1At that time some people were there who told Jesus about the Galilaeans. Pilate had mixed their blood with their sacrifices.
2Jesus answered them, "Do you think these Galilaeans were worse sinners than all the other Galilaeans, because these things happened to them?"
3"I tell you, no. But unless you repent, you will all die in the same way."
4"Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower in Siloam fell on them: do you think they were worse sinners than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?"
5"I tell you, no. But unless you repent, you will all die in the same way."
6He also told them this story: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it, and found none."
7"So he said to the man who looked after his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?'"
8"The man answered him, 'Sir, leave it alone this year too. I will dig round it and put manure on it."
9"'If it bears fruit, good. If not, then after that you can cut it down.'"
10Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
11There was a woman there who had a spirit of weakness for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.
12When Jesus saw her, he called her to him and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your weakness."
13He laid his hands on her. At once she stood up straight, and she gave glory to God.
14The ruler of the synagogue was angry, because Jesus had healed on the sabbath day. He said to the people, "There are six days in which people ought to work. Come and be healed on those days, not on the sabbath day."
15The Lord answered him, "You hypocrite. Does not each one of you untie his ox or his donkey from the stall on the sabbath, and lead it away to drink?"
16"This woman is a daughter of Abraham, and Satan has kept her tied up for eighteen years. Should she not be set free from this bond on the sabbath day?"
17When he said these things, all who were against him were ashamed. And all the people were glad for all the glorious things he did.
18Then he said, "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to?"
19"It is like a grain of mustard seed. A man took it and threw it into his garden. It grew and became a great tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches."
20Again he said, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to?"
21"It is like yeast. A woman took it and hid it in three measures of flour, until it had spread through all the dough."
22He went through the towns and villages, teaching, as he travelled towards Jerusalem.
23Then someone said to him, "Lord, are only a few people saved?" And he said to them,
24"Work hard to go in through the narrow gate. For I tell you, many will try to get in, and will not be able to."
25"Once the master of the house has got up and shut the door, you will stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.' And he will answer you, 'I do not know you, or where you come from.'"
26"Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'"
27"But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know you, or where you come from. Go away from me, all you who do evil.'"
28"There will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrown out."
29"People will come from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south, and will sit down in the kingdom of God."
30"Look, there are some who are last who will be first, and some who are first who will be last."
31That same day some of the Pharisees came and said to him, "Get out and leave this place, for Herod means to kill you."
32He said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Look, I drive out demons and I heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will be finished.'"
33"But I must keep going today, and tomorrow, and the day after. For it cannot be that a prophet should die away from Jerusalem."
34"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not let me."
35"Look, your house is left to you empty. And I tell you the truth, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"