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

LUKE 13

Turn Back to God

1 About this same time Jesus was told that Pilate had given orders for some people from Galilee to be killed while they were offering sacrifices.

2 Jesus replied:
Do you think that these people were worse sinners than everyone else in Galilee just because of what happened to them? 3 Not at all! But you can be sure that if you don't turn back to God, every one of you will also be killed. 4 What about those 18 people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Do you think they were worse than everyone else in Jerusalem?

5 Not at all! But you can be sure that if you don't turn back to God, every one of you will also die.

A Story about a Fig Tree

6 Jesus then told them this story:
A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. One day he went out to pick some figs, but he didn't find any.

7 So he said to the gardener, “For three years I have come looking for figs on this tree, and I haven't found any yet. Chop it down! Why should it take up space?”
8 The gardener answered, “Master, leave it for another year. I'll dig around it and put some manure on it to make it grow.

9 Maybe it will have figs on it next year. If it doesn't, you can have it cut down.”

Healing a Woman //on the Sabbath

13 He placed his hands on her, and at once she stood up straight and praised God.

14  t The man in charge of the synagogue was angry because Jesus had healed someone on the Sabbath. So he said to the people, “Each week has six days when we can work. Come and be healed on one of those days, but not on the Sabbath.”
15 The Lord replied, “Are you trying to fool someone? Won't any one of you untie your ox or donkey and lead it out to drink on a Sabbath? 16 This woman belongs to the family of Abraham, but Satan has kept her bound for 18 years. Isn't it right to set her free on the Sabbath?”

17 Jesus' words made his enemies ashamed. But everyone else in the crowd was happy about the wonderful things he was doing.

A Mustard Seed and Yeast

(Matthew 13.31-33; Mark 4.30-32)

19 It is like what happens when someone plants a mustard seed in a garden. The seed grows as big as a tree, and birds nest in its branches.”
20 Then Jesus said, “What can I compare God's kingdom with?

21 It is like what happens when a woman mixes yeast into three batches of flour. Finally, all the dough rises.”

The Narrow Door

(Matthew 7.13,14,21-23)

23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”
Jesus answered:
24 Do all you can to go in by the narrow door! A lot of people will try to get in, but will not be able to.

25 Once the owner of the house gets up and locks the door, you will be left standing outside. You will knock on the door and say, “Sir, open the door for us!”
But the owner will answer, “I don't know a thing about you! ”

26 Then you will start saying, “We dined with you, and you taught in our streets.”

27  t But he will say, “I really don't know who you are! Get away from me, you evil people!”
28  t t Then when you have been thrown outside, you will weep and grit your teeth because you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God's kingdom. 29 People will come from all directions and sit down to feast in God's kingdom.

30 t There the ones who are now least important will be the most important, and those who are now most important will be least important.

Jesus and Herod

31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “You had better get away from here, because Herodt wants to kill you!”

32 Jesus said to them:
Go tell that fox, “I am going to force out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and three days later I'll be through.”

33 But I am going on my way today and tomorrow and the next day. After all, Jerusalem is the place where prophets are killed.

Jesus Loves Jerusalem

(Matthew 23.37-39)

35 t Now your temple will be deserted. You won't see me again until the time when you say,
“Blessed is the one who comes
in the name of the Lord.”