LukeChapter 13

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¹At that time some people there told Jesus about some Galileans. Pilate had killed them and mixed their blood with their sacrifices. ²Jesus answered, "Do you think these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? ³No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish. ⁴Or what about the eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Do you think they were more sinful than everyone else living in Jerusalem? ⁵No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish." ⁶Then Jesus told this story. "A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it, but he didn't find any. ⁷So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'Look, for three years I've come looking for fruit on this fig tree. And I haven't found any. So cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?' ⁸The man answered, 'Sir, leave it alone for one more year. I'll dig around it and put fertilizer on it. ⁹If it grows fruit next year, good. If not, then you can cut it down.'" ¹⁰One Sabbath day Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues. ¹¹A woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not stand up straight. ¹²Jesus saw her and called her over. He said, "Woman, you are set free from what has crippled you." ¹³Then he put his hands on her. Right away she stood up straight and began to praise God. ¹⁴But the leader of the synagogue was angry because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. He told the crowd, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath." ¹⁵The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! On the Sabbath, each of you unties his ox or donkey from its stall. Then you lead it out to get water, don't you? ¹⁶This woman is a daughter of Abraham. Satan has kept her tied up for eighteen long years. Shouldn't she be set free from what held her on the Sabbath day?" ¹⁷When Jesus said this, all the people who were against him were put to shame. But the whole crowd was full of joy at all the wonderful things he was doing. ¹⁸Then Jesus asked, "What is the kingdom of God like? What can I compare it to? ¹⁹It is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree. And the birds came and made nests in its branches." ²⁰Again he asked, "What can I compare the kingdom of God to? ²¹It is like yeast that a woman mixed into a large amount of flour. It worked its way through all the dough."a ²²Then Jesus went through the towns and villages. He taught as he made his way toward Jerusalem. ²³Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" Jesus answered them, ²⁴"Try very hard to go in through the narrow door. For I tell you, many will try to go in and will not be able to. ²⁵The owner of the house will get up and close the door. Then you will stand outside knocking. You will say, 'Lord, open the door for us.' But he will answer, 'I don't know where you come from.' ²⁶Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you. You taught in our streets.' ²⁷But he will answer, 'I tell you, I don't know where you come from. Get away from me, all of you who do evil!' ²⁸There will be crying and grinding of teeth there. You will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God. But you yourselves will be thrown out. ²⁹People will come from east and west and north and south. They will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. ³⁰And it's true that some who are last will be first. And some who are first will be last." ³¹Right then some Pharisees came to Jesus. They told him, "Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you." ³²But Jesus answered, "Go and tell that fox, 'Listen, I will keep driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow. And on the third day I will reach my goal.' ³³Even so, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day. For it isn't right for a prophet to die outside of Jerusalem! ³⁴Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets. You throw stones at those God sends to you. How often I have wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you were not willing! ³⁵Look, your house is left empty. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"