Focused Passage

Luke 11:45-54

Prayer, Kingdom Conflict, True Hearing, and the Exposure of Hypocrisy

Luke moves from Jesus teaching prayer to the Father’s generosity, from exorcism to kingdom conflict, from sign-seeking to the sign of Jonah, from biological blessing to obedient hearing, and from outward religious appearance to inward corruption exposed by Jesus’ woes.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

45 One 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.

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

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

49 Because 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.’

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

51 from 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.

52 Woe 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.”

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

54 waiting to catch Him in something He might say.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 45

Original words

- δέ G1161 Conjunction One τις G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular of the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural experts in the law νομικῶν G3544 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural vvv Ἀποκριθεὶς G611 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular told λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Teacher Διδάσκαλε G1320 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular when You say λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular these things ταῦτα G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural You insult ὑβρίζεις G5195 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular us ἡμᾶς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Plural as well καὶ G2532 Conjunction
Verse 46

Original words

Woe οὐαί G3759 Interjection to you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural as well Καὶ G2532 Conjunction experts in the law νομικοῖς G3544 Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural - δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular He replied εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular For ὅτι G3754 Conjunction you weigh men down φορτίζετε G5412 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural . . . τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural . . . ἀνθρώπους G444 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural [with] heavy burdens φορτία G5413 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural . . . δυσβάστακτα G1419 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural but καὶ G2532 Conjunction you yourselves αὐτοὶ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb will not lift προσψαύετε G4379 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural a ἑνὶ G1520 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular . . . ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural . . . τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural finger {to lighten} δακτύλων G1147 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural [their] τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Plural load φορτίοις G5413 Noun - Dative Neuter Plural
Verse 47

Original words

Woe οὐαὶ G3759 Interjection to you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural For ὅτι G3754 Conjunction you build οἰκοδομεῖτε G3618 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural tombs μνημεῖα G3419 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural for the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural prophets προφητῶν G4396 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural but δὲ G1161 Conjunction [it was] your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural fathers πατέρες G3962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural [who] killed ἀπέκτειναν G615 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural them αὐτούς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Verse 48

Original words

So ἄρα G686 Conjunction you are ἐστε G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural witnesses μάρτυρές G3144 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction consenting συνευδοκεῖτε G4909 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural to the τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Plural deeds ἔργοις G2041 Noun - Dative Neuter Plural of τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural fathers πατέρων G3962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction They αὐτοὶ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural - μὲν G3303 Conjunction killed ἀπέκτειναν G615 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural [the prophets] αὐτοὺς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural and δὲ G1161 Conjunction you ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural build [their tombs] οἰκοδομεῖτε G3618 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Verse 49

Original words

Because of this διὰ G1223 Preposition . . . τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular wisdom σοφία G4678 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular I will send Ἀποστελῶ G649 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular - εἰς G1519 Preposition them αὐτοὺς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural prophets προφήτας G4396 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction apostles ἀποστόλους G652 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction [some] of ἐξ G1537 Preposition them αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural they will kill ἀποκτενοῦσιν G615 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural and [others] καὶ G2532 Conjunction they will persecute διώξουσιν G1377 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Verse 50

Original words

As a result ἵνα G2443 Conjunction this ταύτης G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Feminine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular generation γενεᾶς G1074 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular will be charged ἐκζητηθῇ G1567 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular with ἀπὸ G575 Preposition the τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular blood αἷμα G129 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular of all πάντων G3956 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural prophets προφητῶν G4396 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural that τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular has been shed ἐκκεχυμένον G1632 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Singular since ἀπὸ G575 Preposition [the] foundation καταβολῆς G2602 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular of [the] world κόσμου G2889 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 51

Original words

from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition the blood αἵματος G129 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular of Abel Ἅβελ G6 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular to ἕως G2193 Preposition the blood αἵματος G129 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular of Zechariah Ζαχαρίου G2197 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular who τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular was killed ἀπολομένου G622 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Genitive Masculine Singular between μεταξὺ G3342 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular altar θυσιαστηρίου G2379 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular sanctuary οἴκου G3624 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Yes ναί G3483 Particle I tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural [ all of ] it will be charged ἐκζητηθήσεται G1567 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular to ἀπὸ G575 Preposition this ταύτης G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Feminine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular generation γενεᾶς G1074 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular

BSB notes

  • Literally the house
Verse 52

Original words

Woe Οὐαὶ G3759 Interjection to you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural experts in the law νομικοῖς G3544 Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural For ὅτι G3754 Conjunction you have taken away ἤρατε G142 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular key κλεῖδα G2807 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular to τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular knowledge γνώσεως G1108 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular You yourselves αὐτοὶ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb have not entered εἰσήλθατε G1525 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction you have hindered ἐκωλύσατε G2967 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural those who τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural were entering εἰσερχομένους G1525 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural
Verse 53

Original words

As [Jesus] αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular went on ἐξελθόντος G1831 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular from there Κἀκεῖθεν G2547 Conjunction the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural scribes γραμματεῖς G1122 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural Pharisees Φαρισαῖοι G5330 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural began ἤρξαντο G756 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural vvv δεινῶς G1171 Adverb to oppose [Him] bitterly ἐνέχειν G1758 Verb - Present Infinitive Active and καὶ G2532 Conjunction to ply Him with questions ἀποστοματίζειν G653 Verb - Present Infinitive Active . . . αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular about περὶ G4012 Preposition many things πλειόνων G4119 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural - Comparative
Verse 54

Original words

waiting ἐνεδρεύοντες G1748 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural to catch θηρεῦσαί G2340 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active Him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular in something τι G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular He might say ἐκ G1537 Preposition . . . αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular . . . τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular . . . στόματος G4750 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.