Luke 13

A Call to Repentance

1 At that time, some [of those] present told [Jesus] about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 [To this] He replied, “Do you think that these Galileans were [worse] sinners than all the [other] Galileans, because they suffered this fate? 3 No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who were killed [when] the tower of Siloam collapsed on them: Do you think that they were more sinful [than] all the [others] living in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

6 Then [Jesus] told this parable: “A [man] had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it, [but] did not find [any] . 7 So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found [any] . Therefore cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ 8 ‘Sir,’ [the man] replied, ‘leave it alone again this year, until I dig around it and fertilize [it] . 9 If it bears fruit [next year] , fine. But if not, you can cut it down.’”

Jesus Heals a Woman on the Sabbath

10 [One] Sabbath [Jesus] was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman there had been disabled [by a] spirit [for] eighteen years. She was hunched over and could not stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, He called [her] over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then He laid [His] hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and began to glorify God. 14 But the synagogue leader was indignant that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. “There are six days for work,” he told the crowd. “So come [and] be healed on those [days] and not on the Sabbath.” 15 “You hypocrites!” the Lord replied, “ {Does} not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it to water? 16 Then should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound [for] eighteen [long] years, be released from [her] bondage on the Sabbath day?” 17 When [Jesus] said this, all [His] adversaries were humiliated. And the whole crowd rejoiced at all the glorious things He was doing.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

18 Then [Jesus] asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed that a man tossed into his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

The Parable of the Leaven

20 Again He asked, “To what can I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took [and] mixed into three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”

The Narrow Door

22 Then [Jesus] traveled throughout [the] towns and villages, teaching as He made His way toward Jerusalem. 23 “Lord,” someone asked Him, “ [will] only a few [people] be saved?” [Jesus] answered, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. 25 After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking [and] saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are {from} .’ 26 Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 And he will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are {from} . Depart from me, all [you] evildoers.’ 28 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 are thrown out. 29 [People] will come from east and west and north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”

Lament over Jerusalem

31 At that very hour, some Pharisees came to [Jesus] [and] told Him, “Leave this place and get away, because Herod wants to kill You.” 32 But [Jesus] replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I will keep driving out demons and healing [people] today and tomorrow, and on the third [day] I will reach My goal.’ 33 Nevertheless, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next [day] , for it is not admissible [for] a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem. 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I have longed to gather your children {together} as a hen [gathers] her chicks under [her] wings, but you were unwilling. 35 Look, your house is left to you desolate. And I tell you [that] you will not see Me {again} until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in [the] name of [the] Lord.’” ▼

▼Psalm 118:26