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.
And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
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 cannot rise and give thee.
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
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.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
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 fish give him a serpent?
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
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.
But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.
But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
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.
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
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.
For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.
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.
The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
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.
The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.
And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.
And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.
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.
Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.
Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.
And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.
Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:
Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.
Luke 11, nestled within Jesus' "Travelogue to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51–19:27), presents a powerful combination of teachings and confrontations. It highlights the blessings of following Jesus (Luke 9:51–11:13) and the consequences of rejecting Him (Luke 11:14–54). This chapter reveals essential truths about prayer, the nature of spiritual power, and the importance of aligning ourselves with God's Kingdom. Let's delve into its rich content.
The Lord's Prayer: A Model for Dependence (Luke 11:1-4)
The chapter opens with the disciples' request: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1). They had witnessed Jesus's intimate prayer life and desired a similar connection with the Father (Luke 3:21-22; 5:16; 6:12; 10:21-22). Jesus responds with what we often call the Lord's Prayer, a model of how to approach God.
- "Father, your name be honored as holy" (Luke 11:2): Prayer begins with recognizing God's holiness, His separateness and transcendence. We address Him as "Father," acknowledging His perfect love, unlike any imperfect earthly father. God's holiness is the attribute that unites all His other attributes, His love, justice and mercy are all holy. We are to honor His name, His character and reputation, recognizing Him as worthy of all worship and obedience.
- "Your kingdom come" (Luke 11:2): This is a call to align our lives with God's program. As citizens of His Kingdom, we should prioritize His will and seek its manifestation in every aspect of our lives. No area of life is outside of God's rule. Our allegiance to His Kingdom should be total.
- "Give us each day our daily bread" (Luke 11:3): This acknowledges our dependence on God for our daily needs. Even as we pursue Kingdom business, we trust God to provide (Philippians 4:19), and we ask Him to do so daily, fostering a constant reliance on Him. We depend on His provision to accomplish His program.
- "Forgive us our sins, as we also forgive everyone who sins against us" (Luke 11:4): Forgiveness is crucial for maintaining fellowship with God. We must address the sins the Holy Spirit reveals in our lives, dealing with today's sins today (1 John 1:9). Moreover, we are called to extend forgiveness to others, mirroring God's forgiveness towards us (Ephesians 4:32). Forgiveness is the cancellation of a debt.
- "And do not bring us into temptation" (Luke 11:4): This is a plea for God's protection from overwhelming trials and temptations. Every Christian will face trials. We need God's help to resist temptation, honor Him, and grow spiritually.
Persistence in Prayer: The Parable of the Persistent Neighbor (Luke 11:5-8)
Jesus illustrates the importance of persistence in prayer with the parable of the persistent neighbor. Even though it was late and inconvenient, the neighbor eventually granted his friend's request because of his "shameless audacity" (Luke 11:8). This emphasizes that bold and persistent prayer, rooted in a relationship with God, leads to answered prayers.
Ask, Seek, Knock: Assurance of God's Provision (Luke 11:9-13)
Jesus encourages His disciples to "ask, seek, knock" (Luke 11:9) with the assurance that their prayers will be answered. He argues that even imperfect human fathers give good gifts to their children (Luke 11:11-12). How much more, then, will our perfect heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask? The ultimate gift He gives is the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13), who empowers us to live out God's will. The Holy Spirit is available to operate on God's behalf through our prayers for our benefit and through us for the benefit of others.
Confronting Opposition: The Authority of Jesus (Luke 11:14-23)
The scene shifts abruptly as Jesus encounters opposition from religious leaders. After Jesus casts out a demon from a mute man, some accuse Him of doing so by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons (Luke 11:15). Others demanded a sign from heaven to prove His authority (Luke 11:16).
Jesus exposes the absurdity of their accusations. He argues that Satan would not work against himself (Luke 11:17-18). If Jesus is casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has come (Luke 11:20). Jesus demonstrates His power over Satan by freeing those he has bound (Luke 11:22). There is no neutrality when it comes to Jesus, he is either the Messiah or he is not. Refusal to follow him is complicit in the destruction of the nation.
The Empty House: The Need for Spiritual Filling (Luke 11:24-26)
Jesus warns against merely removing evil without replacing it with good. An unclean spirit, when cast out, may return with even more evil spirits if the "house" (the person) remains empty (Luke 11:24-26). This highlights the importance of filling our lives with the Holy Spirit to prevent the return of evil influences. We must not create a comfortable lodging place for the demonic realm to call home.
True Blessedness: Obedience to God's Word (Luke 11:27-28)
A woman in the crowd blesses Mary, Jesus' mother, but Jesus redirects the focus, declaring, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it" (Luke 11:28). This emphasizes that true blessedness comes not from admiration alone, but from obedience to God's Word. Attending church, praising God, and carrying a Bible are worthless when there is disobedience in one’s life.
The Sign of Jonah: Condemnation of Unbelief (Luke 11:29-32)
Jesus rebukes those who demand more signs, stating that the only sign they will receive is the sign of Jonah (Luke 11:29). Just as Jonah's preaching led to the repentance of Nineveh, Jesus' death and resurrection will be a sign, yet many will reject it. The Gentiles believed Jonah, though he performed no miracles (Luke 11:30). The queen of the south traveled from far away to hear Solomon’s God-given wisdom, though he offered no heavenly signs (Luke 11:31). Jesus is far greater than either Jonah or Solomon.
Inner Light: Discerning Truth (Luke 11:33-36)
Jesus uses the metaphor of light to illustrate the importance of discerning truth. If our "eye" (our ability to discern) is healthy, we will be full of light (Luke 11:34). However, if our "eye" is bad, we will be full of darkness. Responding to God's truth enables us to live an authentic life.
Woes to the Pharisees and Lawyers: Hypocrisy Exposed (Luke 11:37-54)
The chapter culminates in a series of "woes" pronounced upon the Pharisees and lawyers. Jesus condemns their hypocrisy, their focus on outward appearances while neglecting inner righteousness. They meticulously cleanse the outside of the cup but are full of greed and wickedness inside (Luke 11:39). They are scrupulous to cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but they aren’t concerned with cleansing the greed and evil within their own hearts (11:39). Obedience needs to be both internal and external.
Jesus criticizes their love for public recognition (Luke 11:43) and their heavy burdens placed on others (Luke 11:46). They build monuments to dead prophets while rejecting the living Messiah (Luke 11:47-51). They have taken away the key to knowledge (Luke 11:52). They lacked true knowledge of God, and they denied others access to the truth as well.
The Pharisees and lawyers respond with hostility, plotting against Jesus (Luke 11:53-54). The scribes and Pharisees didn’t take this lying down. They vigorously opposed him. They constantly questioned him, plotted against him, and sought to trap him in his answers. Jesus was their archenemy.
Luke 11 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of authentic faith, persistent prayer, and aligning ourselves with the Kingdom of God. It challenges us to examine our own hearts and ensure that our outward actions reflect an inward transformation.
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.
And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
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 cannot rise and give thee.
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
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.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
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 fish give him a serpent?
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
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.
But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.
But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
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.
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
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.
For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.
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.
The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
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.
The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.
And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.
And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.
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.
Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.
Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.
And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.
Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:
Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.
Luke 11, nestled within Jesus' "Travelogue to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51–19:27), presents a powerful combination of teachings and confrontations. It highlights the blessings of following Jesus (Luke 9:51–11:13) and the consequences of rejecting Him (Luke 11:14–54). This chapter reveals essential truths about prayer, the nature of spiritual power, and the importance of aligning ourselves with God's Kingdom. Let's delve into its rich content.
The Lord's Prayer: A Model for Dependence (Luke 11:1-4)
The chapter opens with the disciples' request: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1). They had witnessed Jesus's intimate prayer life and desired a similar connection with the Father (Luke 3:21-22; 5:16; 6:12; 10:21-22). Jesus responds with what we often call the Lord's Prayer, a model of how to approach God.
- "Father, your name be honored as holy" (Luke 11:2): Prayer begins with recognizing God's holiness, His separateness and transcendence. We address Him as "Father," acknowledging His perfect love, unlike any imperfect earthly father. God's holiness is the attribute that unites all His other attributes, His love, justice and mercy are all holy. We are to honor His name, His character and reputation, recognizing Him as worthy of all worship and obedience.
- "Your kingdom come" (Luke 11:2): This is a call to align our lives with God's program. As citizens of His Kingdom, we should prioritize His will and seek its manifestation in every aspect of our lives. No area of life is outside of God's rule. Our allegiance to His Kingdom should be total.
- "Give us each day our daily bread" (Luke 11:3): This acknowledges our dependence on God for our daily needs. Even as we pursue Kingdom business, we trust God to provide (Philippians 4:19), and we ask Him to do so daily, fostering a constant reliance on Him. We depend on His provision to accomplish His program.
- "Forgive us our sins, as we also forgive everyone who sins against us" (Luke 11:4): Forgiveness is crucial for maintaining fellowship with God. We must address the sins the Holy Spirit reveals in our lives, dealing with today's sins today (1 John 1:9). Moreover, we are called to extend forgiveness to others, mirroring God's forgiveness towards us (Ephesians 4:32). Forgiveness is the cancellation of a debt.
- "And do not bring us into temptation" (Luke 11:4): This is a plea for God's protection from overwhelming trials and temptations. Every Christian will face trials. We need God's help to resist temptation, honor Him, and grow spiritually.
Persistence in Prayer: The Parable of the Persistent Neighbor (Luke 11:5-8)
Jesus illustrates the importance of persistence in prayer with the parable of the persistent neighbor. Even though it was late and inconvenient, the neighbor eventually granted his friend's request because of his "shameless audacity" (Luke 11:8). This emphasizes that bold and persistent prayer, rooted in a relationship with God, leads to answered prayers.
Ask, Seek, Knock: Assurance of God's Provision (Luke 11:9-13)
Jesus encourages His disciples to "ask, seek, knock" (Luke 11:9) with the assurance that their prayers will be answered. He argues that even imperfect human fathers give good gifts to their children (Luke 11:11-12). How much more, then, will our perfect heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask? The ultimate gift He gives is the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13), who empowers us to live out God's will. The Holy Spirit is available to operate on God's behalf through our prayers for our benefit and through us for the benefit of others.
Confronting Opposition: The Authority of Jesus (Luke 11:14-23)
The scene shifts abruptly as Jesus encounters opposition from religious leaders. After Jesus casts out a demon from a mute man, some accuse Him of doing so by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons (Luke 11:15). Others demanded a sign from heaven to prove His authority (Luke 11:16).
Jesus exposes the absurdity of their accusations. He argues that Satan would not work against himself (Luke 11:17-18). If Jesus is casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has come (Luke 11:20). Jesus demonstrates His power over Satan by freeing those he has bound (Luke 11:22). There is no neutrality when it comes to Jesus, he is either the Messiah or he is not. Refusal to follow him is complicit in the destruction of the nation.
The Empty House: The Need for Spiritual Filling (Luke 11:24-26)
Jesus warns against merely removing evil without replacing it with good. An unclean spirit, when cast out, may return with even more evil spirits if the "house" (the person) remains empty (Luke 11:24-26). This highlights the importance of filling our lives with the Holy Spirit to prevent the return of evil influences. We must not create a comfortable lodging place for the demonic realm to call home.
True Blessedness: Obedience to God's Word (Luke 11:27-28)
A woman in the crowd blesses Mary, Jesus' mother, but Jesus redirects the focus, declaring, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it" (Luke 11:28). This emphasizes that true blessedness comes not from admiration alone, but from obedience to God's Word. Attending church, praising God, and carrying a Bible are worthless when there is disobedience in one’s life.
The Sign of Jonah: Condemnation of Unbelief (Luke 11:29-32)
Jesus rebukes those who demand more signs, stating that the only sign they will receive is the sign of Jonah (Luke 11:29). Just as Jonah's preaching led to the repentance of Nineveh, Jesus' death and resurrection will be a sign, yet many will reject it. The Gentiles believed Jonah, though he performed no miracles (Luke 11:30). The queen of the south traveled from far away to hear Solomon’s God-given wisdom, though he offered no heavenly signs (Luke 11:31). Jesus is far greater than either Jonah or Solomon.
Inner Light: Discerning Truth (Luke 11:33-36)
Jesus uses the metaphor of light to illustrate the importance of discerning truth. If our "eye" (our ability to discern) is healthy, we will be full of light (Luke 11:34). However, if our "eye" is bad, we will be full of darkness. Responding to God's truth enables us to live an authentic life.
Woes to the Pharisees and Lawyers: Hypocrisy Exposed (Luke 11:37-54)
The chapter culminates in a series of "woes" pronounced upon the Pharisees and lawyers. Jesus condemns their hypocrisy, their focus on outward appearances while neglecting inner righteousness. They meticulously cleanse the outside of the cup but are full of greed and wickedness inside (Luke 11:39). They are scrupulous to cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but they aren’t concerned with cleansing the greed and evil within their own hearts (11:39). Obedience needs to be both internal and external.
Jesus criticizes their love for public recognition (Luke 11:43) and their heavy burdens placed on others (Luke 11:46). They build monuments to dead prophets while rejecting the living Messiah (Luke 11:47-51). They have taken away the key to knowledge (Luke 11:52). They lacked true knowledge of God, and they denied others access to the truth as well.
The Pharisees and lawyers respond with hostility, plotting against Jesus (Luke 11:53-54). The scribes and Pharisees didn’t take this lying down. They vigorously opposed him. They constantly questioned him, plotted against him, and sought to trap him in his answers. Jesus was their archenemy.
Luke 11 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of authentic faith, persistent prayer, and aligning ourselves with the Kingdom of God. It challenges us to examine our own hearts and ensure that our outward actions reflect an inward transformation.