Luke:13

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* At that time , some people who were there told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices . * He asked them ,“Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all the other Galileans because they suffered like this ? * Absolutely not , I tell you ! But if you don 't repent , then you , too , will all die . * What about those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them ? Do you think they were worse offenders than all the other people living in Jerusalem ? * Absolutely not , I tell you ! But if you don 't repent , then you , too , will all die .” * Then Jesus told them this parable :“A man had a fig tree that had been planted in his vineyard . He went to look for fruit on it but didn 't find any . * So he said to the gardener , ‘Look here ! For three years I have been coming to look for fruit on this tree but haven 't found any . Cut it down ! Why should it waste the soil ?’ * But the gardenerreplied , ‘Sir , leave it alone for one more year , until I dig around it and fertilize it . * Maybe next year it 'll bear fruit . If not , then cut it down .’” * Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath . * A woman was there who had a spirit that had disabled her for eighteen years . She was hunched over and completely unable to stand up straight . * When Jesus saw her , he called to her and said ,“Woman , you are free from your illness .” * Then he placed his hands on her , and immediately she stood up straight and began praising God . * But the synagogue leader , indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath , told the crowd , “There are six days when work is to be done . So come on those days to be healed , and not on the Sabbath day .” * The Lord replied to him ,“You hypocrites ! Doesn 't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey and lead it out of the stall to give it some water ? * Shouldn '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 ?” * Even as he was saying this , all of his opponents were blushing with shame . But the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things he was doing . * So Jesus went on to say ,“What is the kingdom of God like ? What can I compare it to ? * It is like a mustard seed that someone took and planted in his garden . It grew and became a tree , and the birds in the sky nest in its branches .” * Again he said ,“What can I compare the kingdom of God to ? * It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed withthree measures of flour until all of it was leavened .” * Then Jesus taught in one town and village after another as he made his way to Jerusalem . * Someone asked him , “Lord , are only a few people going to be saved ?”He said to them , * “Keep on struggling to enter through the narrow door . For I tell you that many people will try to enter but won 't be able to . * After the homeowner gets up and closes the door , you can standoutside , knock on the door , and say again and again , ‘Lord , open the door for us !’ But he will answer you , ‘I don 't know where you come from .’ * Thenyou will say ,‘We ate and drank with you , and you taught in our streets .’ * But he will tell you , ‘I don 't know where you come from . Get away from me , all you evildoers !’ * In that place there will be crying and gnashing of teethwhen you see Abraham , Isaac , Jacob , and all the prophets in the kingdom of God , and you yourselves being driven away on the outside . * People will come from east and west , and from north and south , and will eat in the kingdom of God . * You see , some who are last will be first , and some who are first will be last .” * At that hour some Pharisees came and told Jesus , “Leave and get away from here , for Herod wants to kill you !” * He said to them ,“Go and tell that fox , ‘Listen ! I am driving out demons and healing today and tomorrow , and on the third day I will finish my work . * ButI must be on my way today , tomorrow , and the next day , for it 's not possible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem .’ * “O Jerusalem , Jerusalem , who kills the prophets and stones to death those who have been sent to her ! How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings , but you didn 't want to ! * Look ! Your house is left to you deserted . I tell you , you will not see me again until you say , ‘How blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord !’”

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