Luke 13

Jesus Tells People to Turn to God and Change the Way They Think and Act

1 At that time some people reported to Jesus about some Galileans whom Pilate had executed while they were sacrificing animals.2 Jesus replied to them, “Do you think that this happened to them because they were more sinful than other people from Galilee?3 No! I can guarantee that they weren’t. But if you don’t turn to God and change the way you think and act, then you, too, will all die.4 What about those 18 people who died when the tower at Siloam fell on them? Do you think that they were more sinful than other people living in Jerusalem?

5 No! I can guarantee that they weren’t. But if you don’t turn to God and change the way you think and act, then you, too, will all die.”

A Story About a Fruitless Tree

6 Then Jesus used this illustration: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on the tree but didn’t find any.

7 He said to the gardener, ‘For the last three years I’ve come to look for figs on this fig tree but haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up good soil?’
8 “The gardener replied, ‘Sir, let it stand for one more year. I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.

9 Maybe next year it’ll have figs. But if not, then cut it down.’ ”

Jesus Heals a Disabled Woman

10 Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the day of worship.11 A woman who was possessed by a spirit was there. The spirit had disabled her for 18 years. She was hunched over and couldn’t stand up straight.12 When Jesus saw her, he called her to come to him and said, “Woman, you are free from your disability.”

13 He placed his hands on her, and she immediately stood up straight and praised God.
14 The synagogue leader was irritated with Jesus for healing on the day of worship. The leader told the crowd, “There are six days when work can be done. So come on one of those days to be healed. Don’t come on the day of worship.”15 The Lord said, “You hypocrites! Don’t each of you free your ox or donkey on the day of worship? Don’t you then take it out of its stall to give it some water to drink?

16 Now, here is a descendant of Abraham. Satan has kept her in this condition for 18 years. Isn’t it right to free her on the day of worship?”
17 As he said this, everyone who opposed him felt ashamed. But the entire crowd was happy about the miraculous things he was doing.

Stories About a Mustard Seed and Yeast—Matthew 13:31–33; Mark 4:30–32

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

19 It’s like a mustard seed that someone planted in a garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds nested in its branches.”
20 He asked again, “What can I compare the kingdom of God to?

21 It’s like yeast that a woman mixed into a large amount of flour until the yeast worked its way through all the dough.”

The Narrow Door

22 Then Jesus traveled and taught in one city and village after another on his way to Jerusalem.23 Someone asked him, “Sir, are only a few people going to be saved?”He answered,24 “Try hard to enter through the narrow door. I can guarantee that many will try to enter, but they won’t succeed.25 After the homeowner gets up and closes the door, it’s too late. You can stand outside, knock at the door, and say, ‘Sir, open the door for us!’ But he will answer you, ‘I don’t know who you are.’26 Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’27 But he will tell you, ‘I don’t know who you are. Get away from me, all you evil people.’28 Then you will cry and be in extreme pain. That’s what you’ll do when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets. They’ll be in the kingdom of God, but you’ll be thrown out.29 People will come from all over the world and will eat in the kingdom of God.

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

Jesus Warns Jerusalem

31 At that time some Pharisees told Jesus, “Get out of here, and go somewhere else! Herod wants to kill you.”32 Jesus said to them, “Tell that fox that I will force demons out of people and heal people today and tomorrow. I will finish my work on the third day.

33 But I must be on my way today, tomorrow, and the next day. It’s not possible for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem.
34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you kill the prophets and stone to death those sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings! But you were not willing!

35 Your house will be abandoned. I can guarantee that you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

Luke 13

1 Now there were some present at that very season who told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.2 And he answered and said unto them, Think ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they have suffered these things?3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish.4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, think ye that they were offenders above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem?5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.6 And he spake this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found none.7 And he said unto the vinedresser, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why doth it also cumber the ground?8 And he answering saith unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:9 and if it bear fruit thenceforth, well; but if not, thou shalt cut it down.10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath day.11 And behold, a woman that had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years; and she was bowed together, and could in no wise lift herself up.12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her, and said to her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.13 And he laid his hands upon her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.14 And the ruler of the synagogue, being moved with indignation because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, answered and said to the multitude, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the day of the sabbath.15 But the Lord answered him, and said, Ye hypocrites, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound, lo, these eighteen years, to have been loosed from this bond on the day of the sabbath?17 And as he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame: and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.18 He said therefore, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I liken it?19 It is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his own garden; and it grew, and became a tree; and the birds of the heaven lodged in the branches thereof.20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?21 It is like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.22 And he went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and journeying on unto Jerusalem.23 And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that are saved? And he said unto them,24 Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able.25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not whence ye are;26 then shall ye begin to say, We did eat and drink in thy presence, and thou didst teach in our streets;27 and he shall say, I tell you, I know not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.28 There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and yourselves cast forth without.29 And they shall come from the east and west, and from the north and south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.30 And behold, there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last.31 In that very hour there came certain Pharisees, saying to him, Get thee out, and go hence: for Herod would fain kill thee.32 And he said unto them, Go and say to that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I am perfected.33 Nevertheless I must go on my way to-day and to-morrow and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her own brood under her wings, and ye would not!35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.