Gospel of Luke Study – Chapter 11

Vicar Peter M. Horn, Seminary Intern

At the end of chapter 10, we are left with an ambiguous comment from Jesus to Martha. He says, “there is need of only one thing.” We are left wondering what this one thing is...is it listening or serving by being attentive or thinking of others or welcoming or hospitality? The story tells us of hospitality and how to welcome in the stranger but next we will see that prayer could also be added to this list.

1-4 – The Lord’s Prayer
Jesus is a person of prayer. He seems to always be doing it. On this occasion, we have Jesus prayer in a certain place. This could have been a location where Jesus went frequently to prayer and to collect himself for the deeds he did. We see this habit of praying coming through of Jesus wanting to have time for him to talk with God and to recuperate. The disciples in this scene are attentive. They are shown as learners who often asked for aid and direction from their Lord. The prayer that Jesus gives them is a distinct one from Jesus to the followers and for the followers.

The term “Father” in reference to God was rarely used in this period. For Luke, Father is linked back to 10:22 where we see that “no one knows…who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” In this prayer, Jesus is showing us the Father and how to praise the Father. This is followed by how we respect this name. Father is not just another title for God but communicates the true essence of God, just as our names communicate who we are. We honor God’s name above all.

The prayer continues with declaring “Your kingdom come.” We join Simeon and Ann from earlier in Luke in their praises and waiting for the divine coming of the Messiah. We also know, at the same time, that Jesus is actively bringing the kingdom through our lives in service, conversation, and fellowship. God’s new order is being established by God through our lives and the community of believers.

The focus then turns to us. The disciples of the time relied heavily on God for the daily food. What would that feel like for us? Forgiving sins is linked with a condition of reminding us to forgive others while our sins are forgiven (as God always forgives sins). This points us back to the year of jubilee when all wealth would be returned to balance. God desires that balance in our lives and with one another. Lastly, we hear about testing. We are asking God to be excused from further testing and to see our own need for divine care.

5-13 – Perseverance in Prayer
In this section, Jesus does not put an end to the question by the disciples. Instead, Jesus talks about how our prayers move out of just talking and into action, as we are Christ to the world. Praying is not just the words we used but also the perseverance we display after the ritual of closing our eyes and folding our hands.

“Can you imagine…?” Jesus continues his instruction on prayer with a parable that begins with a statement with an obvious answer. Of course, my friend will help me out in my time of need in showing hospitality!

Jesus now transfers the story back into the present day. Of course, we help one another. If one is in need then we are to show hospitality and be shown hospitality. Jesus breaks it down even further with the conversation about the child. Would you hurt and innocent child by not giving them what they asked for? God’s Fatherly goodness exceeds that of human fathers as God gives us what we need always and without question. God gives us the Holy Spirit; there is no greater gift!

JESUS’ BEHAVIOR QUESTIONED (11:14-54)
14-23 – Jesus and Beelzebul
For the first time in our timeline, Jesus’ crowds are bringing skepticism. All previous times before this casting out of demons, the people left in amazement…now they are questioning the source of his power. Jesus will take each point from the crowd in turn.

Jesus counters their grievance that his work is that of Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons. Saying this would imply that Jesus is an agent of Satan and could have been a way to bring some social control over Jesus and his ministry. Jesus refocuses the argument from just on Beelzebul and places it on the struggle between the dominion of God and the dominion of Satan. Jesus continues in this section to disprove each point, saying that Satan’s house divided cannot stand. This is paraphrased in the Gettysburg Address.

Jesus deals another blow to the crowd in verse 19. Why are you questioning me when others are casting out demons and have been casting out demons for years? Jesus points to the power of other exorcists coming from God and not from Satan.

We hear about “the finger of God.” This denotes the active power of God working in the world, in this case, through Jesus. This is also seen in Exodus (8:19), where God is said to be working behind the plagues against the Egyptians. This shows us the advancing of the kingdom spoken about in the Lord’s Prayer.

The last verses show us another slap at the Roman Empire. Rome’s power came from being stronger than everyone else. So what would happen if a yet stronger force came in…say the kingdom of God and the reign of God? Jesus is stronger still than any other human because he has the power of God and uses it to bring about the kingdom.


(23) 24-26 – The Return of the Unclean Spirit
Jesus continues his discussion of the kingdom and the domain of God. We are shown that Jesus’ ministry is the focus point of the salvation project of God and Satan’s conflict. Jesus is the center of how we are to choose sides for this conflict.

We find out a large amount about unclean spirits in these verses. First, they can dwell without a host. Second, they live in the desert areas (waterless regions). Third, they prefer to live in humans and have a sense of what used to be. Lastly, more than one can dwell in a human. This is hard to reconcile as the gospel for us. When the spirit returns to the “house,” it finds the place clean and in order. Our lives are changed with the in bringing of Jesus and the kingdom of God whereas the evil spirits lead to destruction. This shows us the importance of the ministry of Jesus in our lives and responding in faithfulness.

27-28 – The Blessedness of Obedience
Luke continues his attack on the Israelite definition of status. The woman blesses the way Jesus was raised and the person who bore him. Jesus corrects her and speaks of obedience. The woman is specific but Jesus has the big picture in order. Again, we are told to hear and obey; to live lives of faith following the command of Jesus. Doesn’t this sound like all of the faithful people we have heard of in our study of Luke? Elizabeth, Simeon, Anna, Joseph, John, and even Mary are all who have heard and obeyed. Yes, Mary is blessed…just as we are blessed.

29-32 – The Sign of Jonah
This section is in reference to verse 16 when people were asking Jesus for a sign from heaven. This was all done in the guise of testing. Other places where signs are asked for or testing of God is done is by Zechariah in 1:18 and by the devil in 4:1-13. By casting out demons, wouldn’t we have our sign already? Jesus takes this questioning very seriously, just as God did with Zechariah by striking him blind.

Jesus relates this request for a sign to the “sign of Jonah.” Jonah came to urge the people of Nineveh to repent before judgment came, just as Jesus now does. Jesus is also our rescue from condemnation just as Jonah with his divine rescue from the whale.

Both the queen of the South (Sheba) and the people of Nineveh were blessed with the message of repentance and obedience to the will of God for them. The Queen of Sheba tested Solomon and found him worthy of being an ally and follower of the way of God. The people of Nineveh also turned from their ways and followed the call of Jonah. God’s favor was extended to both of the parties and so will their partaking in the resurrection and the judgment. For they have turned to God just as those who hear and obey do!


33-36 – The Light of the Body
“Your eye is the lamp of your body.” This was a Greco-Roman way of addressing the eyes. Sight was gained not by the eye gathering light to see but the eye giving the light of the body. If our eyes are healthy then this is proof of inner light. If our eyes are unhealthy then this is proof of inner darkness. Inner light is those things that are contagious to others, such as kindness and sincerity. Inner darkness is those things that are contagious to us, such as selfishness, greed, and upheaval.

Light and darkness is present throughout the gospel of Luke. This starts with the song of Zechariah, “…to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death…” The power of darkness is seen as Satan’s power, whereas the power of God is the power of light. Again, we see the struggle between God and Satan over the people of God headed for the ultimate salvation in Jesus.

37-54 – Jesus Responds to the Pharisees and Teachers
Eating a meal with Jesus is dangerous. This is the second meal in Luke where you could say Jesus insults the host and those gathered. First, in chapter 7, was the forgiving of a woman and the discussion of how a large debt when forgiven is greater than a small debt forgiven. Jesus again crosses the social boundary of eating a meal at the house of a Pharisee. Jesus is the one who provokes the conversation…he does not wash before supper! Having just heard the discussion on the light of the body and where that light comes from, Jesus continues it by urging these people to be clean and to let light enter into their bodies and lives.

Jesus sees the piety of the Pharisees as a hindrance to the mission he is preaching, the search for justice and the love of God. This line about “neglecting the others” points us back to the Parable of the Compassionate Samaritan. Just as the Samaritan showed mercy and compassion, go and do likewise. Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for being wrapped up in their Old Testament laws and being faithful to the law for their own benefit. Public recognition and honor is not our goal but instead to further the love God has for us to others by shining the light God has given us on others.

All of these woes point towards what the Pharisees and experts of the law are doing in their lives to prevent them from being good and faithful followers of Jesus. Their orientation towards God given to them through the Old Testament scriptures is now being turned over by Jesus and his will for our lives. Jesus is going against the grain of their authority; it is a small wonder they begin to actively try to catch Jesus for something they can warrant getting rid of him by. The Pharisees now move from just watching Jesus to the beginning of the plot to kill him.