Luke:13

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* Now there were some present at that very season who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifies . * "Do you suppose ," he answered them , "that those Galileans were worse sinners than the rest of the Galileans because they have suffered thus ? * "I tell you no ; but unless you repent , you will all likewise perish . * "Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them , do you suppose that they were worse offenders than the rest of those who lived in Jerusalem ? * "I tell you no ; but unless you repent , you will all perish as they did ." * Then he gave them this parable . "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard , and he came to look for fruit on it , but found none . * So he said to the gardener . "See , for years I have come looking for fruit on this tree , and found none . Cut it down . Why should it actually cumber the ground ? * "But the gardener answered him . Lord , let it alone this year also , till I have dug around it , and fertilized it . * "If after that it bears fruit , well and good ; but if not you shall cut it down ." * Once he was teaching in one of the synagogues , on the Sabbath , * a woman was present who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years . she was bent double , and could not lift herself up at all . * Jesus noticed her and called to him and said , "Woman , you are free from your weakness ." * Then he placed his hand on her , and she instantly stood upright and began to give glory to God . * But the ruler of the synagogue was indignant at Jesus for healing her on the Sabbath , and said to the crowd . "There are six days of the week on which men ought to work . Therefore come during those , and get cured , but not on the Sabbath Day ." * But the Lord answered him . "Hypocrites !" he said , "does not each one of you loose his ox or his ass from the stall on the Sabbath Day , and lead it to water , * "and this woman , who is the daughter of Abraham , whom Satan has bound these eighteen years , ought she not have been loosened from bondage , though the day be the Sabbath ?" * As he said this , all adversaries were put to shame ; and all the crowd rejoiced for the glorious things that he continually did . * This led him to say . "What is the kingdom of God like ? And to what shall I compare it ? * "It is like a grain of mustardseed , which a man took and cast into his own garden . It grew and became a tree , and the wild birds nested in its branches ." * And again he said . "To what shall I liken the kingdom of God ? * "It is like leaven which a took and hid in three measures of flour until the whole was leavened ." * So he went on his way through cities and villages , * teaching as he journeyed toward Jerusalem . And a man came behind him and said , "Lord are there but few that are saved ?" * "Struggle to enter in by the narrow door ," he answered , "for I tell you that many will try to enter and not be able , * "when once the master of the house is risen up and has shut the door . You will begin to stand outside , and to knock at the door , crying , "Lord , open to us . "I do not know were you came from , he will reply . * "Then you will begin saying , But we have eaten and drunk in your presence , and you have taught in our streets . * "But he will answer . "I tell you I do not know were you came from ; * "depart from me , all of you , you evil-doers . There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God , and you yourselves cast out . * "And people shall come from the Orient and from the Occident , from the north and from the south , and sit down in the kingdom of God . * "And lo , there are last which shall be first , and there are first which shall be last ." * That very day there came some Pharisees to him , saying , "Get out of here and go away , for Herod wishes to kill you ." * "Go , tell that fox ," he answered , "Lo , today and tomorrow I am continuing to cast out demons and perform cures , and on the third day I finish my course . * "Yet I must continue my journey today , tomorrow , and the day following ; for it would never do for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem ! * "O Jerusalem , Jerusalem , you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you ! How often would I have gathered your children , as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings , and you would not ! * "Behold ! Your house is left to you , desolate ! I tell you that you shall never see me again until you say , Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord ,"

---