1Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.2Jesus answered, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?3I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.4Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.’6Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig-tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.7So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, “For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig-tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?”8‘ “Sir,” the man replied, “leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig round it and fertilise it.9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.” ’
Jesus heals a crippled woman on the Sabbath
10On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,11and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.12When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, ‘Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.’13Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.14Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, ‘There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.’15The Lord answered him, ‘You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?16Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?’17When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.
The parables of the mustard seed and the yeast
18Then Jesus asked, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to?19It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.’20Again he asked, ‘What shall I compare the kingdom of God to?21It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about thirty kilograms of flour until it worked all through the dough.’
The narrow door
22Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.23Someone asked him, ‘Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?’ He said to them,24‘Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.25Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, “Sir, open the door for us.” ‘But he will answer, “I don’t know you or where you come from.”26‘Then you will say, “We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.”27‘But he will reply, “I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!”28‘There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.29People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.30Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.’
Jesus’ sorrow for Jerusalem
31At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, ‘Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.’32He replied, ‘Go and tell that fox, “I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.”33In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day – for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!34‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.35Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” ’ (Ps 118:26)
Luke 13
English Standard Version
Repent or Perish
1There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. (Lu 3:1)2And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? (Job 4:7; Joh 9:2; Ac 28:4)3No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. (Lu 5:32)4Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? (Joh 9:7; Joh 9:11)5No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Lu 13:3)
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
6And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. (Isa 5:2; Mt 21:19; Mr 11:13)7And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ (Mt 7:19; Lu 3:9)8And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure.9Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
A Woman with a Disabling Spirit
10Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. (Mt 4:23; Mr 6:2)11And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. (Lu 13:16; Ac 16:16)12When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.”13And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. (Mr 5:23; Lu 5:25; Lu 7:16; Lu 18:43)14But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” (Ex 20:9; Eze 46:1; Mt 12:2; Lu 8:41)15Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? (Mt 12:11; Lu 14:5)16And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” (1Ch 21:1; Lu 13:11; Lu 19:9; Ac 10:38; 1Co 5:5; 2Co 12:7)17As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him. (Ps 132:18; Lu 18:43; 1Pe 3:16)
The Mustard Seed and the Leaven
18He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? (Mt 13:31; Mr 4:30)19It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” (Mt 17:20; Lu 17:6)20And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?21It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.” (Ge 18:6; Mt 13:33; 1Co 5:6; Ga 5:9)
The Narrow Door
22He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. (Mr 6:6; Lu 9:51; Lu 13:33)23And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, (Ac 2:47; 1Co 1:18; 2Co 2:15)24“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. (Mt 7:13; 1Co 9:25; 1Ti 4:10; 1Ti 6:12; Heb 12:4)25When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ (Mt 7:22; Mt 10:33; Mt 25:10; Mt 25:12; 2Ti 2:19)26Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ (Ex 24:11)27But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ (Ps 6:8; Lu 13:25)28In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. (Mt 8:11)29And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. (Lu 13:28; Lu 14:15; Lu 22:30)30And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” (Mt 19:30)
Lament over Jerusalem
31At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” (Mt 19:1; Mr 10:1; Lu 3:1)32And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. (Heb 2:10; Heb 5:9; Heb 7:28)33Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ (Mt 21:11; Joh 11:9; Ac 3:21; Ac 17:3)34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! (De 32:11; Ru 2:12; Ps 147:2; Pr 1:24; Mt 21:35; Mt 23:37; Mt 26:55; Lu 19:41; Lu 23:28; Joh 5:40)35Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’” (Ps 118:26; Isa 64:11; Jer 12:7; Jer 22:5; Lu 19:38)