Luke 13

₁At that time some people were there who told Jesus about the Galileans whom Pilate had killed while they were offering sacrifices to God. ₂Jesus answered them, “Because those Galileans were killed in that way, do you think it proves that they were worse sinners than all the other Galileans? ₃No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did. ₄What about those eighteen people in Siloam who were killed when the tower fell on them? Do you suppose this proves that they were worse than all the other people living in Jerusalem? ₅No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did.”

₆Then Jesus told them this parable: “There was once a man who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went looking for figs on it but found none. ₇So he said to his gardener, ‘Look, for three years I have been coming here looking for figs on this fig tree, and I haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it go on using up the soil?’ ₈But the gardener answered, ‘Leave it alone, sir, just one more year; I will dig round it and put in some manure. ₉Then if the tree bears figs next year, so much the better; if not, then you can have it cut down.’ ”

₁₀One Sabbath Jesus was teaching in a synagogue. ₁₁A woman there had an evil spirit that had made her ill for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not straighten up at all. ₁₂When Jesus saw her, he called out to her, “Woman, you are free from your illness!” ₁₃He placed his hands on her, and at once she straightened herself up and praised God.

₁₄The official of the synagogue was angry that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, so he spoke up and said to the people, “There are six days in which we should work; so come during those days and be healed, but not on the Sabbath!”

₁₅The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Any one of you would untie your ox or your donkey from the stall and take it out to give it water on the Sabbath. ₁₆Now here is this descendant of Abraham whom Satan has kept bound up for eighteen years; should she not be released on the Sabbath?” ₁₇His answer made his enemies ashamed of themselves, while the people rejoiced over all the wonderful things that he did.

₁₈Jesus asked, “What is the Kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it with? ₁₉It is like this. A man takes a mustard seed and sows it in his field. The plant grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make their nests in its branches.”

₂₀Again Jesus asked, “What shall I compare the Kingdom of God with? ₂₁It is like this. A woman takes some yeast and mixes it with forty litres of flour until the whole batch of dough rises.”

₂₂Jesus went through towns and villages, teaching the people and making his way towards Jerusalem. ₂₃Someone asked him, “Sir, will just a few people be saved?”

Jesus answered them, ₂₄“Do your best to go in through the narrow door; because many people will surely try to go in but will not be able. ₂₅The master of the house will get up and close the door; then when you stand outside and begin to knock on the door and say, ‘Open the door for us, sir!’ he will answer you, ‘I don't know where you come from!’ ₂₆Then you will answer, ‘We ate and drank with you; you taught in our town!’ ₂₇But he will say again, ‘I don't know where you come from. Get away from me, all you wicked people!’ ₂₈How you will cry and grind your teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, while you are thrown out! ₂₉People will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down at the feast in the Kingdom of God. ₃₀Then those who are now last will be first, and those who are now first will be last.”

₃₁At that same time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “You must get out of here and go somewhere else, because Herod wants to kill you.”

₃₂Jesus answered them, “Go and tell that fox: ‘I am driving out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I shall finish my work.’ ₃₃Yet I must be on my way today, tomorrow, and the next day; it is not right for a prophet to be killed anywhere except in Jerusalem.

₃₄“Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets, you stone the messengers God has sent you! How many times have I wanted to put my arms round all your people, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me! ₃₅And so your Temple will be abandoned. I assure you that you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”