Luke

Exhortation to Repentance

One day, some people told Jesus what had happened in the temple: Pilate had killed Galileans and their blood was mingled with their sacrifices. 

Jesus asked them: 

“Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this? 

No, I tell you. But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did.

And those eighteen people in Siloam, who were crushed when the tower fell, do you think they were more guilty than all the others in Jerusalem? 

I tell you, no. But unless you change your ways, you will all perish just as they did.”

And Jesus continued: 

“A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it but found none. 

Then he told the gardener: 

‘Look here, I’ve been searching for figs on this tree for three years and found none. Cut it down, why should it keep draining the soil?’ 

The gardener replied: 

‘Leave it one more year, so I can dig around it and add some fertilizer, 

maybe it will bear fruit from now on. But if it doesn’t, you can cut it down.’

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath, 

and just then there appeared a woman who an evil spirit had caused to be bent for eighteen years, preventing her from straightening up at all. 

Seeing her, Jesus called her over and said: 

“Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” 

Then he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight and praised God.

But the ruler of the synagogue was angry because Jesus had performed this healing on the Sabbath day, and he said to the people: 

“There are six days for work. Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath!”

But the Lord replied:

“You hypocrites! Everyone of you unties his ox or his donkey on the Sabbath and leads it out of the barn to give it water. 

And here you have a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years. Should she not be freed from her bonds on the Sabbath?”

When Jesus said this, all his opponents felt ashamed. But the people rejoiced at the many amazing things that happened because of him.

And Jesus continued: 

“What is the kingdom of God like? To what shall I compare it?” 

Imagine someone planting a mustard seed in his garden. The seed grows into a small tree, providing shelter for the birds of the air in its branches.

And Jesus said again: 

“What is the kingdom of God like?

Imagine a woman who has taken yeast and hidden it in three measures of flour until it is all leavened.”

Jesus traveled through towns and villages, teaching as he headed toward Jerusalem.

Someone asked him: 

“Lord, will only a few people be saved?”

And Jesus answered: 

“Do your best to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. 

When once the master of the house has gone inside and locked the door, you will stand outside. Then you will knock on the door,” calling, ‘Lord, open to us!’ But he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 

Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you and you taught in our streets!’ 

But he will reply, ‘I don’t know where you come from. Away from me, all you workers of evil.’

You will cry and grind your teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, while you yourselves are left outside. 

Others will sit at the table in the kingdom of God, coming from the east and west, from the north and south.

Some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last!”

At that time, some Pharisees approached Jesus and warned him: 

“Leave this place and go on your way, for Herod wants to kill you.” 

Jesus said to them: 

“Go and tell that fox my answer: ‘I drive out demons and heal today, tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my course!’ 

Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and for a little longer; for it would not be fitting for a prophet to be killed outside Jerusalem.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I wanted to gather your children as a hen gathers her brood under her wings? But you refused! 

From now on, you will be left with your temple. You will not see me again until you say,: 

“Blessed is he who comes 

in the name of the Lord!”