Repent or Perish

1Now at that same time there were some present who were reporting to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had [†]mixed with their sacrifices. 2And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered these things? 3I tell you, no, but unless you [†]repent, you will all likewise perish. 4Or do you think that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse [†]offenders than all the men who live in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

6And He was telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and did not find any. 7And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree [†]without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ 8And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in manure, 9and if it bears fruit next year, fine, but if not, cut it down.’”

A Woman Healed on the Sabbath

10And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11And behold, there was a woman who for eighteen years had [†]a sickness caused by a spirit, and she was bent double, and could not straighten up at all. 12But when Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your sickness.” 13And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made erect again and began glorifying God. 14But the synagogue official, indignant because Jesus healed on the Sabbath, answered and was saying to the crowd, “There are six days in which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath release his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead it away to water it? 16And this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for—behold—eighteen years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?” 17And as He said this, all His opponents were being put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven

18Therefore, He was saying, “What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it? 19It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and threw into his own garden, and it grew and became a tree, and THE BIRDS OF THE [†]AIR NESTED IN ITS BRANCHES.”

20And again He said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in [†]three sata of flour until it was all leavened.”

The Narrow Door

22And He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. 23And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, 24“Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ 26Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27And He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; DEPART FROM ME, ALL YOU WORKERS OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.’ 28In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being cast out. 29And they will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. 30And behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last.”

Lament over Jerusalem

31Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him, “Leave and go from here, for Herod wants to kill You.” 32And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I [†]finish.’ 33Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day, for it is not possible that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem. 34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you did not want it! 35Behold, your house is left to you desolate, and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE [†]LORD!’”