Luke 13

Demand for genuine change

1 Some who were present on that occasion told Jesus about the Galileans whom Pilate had killed while they were offering sacrifices.2 He replied, "Do you think the suffering of these Galileans proves that they were more sinful than all the other Galileans?3 No, I tell you, but unless you change your hearts and lives, you will die just as they did.4 What about those twelve people who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them? Do you think that they were more guilty of wrongdoing than everyone else who lives in Jerusalem?

5 No, I tell you, but unless you change your hearts and lives, you will die just as they did."
6 Jesus told this parable: "A man owned a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none.7 He said to his gardener, ‘Look, I’ve come looking for fruit on this fig tree for the past three years, and I’ve never found any. Cut it down! Why should it continue depleting the soil’s nutrients?’8 The gardener responded, ‘Lord, give it one more year, and I will dig around it and give it fertilizer.

9 Maybe it will produce fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down.’"

Healing on a Sabbath

10 Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.11 A woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and couldn’t stand up straight.12 When he saw her, Jesus called her to him and said, "Woman, you are set free from your sickness."

13 He placed his hands on her and she straightened up at once and praised God.

14 The synagogue leader, incensed that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, responded, "There are six days during which work is permitted. Come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath day."
15 The Lord replied, "Hypocrites! Don’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from its stall and lead it out to get a drink?16 Then isn’t it necessary that this woman, a daughter of Abraham, bound by Satan for eighteen long years, be set free from her bondage on the Sabbath day?"

17 When he said these things, all his opponents were put to shame, but all those in the crowd rejoiced at all the extraordinary things he was doing.

Growth of God’s kingdom

18 Jesus asked, "What is God’s kingdom like? To what can I compare it?

19 It’s like a mustard seed that someone took and planted in a garden. It grew and developed into a tree and the birds in the sky nested in its branches."
20 Again he said, "To what can I compare God’s kingdom?

21 It’s like yeast, which a woman took and hid in a bushel of wheat flour until the yeast had worked its way through the whole."

Who will be saved?

22 Jesus traveled through cities and villages teaching and making his way to Jerusalem.

23 Someone said to him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?"
Jesus said to them,24 "Make every effort to enter through the narrow gate. Many, I tell you, will try to enter and won’t be able to.25 Once the owner of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you are from.’26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’27 He will respond, ‘I don’t know you or where you are from. Go away from me, all you evildoers!’ t28 There will be weeping and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s kingdom, but you yourselves will be thrown out.29 People will come from east and west, north and south, and sit down to eat in God’s kingdom.

30 Look! Those who are last will be first and those who are first will be last."

Sorrow for Jerusalem

31 At that time, some Pharisees approached Jesus and said, "Go! Get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you."
32 Jesus said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Look, I’m throwing out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work.

33 However, it’s necessary for me to travel today, tomorrow, and the next day because it’s impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’
34 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who were sent to you! How often I have wanted to gather your people just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you didn’t want that.

35 Look, your house is abandoned. I tell you, you won’t see me until the time comes when you say, Blessings on the one who comes in the Lord’s name ."t

Luke 13

A Call to Repent

1 Nowt there were some present on that occasion who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.s2 Het answered them, “Do you think these Galileans were worse sinnerss than all the other Galileans, because they suffered these things?3 No, I tell you! But unless you repent,s you will all perish as well!t4 Or those eighteen who were killedt when the tower in Siloam fell on them,s do you think they were worse offenders than all the others who live in Jerusalem?s

5 No, I tell you! But unless you repents you will all perish as well!”t

Warning to Israel to Bear Fruit

6 Thent Jesust told this parable: “A man had a fig trees planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.7 Sot he said to the worker who tended the vineyard, ‘Fort three yearss now, I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and each time I inspect itt I find none. Cuts it down! Whyt should it continue to depletes the soil?’8 But the workert answered him, ‘Sir, leave it alone this year too, until I dig around it and put fertilizert on it.

9 Then ift it bears fruit next year,t very well,t but ift not, you can cut it down.’”

Healing on the Sabbath

10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagoguess on the Sabbath,11 and a woman was theret who had been disabled by a spiritt for eighteen years. Shet was bent over and could not straighten herself up completely.t12 Whent Jesus saw her, he called her to himt and said, “Woman,s you are freedt from your infirmity.”t13 Thent he placed his hands on her, and immediatelys she straightened up and praised God.14 But the president of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the crowd, “There are six days on which works should be done!t So comet and be healed on those days, and not on the Sabbath day.”15 Then the Lord answered him,t “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from its stall,t and lead it to water?s16 Thent shouldn’tt this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satans bound for eighteen longt years, be released from this imprisonmentt on the Sabbath day?”

17 Whent he said this all his adversaries were humiliated,t butt the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful thingss he was doing.t

On the Kingdom of God

18 Thus Jesust asked,t “What is the kingdom of Gods like?s Tot what should I compare it?

19 It is like a mustard seeds that a man took and sowedt in his garden. Itt grew and became a tree,s and the wild birdst nested in its branches.”s
20 Againt he said, “To what should I compare the kingdom of God?s

21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed witht three measuress of flour until all the dough had risen.”ts

The Narrow Door

22 Thent Jesust traveled throughoutt townst and villages, teaching and making his way towardt Jerusalem.s23 Someonet askedt him, “Lord, will only a fews be saved?” Sot he said to them,24 “Exert every effortt to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.25 Oncet the head of the houset gets upt and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and start to knock on the door and beg him, ‘Lord,t let us in!’t But he will answer you,t ‘I don’t know where you come from.’s26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’s27 Butt he will reply,st ‘I don’t know where you come from!s Go away from me, all you evildoers!’t28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeths when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,t and all the prophets in the kingdom of Gods but you yourselves thrown out.t29 Thent peoplet will come from east and west, and from north and south, and take their places at the banquet tablet in the kingdom of God.s

30 Butt indeed,t some are lasts who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Going to Jerusalem

31 At that time,t some Phariseess came up and said to Jesus,t “Get away from here,t because Herods wants to kill you.”32 Butt he said to them, “Got and tell that fox,s ‘Look, I am casting out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third days I will complete my work.t33 Nevertheless I mustt go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, because it is impossiblet that a prophet should be killedt outside Jerusalem.’ss34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,s you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you!t How often I have longeds to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, butt you would have none of it!t

35 Look, your house is forsaken!s And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”s