Luke 13

1At that time some people who were present told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

2He answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered these things?

3No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.

4Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower in Siloam fell on them, do you think they were more guilty than all the other people living in Jerusalem?

5No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”

6Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it but found none.

7So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘Look, for three years now I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

8But he answered him, ‘Sir, leave it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it.

9If it bears fruit next year, good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

10Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.

11A woman was there who for eighteen years had had a spirit that crippled her. She was bent over and could not straighten herself up at all.

12When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your weakness.”

13He laid his hands on her, and immediately she stood up straight and began to glorify God.

14But the leader of the synagogue was indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which work ought to be done. So come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.”

15The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?

16Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the Sabbath day?”

17When he said these things, all his opponents were put to shame, and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the wonderful things he was doing.

18So Jesus said, “What is the kingdom of God like? What can I compare it to?

19It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.”

20Again he said, “What can I compare the kingdom of God to?

21It is like yeast that a woman took and hid in three seahs of flour until all of it was leavened.”

22Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way toward Jerusalem.

23Someone said to him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them,

24“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.

25Once the owner of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’

26Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’

27But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Get away from me, all you evildoers!’

28There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth there, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.

29People will come from east and west, and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God.

30And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”

31At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you.”

32He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Look, I am driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’

33Nevertheless, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day, because it cannot be that a prophet should die outside Jerusalem.

34Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!

35Look, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’”