Luke 13

At that very time some people were present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. He answered them, “Do you think these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered these things? No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them—do you think they were more guilty than all the other people living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.” He told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it but found none. He said to the vine grower, ‘Look, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and found none. Cut it down! Why should it keep making the ground unproductive?’ But he answered him, ‘Sir, leave it this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. If it bears fruit later, good; if not, you will cut it down.’” He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. A woman was there who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her and said, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” He laid his hands on her, and immediately she was straightened, and she glorified God. But the synagogue leader, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the crowd, “There are six days on which work should be done. Come on those days to be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” The Lord answered him, “Hypocrites! Does not each of you untie his ox or donkey from the manger on the Sabbath and lead it away to water? And this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has bound for eighteen years, should she not be freed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As he said these things, all his opponents were put to shame, and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the glorious things he was doing. Then he said, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what shall I compare it? It 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.” Again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.” He went through towns and villages, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, “Lord, are only a few being saved?” He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open for us.’ But he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will tell you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you workers of unrighteousness!’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. People will come from east and west, from north and south, and recline at the table in the kingdom of God. And look, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.” At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Leave and go away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Look, I drive out demons and perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will finish my work.’ Yet I must go on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were unwilling! Look, your house is left to you. 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.’”

Rights and attribution