1At that same time, some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
2Jesus replied, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans just because this happened to them?
3I tell you no! But if you don’t change your ways, you will all die in the same way.
4What about those eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Do you think they were more guilty than everyone else living in Jerusalem?
5I tell you, no! But if you don’t change your ways, you will all die in the same way.”
6Then Jesus told this story: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it, but found none.
7He said to the gardener, ‘Look, for three years I’ve been coming to this fig tree looking for fruit, and I haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it just take up space in the soil?’
8The gardener answered, ‘Sir, leave it alone for one more year, while I dig around it and fertilize it.
9If it produces fruit, good; but if not, you can cut it down after that.'
10Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day.
11There was a woman there who had been sick for eighteen years, and she was bent over and could not straighten herself up at all.
12When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your sickness."
13He placed his hands on her, and immediately she stood up straight and praised God.
14The leader of the synagogue was angry because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. He told the crowd, "There are six days for people to work. So come on those days to be healed, but not on the Sabbath day!"
15But the Lord answered him, "You fakes! Doesn't each of you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it away to get water?
16Shouldn't this woman, a descendant of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the Sabbath day?"
17When he said these things, all his enemies were ashamed, and all the crowd rejoiced at all the wonderful things he was doing.
18He said, "What is God's Kingdom like? What can I compare it to?
19It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his own garden. It grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches."
20Again he said, "What can I compare God's Kingdom to?
21It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until all of it rose."
22He traveled through cities and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.
23Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" He said to them,
24"Try hard to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter and will not be able.
25Once the owner of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open up for us!' then he will answer and tell you, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'
26Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.'
27He will say, 'I tell you, I don't know where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do wrong!'
28There will be weeping and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God's Kingdom, but you yourselves are thrown outside.
29People will come from the east, west, north, and south, and will take their places in God's Kingdom.
30Look, there are some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last."
31On that same day, some Pharisees came and told him, "Get out of here and go away, because Herod wants to kill you."
32He said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Look, I am driving out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will finish my work.'
33However, I must continue my journey today and tomorrow and the next day, because it is not possible for a prophet to die outside of Jerusalem.'
34Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you kill the prophets and stone those sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you refused!
35Look, your house is left empty. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”