Saa na ɛte de a, mo nkurɔfo no ara na wobebu mo atɛn. 20Nanso sɛ menam Onyankopɔn tumi so na mitu honhommɔne de a, na ɛkyerɛ sɛ Onyankopɔn ahenni no aba mo so.
21“Sɛ ɔhoɔdenfo de akode wɛn ne fi a, obiara rentumi nkowia nʼagyapade; 22nanso sɛ nea ne ho yɛ den na ɔwɔ akode pa sen no kɔ ne so a, odi ne so nkonim, gye nʼakode a ɔde ne ho too so no, sesaw nʼagyapade no nyinaa kɔ.
23“Obiara a onni mʼafa no tia me, na nea ɔne me mmoaboa ano no, hwete mu.
24“Sɛ wotu honhommɔne fi onipa bi mu a, ekyinkyin hwehwɛ homebea, nanso ennya bi. Na sɛ wannya homebea a ɔka se, ‘Mɛsan akɔ onipa a mifii ne mu bae no mu bio.’ 25Na sɛ ɔsan kɔ onipa no mu a, obehu sɛ ɛhɔ tew a efi biara nni mu na biribiara yɛ pɛpɛɛpɛ. 26Afei, ɔsan nʼakyi kɔfa ahonhommɔne afoforo ason a wɔyɛ den kyɛn no ba ma wɔn nyinaa bɛtena hɔ. Eyi ma onipa no sɛe koraa sen sɛnea anka na ɔte kan no.”
Ade A Ɛho Hia
27Yesu gu so rekasa no, ɔbea bi fi nnipadɔm no mu kae se, “Nhyira nka ɔyafunu a ɛwoo wo ne nufu a wunum ano no!”
28Yesu ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Ɛwɔ mu de, nanso nhyira ne wɔn a wɔte Onyankopɔn asɛm na wodi so.”
Yudafo Bisa Nsɛnkyerɛnne
29Nnipa no kyeree Yesu so no, ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Nnɛ mma yi yɛ nnebɔneyɛfo. Wɔhwehwɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne bi ahu nanso wɔrenhu nsɛnkyerɛnne biara sɛ Yona nsɛnkyerɛnne no. 30Na sɛnea Yona si yɛɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne maa Ninewefo no, saa ara na Kristo nso bɛyɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne ama nnɛ mma yi. 31Atemmuda no, Sebahemmea ne nnɛmma bɛsɔre ayi ɔman yi atɛn efisɛ ofi asase ano nohɔ betiee Salomo nyansa nsɛm. Nanso nea ɔsen Salomo no wɔ ha. 32Atemmuda no Ninewe mmarima ne nnɛmma bɛsɔre ayi ɔman yi atɛn, efisɛ bere a Yona kaa asɛmpa no, wɔsakraa wɔn adwene. Nanso nea ɔsen Yona wɔ ha.
Onipadua No Kanea
33“Obiara nsɔ kanea mfa nsie, na mmom ɔde si petee mu na ahyerɛn ama wɔn a wɔba mu no nyinaa. 34Wʼani yɛ wo nipadua kanea. Ɛno nti sɛ wʼani ye a na wo nipadua nso yɛ hann. Nanso sɛ enye a, ɛma wo nipadua no dan sum tumm. 35Enti hwɛ yiye na hann a ɛwɔ wo mu no annan sum. 36Sɛ wo nipadua yɛ hann a sum nni fa baabiara a, onipadua no bɛhyerɛn sɛnea kanea hyerɛn gu wo so no.”
Farisini Bi Fi Adidi
37Yesu kasa wiee no, Farisini bi hyiaa no adidi enti ɔkɔe se ɔne no rekodidi. 38Farisini no huu sɛ Yesu anhohoro ne nsa ansa sɛnea wɔn amanne kyerɛ ansa na ɔredidi no, ɛyɛɛ no nwonwa.
39Yesu huu Farisini no adwene ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Mo Farisifo de, mohohoro nkuku nsanka ne mprɛte ho, nanso fi, anibere ne nnebɔne ahyɛ mo ma tɔ! 40Adwenharefo! Ɛnyɛ nea ɔyɛɛ akyi no ara na ɔyɛɛ mu nso? 41Monyɛ ahiafo adɔe na biribiara ho bɛtew ama mo.
42“Mo Farisifo, munnue! Moma mo nnɔbae so ntotoso du du, nanso mototo adetreneeyɛ ne ɔdɔ a mode dɔ Onyankopɔn no ase. Sɛ mokɔ hyiadan mu a, mpanyin tenabea na mopɛ. Saa ara nso na sɛ mokɔ bagua mu a mopɛ sɛ nnipa hu mo kyia mo.
43“Mo Farisifo, munnue! Sɛ mokɔ hyiadan mu a, mpanyin tenabea na mopɛ.
44“Munnue! Efisɛ mote sɛ nna a ɛso asram na nnipa nantew so a wonnim sɛ wɔnam nna so.”
45Mmaranimfo no mu baako ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Kyerɛkyerɛfo, sɛ woka saa a na woakasa atia yɛn nso.”
46Yesu buaa no se, “Mo mmaranimfo nso munnue! Mohyɛ nnipa ma wodi mmara a ɛyɛ den so pɛpɛɛpɛ, nanso mo de, munni so sɛ sɛnea ɛsɛ.
47“Munnue! Efisɛ, moatoto adiyifo a mo ankasa anaa mo agyanom kum wɔn no nna so. 48Mo nneyɛe yi di adanse sɛ mopene nea mo agyanom yɛe no so. Ne nkyerɛase ne sɛ mo agyanom kunkum adiyifo no na mo nso mototoo wɔn nna so maa wɔn. 49Eyi ne nea Onyankopɔn aka afa mo ho: ‘Mɛsoma adiyifo ne asomafo aba mo nkyɛn na mubekunkum bi na moataa wɔn a aka no.’ 50Mereka akyerɛ mo se, adiyifo no mogya a wɔka gu fii wiase mfiase no, 51efi Habel kum so kosi Sakaria, a wokum no wɔ afɔremuka ne kronkronbea ntam hɔ no so, wobebisa ɛho asɛm afi mo nkyɛn.
52“Mo, mmaranimfo, munnue! Mode nokware hintaw mo nkurɔfo. Mo ankasa munni so, na mommma wɔn a wɔpɛ sɛ wodi so no kwan mma wonni so.”
53Ofi Farisini no fi hɔ a ɔrekɔ no, mmaranimfo ne Farisifo no dii nʼakyi de nsɛmmisa guan ne ho, 54pɛɛ sɛ ɔka biribi a wobegyina so anya no akyere no.
