Luke 13

Repent or Perish

1 Around that time, some people came telling Jesus about Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

2 Jesus answered, “You think those Galileans were worse sinners than everyone else because they suffered like that,

3 I am telling you, no. But unless you repent, you will all perish too.

4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them, do you think they were more guilty than everyone else living in Jerusalem,

5 No, I am telling you, unless you repent, you will all perish.”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

6 Then He told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it but did not find any.

7 So he said to the worker, ‘Look, for three years I have been coming to this tree looking for fruit and have not found any. Cut it down, why is it just taking up space,’

8 But the worker said, ‘Sir, leave it alone one more year. I will dig around it and fertilize it.

9 If it produces fruit next year, good. If not, then cut it down.’”

A Crippled Woman Healed

10 Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.

11 There was a woman there who had a spirit that had kept her crippled for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.

12 When Jesus saw her, He called her forward and said, “Woman, you are set free from your sickness.”

13 Then He laid His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and started praising God.

14 The synagogue leader got upset because Jesus healed on the Sabbath. He said to the crowd, “There are six days for work, come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

15 The Lord answered, “You hypocrites, does not each of you untie your ox or donkey on the Sabbath and lead it to get water,

16 Should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan kept bound for eighteen years, be set free on the Sabbath?”

17 When He said this, all His opponents were put to shame, but the crowd was rejoicing at all the powerful things He was doing.

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and Yeast

18 Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like, What can I compare it to,

19 It is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and birds came and nested in its branches.”

20 Again He said, “What can I compare the kingdom of God to,

21 It is like yeast that a woman mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked through all of it.”

The Narrow Door

22 Jesus went through towns and villages, teaching as He made His way toward Jerusalem.

23 Someone asked Him, “Lord, will only a few be saved,” He said to them,

24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door, because many will try to enter and will not be able.

25 Once the owner of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking, saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But He will answer, ‘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 But He will say, ‘I do not know where you are from. Get away from Me, all you who do wrong.’

28 There will be weeping and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.

29 People will come from east and west, north and south, and take their place at the table in the kingdom of God.

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

Jesus’ Sorrow Over Jerusalem

31 At that time, some Pharisees came and said, “Leave this place, Herod wants to kill You.”

32 Jesus said, “Go tell that fox, ‘I am casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will finish My work.

33 But I must keep going today, tomorrow, and the next day, it cannot be that a prophet would die outside Jerusalem.’

34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you. How many times I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.

35 Look, your house is left to you desolate. I am telling you, you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”