Repent or perish

1Now at that time there were some present who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Herod had mixed with their sacrifices.

2So in answer Jesus said to them: “Do you suppose that those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things?

3Not at all, I tell you, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish!

4Or those eighteen on whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them; do you suppose they were worse offenders than all others living in Jerusalem?

5Not at all, I tell you, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish!” ³³⁰

Parable of a barren fig tree

6Then He told this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.

7So he said to the gardener: ‘Look, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and have not found any. Cut it down; just why must it waste the soil?’

8But in answer he said to him, ‘Sir, let it be this year also, until I dig around it and apply fertilizer,

9in case it produces fruit—but if not, then cut it down.’ ” ³³¹

Jesus heals a woman bound by Satan

10Now as Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath,

11He saw a woman there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years—she was bent over and could not straighten up.

12So He called her over ³³²and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity!”

13He placed His hands on her and immediately she was made straight and started glorifying God.

14But the ruler of the synagogue reacted with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, and he said to the crowd, “There are six days in which one should work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath.” ³³³

15So the Lord answered him and said: “Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it away to water?

16So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan ³³⁴kept bound during eighteen long years, be freed from this bond on the Sabbath day?”

17When He said these things all His adversaries were put to shame, while all the crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things that were being done by Him.

Two parables

18Then He said: “What is the Kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it?

19It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden; and it grew and became a sizable tree, and the birds of the air perched on its branches.”

20Again He said: “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?

21It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”

The narrow gate

22He was traveling through various towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.

23Then someone said to Him, “Lord, are the ones being saved few?” So He said to them:

24“Exert yourselves to enter through the narrow gate, because many, I say to you, will try to enter and not manage it.

25When once the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ and in answer he will say to you, ‘I do not know you; where are you from?’

26then you will begin by saying, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’

27But he will say: ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.’ ³³⁵

28“There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you yourselves being thrown out.

29They will even come from the east, the west, the north and the south, and recline in the Kingdom of God.

30Yes indeed, there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

A word for Herod

31On that same day some Pharisees approached saying to Him, “Get out of here and go away, because Herod wants to kill you.” ³³⁶

32He said to them: “Go tell that ‘fox’, ‘Take note, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third I will be perfected.’

33Nevertheless I must keep going today and tomorrow and the day following, because it is not credible that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem!

Jesus laments over Jerusalem

34“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, she who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!

35So then, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you that you will definitely not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ” ³³⁷