Luke 11

“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy…” Naming Thy and Father keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Give us day by day our daily bread.” Naming Give keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will…” Naming Though keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“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…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.” Naming Beelzebub keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.” The line’s distinctive content terms include heaven, others, sign. Its relationship to verses 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a…” Naming Every keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:” The line’s distinctive content terms include armed, goods, keepeth. Its relationship to verses 20 and 22 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.” The line’s distinctive content terms include gathereth, scattereth. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith…” The line’s distinctive content terms include finding, gone, house. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.” The line’s distinctive content terms include cometh, findeth, garnished. Its relationship to verses 26 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and…” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” Naming Yea keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bushel, candle, candlestick. Its relationship to verses 34 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when…” The line’s distinctive content terms include body, full, light. Its relationship to verses 33 and 35 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.” Naming Take keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.” Naming Pharisee keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.” Naming Pharisee keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward…” Naming Pharisees keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.” The line’s distinctive content terms include alms, clean. Its relationship to verses 42 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of…” Naming Pharisees keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.” Naming Pharisees and Woe keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over…” Naming Pharisees and Woe keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.” Naming Woe keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their…” Naming Truly keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this…” The line’s distinctive content terms include blood, foundation, generation. Its relationship to verses 49 and 51 shows what work it does in this passage.

“From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were…” Naming Woe keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him…” Naming Pharisees keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.” Naming Laying keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.