1 It was at this time that some people came to tell him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 But he replied to them, "Do you think, because they suffered this, that these Galileans were worse sinners than the rest of the Galileans?
3 I tell you, no; unless you repent you will all perish as they did.
4 Or those eighteen men killed by the fall of the tower at Siloam? do you think they were worse offenders than the rest of the residents in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, no; unless you repent you will all perish as they did."
6 And he told this parable. "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; he came in search of fruit on it but he found none.
7 So he said to the vinedresser, 'Here have I come for three years in search of fruit on this fig tree without finding any; cut it down, why should it take up space?'
8 But the man replied, 'Leave it for this year, sir, till I dig round about it and put in manure.
9 Then it may bear fruit next year. If not, you can have it cut down.'"
10 When he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath,
11 there was a woman who for eighteen years had suffered weakness from an evil spirit; indeed she was bent double and quite unable to raise herself.
12 Jesus noticed her and called to her, "Woman, you are released from your weakness."
13 He laid his hands on her, and instantly she became erect and glorified God.
14 But the president of the synagogue was annoyed at Jesus healing on the sabbath, and he said to the crowd, "There are six days for work to be done; come during them to get healed, instead of on the sabbath."
15 The Lord replied to him, "You hypocrites, does not each of you untether his ox or ass from the stall on the sabbath and lead it away to drink?
16 And this woman, a daughter of Abraham, bound by Satan for all these eighteen years, was she not to be freed from her bondage on the sabbath?"
17 As he said this, all his opponents were put to shame, but all the crowd rejoiced over all his splendid doings.
18 So he said, "What is the Reign of God like? to what shall I compare it?
19 It is like a grain of mustard-seed which a man took and put into his orchard, where it grew up and became a tree, and the wild birds roosted in its branches."
20 He added, "To what shall I compare the Reign of God?
21 It is like dough which a woman took and buried in three pecks of flour, till all of it was leavened."
22 On he went, teaching from one town and village to another, as he made his way to Jerusalem.
23 A man said to him, "Is it only a few, sir, who are saved?" So he said to them,
24 "Strive to get in through the narrow door, for I tell you many will try to get in and not be able,
25 once the master of the House has got up and closed the door. You may stand outside and knock at the door, crying, 'Lord, open for us,' but he will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.'
26 You will then proceed to say, 'But we ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets!'
27 'I tell you,' he will say, 'I do not know where you come from; begone everyone of you, you evildoers.'
28 There you will wail and gnash your teeth, to see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the prophets inside the Realm of God and yourselves put outside.
29 Yes, and people will come from east and west and north and south to their places at the feast within the Realm of God.
30 Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."
31 Just then some Pharisees came up to tell him, "Get away from here, for Herod intends to kill you."
32 "Go and tell that fox," he replied, "I cast out daemons and perform cures to-day and to-morrow, and on the third day I complete my task!
33 But I must journey on, to-day, to-morrow, and the next day; it would never do for a prophet to perish except in Jerusalem!
34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, slaying the prophets and stoning those who have been sent to you! How often I would fain have gathered your children as a fowl gathers her brood under her wings! But you would not have it!
35 See, your House is left to yourselves. I tell you, you will never see me till the day comes when you say, Blessed be he who comes in the Lord's name."