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13 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?

16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?

21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.

32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Unless You Turn to God

13 1-5 About that time some people came up and told him about the Galileans Pilate had killed while they were at worship, mixing their blood with the blood of the sacrifices on the altar. Jesus responded, “Do you think those murdered Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans? Not at all. Unless you turn to God, you, too, will die. And those eighteen in Jerusalem the other day, the ones crushed and killed when the Tower of Siloam collapsed and fell on them, do you think they were worse citizens than all other Jerusalemites? Not at all. Unless you turn to God, you, too, will die.”

6-7 Then he told them a story: “A man had an apple tree planted in his front yard. He came to it expecting to find apples, but there weren’t any. He said to his gardener, ‘What’s going on here? For three years now I’ve come to this tree expecting apples and not one apple have I found. Chop it down! Why waste good ground with it any longer?’

8-9 “The gardener said, ‘Let’s give it another year. I’ll dig around it and fertilize, and maybe it will produce next year; if it doesn’t, then chop it down.’”

Healing on the Sabbath

10-13 He was teaching in one of the meeting places on the Sabbath. There was a woman present, so twisted and bent over with arthritis that she couldn’t even look up. She had been afflicted with this for eighteen years. When Jesus saw her, he called her over. “Woman, you’re free!” He laid hands on her and suddenly she was standing straight and tall, giving glory to God.

14 The meeting-place president, furious because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the congregation, “Six days have been defined as work days. Come on one of the six if you want to be healed, but not on the seventh, the Sabbath.”

15-16 But Jesus shot back, “You frauds! Each Sabbath every one of you regularly unties your cow or donkey from its stall, leads it out for water, and thinks nothing of it. So why isn’t it all right for me to untie this daughter of Abraham and lead her from the stall where Satan has had her tied these eighteen years?”

17 When he put it that way, his critics were left looking quite silly and red-faced. The congregation was delighted and cheered him on.

The Way to God

18-19 Then he said, “How can I picture God’s kingdom for you? What kind of story can I use? It’s like an acorn that a man plants in his front yard. It grows into a huge oak tree with thick branches, and eagles build nests in it.”

20-21 He tried again. “How can I picture God’s kingdom? It’s like yeast that a woman works into enough dough for three loaves of bread—and waits while the dough rises.”

22 He went on teaching from town to village, village to town, but keeping on a steady course toward Jerusalem.

23-25 A bystander said, “Master, will only a few be saved?”

He said, “Whether few or many is none of your business. Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires your total attention. A lot of you are going to assume that you’ll sit down to God’s salvation banquet just because you’ve been hanging around the neighborhood all your lives. Well, one day you’re going to be banging on the door, wanting to get in, but you’ll find the door locked and the Master saying, ‘Sorry, you’re not on my guest list.’

26-27 “You’ll protest, ‘But we’ve known you all our lives!’ only to be interrupted with his abrupt, ‘Your kind of knowing can hardly be called knowing. You don’t know the first thing about me.’

28-30 “That’s when you’ll find yourselves out in the cold, strangers to grace. You’ll watch Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets march into God’s kingdom. You’ll watch outsiders stream in from east, west, north, and south and sit down at the table of God’s kingdom. And all the time you’ll be outside looking in—and wondering what happened. This is the Great Reversal: the last in line put at the head of the line, and the so-called first ending up last.”

* * *

31 Just then some Pharisees came up and said, “Run for your life! Herod’s got your number. He’s out to kill you!”

32-35 Jesus said, “Tell that fox that I’ve no time for him right now. Today and tomorrow I’m busy clearing out the demons and healing the sick; the third day I’m wrapping things up. Besides, it’s not proper for a prophet to come to a bad end outside Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killer of prophets,
    abuser of the messengers of God!
How often I’ve longed to gather your children,
    gather your children like a hen,
Her brood safe under her wings—
    but you refused and turned away!
And now it’s too late: You won’t see me again
    until the day you say,
        ‘Blessed is he
        who comes in
        the name of God.’”

Call to Repent

13 Just at that time some people came who told Jesus about the [a]Galileans whose blood Pilate [the governor] had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus replied to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans because they have suffered in this way? I tell you, no; but unless you repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways and live changed lives], you will all likewise perish. Or do you assume that [b]those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed were worse sinners than all the others who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways and live changed lives], you will all likewise perish.”

Parable of the Fig Tree

Then He began telling them this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree that had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it, but did not find any; so he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and have found none. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground [depleting the soil and blocking the sunlight]?’ But he replied to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, [just] one more year until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit after this, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”

Healing on the Sabbath

10 Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had an illness caused by a spirit (demon). She was bent double, and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are released from your illness.” 13 Then He laid His hands on her; and immediately she stood erect again and she began glorifying and praising God. 14 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, “There are six days in which work ought to be done; so come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.”(A) 15 But the Lord replied to him, “You hypocrites (play-actors, pretenders)! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead it away to water it? 16 And this woman, a daughter (descendant) of Abraham whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?” 17 As He was saying this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things that were being done by Him.

Parables of Mustard Seed and Leaven

18 So this led Him to say, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?(B) 19 It is like a [c]mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his own garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky found shelter and nested in its branches.”(C)

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

Teaching in the Villages

22 Jesus journeyed on through cities and villages, teaching and making His way toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone asked Him, “Lord, will only a few be saved [from the penalties of the last judgment]?” And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door [force aside unbelief and the attractions of sin]; for many, I tell you, will try to enter [by their own works] and will not be able. 25 Once the head of the house gets up and closes the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door [again and again], saying, ‘Lord, open to us!’ then He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you are from [for you are not of My household].’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; 27 but He will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers!’(E) 28 In that place there will be weeping [in sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [in distress and anger] when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out and driven away. 29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and they will sit down [and feast at the table] in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

31 At that very hour some Pharisees came up and said to Him, “Leave and go away from here, because Herod [Antipas] wants to kill You.” 32 And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox [that sly, cowardly man], ‘Listen carefully: I cast out demons and perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I reach My goal.’ 33 Nevertheless I must travel on today and tomorrow and the day after that—for it cannot be that a prophet would die outside of Jerusalem. 34 [d]O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones [to death] those [messengers] who are sent to her [by God]! How often I have wanted to gather your children together [around Me], just as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you were not willing!(F) 35 Listen carefully: your house is left to you desolate [abandoned by God and destitute of His protection]; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed [to be celebrated with praise] is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”(G)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 13:1 These evidently were Jews who had come to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the temple. They probably were identified, rightly or wrongly, as rebels whose goal it was to overthrow Roman domination. The graphic description suggests that they were executed outside the temple complex after they had offered their sacrifices.
  2. Luke 13:4 No further details regarding this tragedy are recorded.
  3. Luke 13:19 In ancient Israel the mustard seed was the smallest known seed, and in rabbinic teaching the mustard seed was used as an example of something very small (in the Talmud).
  4. Luke 13:34 The nation of Israel personified.

13 And there were present certain at that time, telling him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate did mingle with their sacrifices;

and Jesus answering said to them, `Think ye that these Galileans became sinners beyond all the Galileans, because they have suffered such things?

No -- I say to you, but, if ye may not reform, all ye even so shall perish.

`Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them; think ye that these became debtors beyond all men who are dwelling in Jerusalem?

No -- I say to you, but, if ye may not reform, all ye in like manner shall perish.'

And he spake this simile: `A certain one had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit in it, and he did not find;

and he said unto the vine-dresser, Lo, three years I come seeking fruit in this fig-tree, and do not find, cut it off, why also the ground doth it render useless?

`And he answering saith to him, Sir, suffer it also this year, till that I may dig about it, and cast in dung;

and if indeed it may bear fruit --; and if not so, thereafter thou shalt cut it off.'

10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath,

11 and lo, there was a woman having a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and she was bowed together, and not able to bend back at all,

12 and Jesus having seen her, did call [her] near, and said to her, `Woman, thou hast been loosed from thy infirmity;'

13 and he laid on her [his] hands, and presently she was set upright, and was glorifying God.

14 And the chief of the synagogue answering -- much displeased that on the sabbath Jesus healed -- said to the multitude, `Six days there are in which it behoveth [us] to be working; in these, then, coming, be healed, and not on the sabbath-day.'

15 Then the Lord answered him and said, `Hypocrite, doth not each of you on the sabbath loose his ox or ass from the stall, and having led away, doth water [it]?

16 and this one, being a daughter of Abraham, whom the Adversary bound, lo, eighteen years, did it not behove to be loosed from this bond on the sabbath-day?'

17 And he saying these things, all who were opposed to him were being ashamed, and all the multitude were rejoicing over all the glorious things that are being done by him.

18 And he said, `To what is the reign of God like? and to what shall I liken it?

19 It is like to a grain of mustard, which a man having taken, did cast into his garden, and it increased, and came to a great tree, and the fowls of the heavens did rest in its branches.'

20 And again he said, `To what shall I liken the reign of God?

21 It is like leaven, which a woman, having taken, did hide in three measures of meal, till that all was leavened.'

22 And he was going through cities and villages, teaching, and making progress toward Jerusalem;

23 and a certain one said to him, `Sir, are those saved few?' and he said unto them,

24 `Be striving to go in through the straight gate, because many, I say to you, will seek to go in, and shall not be able;

25 from the time the master of the house may have risen up, and may have shut the door, and ye may begin without to stand, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, lord, open to us, and he answering shall say to you, I have not known you whence ye are,

26 then ye may begin to say, We did eat before thee, and did drink, and in our broad places thou didst teach;

27 and he shall say, I say to you, I have not known you whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of the unrighteousness.

28 `There shall be there the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth, when ye may see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the reign of God, and yourselves being cast out without;

29 and they shall come from east and west, and from north and south, and shall recline in the reign of God,

30 and lo, there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last.'

31 On that day there came near certain Pharisees, saying to him, `Go forth, and be going on hence, for Herod doth wish to kill thee;'

32 and he said to them, `Having gone, say to this fox, Lo, I cast forth demons, and perfect cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third [day] I am being perfected;

33 but it behoveth me to-day, and to-morrow, and the [day] following, to go on, because it is not possible for a prophet to perish out of Jerusalem.

34 `Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that is killing the prophets, and stoning those sent unto her, how often did I will to gather together thy children, as a hen her brood under the wings, and ye did not will.

35 `Lo, your house is being left to you desolate, and verily I say to you -- ye may not see me, till it may come, when ye may say, Blessed [is] he who is coming in the name of the Lord.'

Arrepentíos o pereceréis

13 En este mismo tiempo estaban allí algunos que le contaban acerca de los galileos cuya sangre Pilato había mezclado con los sacrificios de ellos. Respondiendo Jesús, les dijo: ¿Pensáis que estos galileos, porque padecieron tales cosas, eran más pecadores que todos los galileos? Os digo: No; antes si no os arrepentís, todos pereceréis igualmente. O aquellos dieciocho sobre los cuales cayó la torre en Siloé, y los mató, ¿pensáis que eran más culpables que todos los hombres que habitan en Jerusalén? Os digo: No; antes si no os arrepentís, todos pereceréis igualmente.

Parábola de la higuera estéril

Dijo también esta parábola: Tenía un hombre una higuera plantada en su viña, y vino a buscar fruto en ella, y no lo halló. Y dijo al viñador: He aquí, hace tres años que vengo a buscar fruto en esta higuera, y no lo hallo; córtala; ¿para qué inutiliza también la tierra? Él entonces, respondiendo, le dijo: Señor, déjala todavía este año, hasta que yo cave alrededor de ella, y la abone. Y si diere fruto, bien; y si no, la cortarás después.

Jesús sana a una mujer en el día de reposo

10 Enseñaba Jesús en una sinagoga en el día de reposo;[a] 11 y había allí una mujer que desde hacía dieciocho años tenía espíritu de enfermedad, y andaba encorvada, y en ninguna manera se podía enderezar. 12 Cuando Jesús la vio, la llamó y le dijo: Mujer, eres libre de tu enfermedad. 13 Y puso las manos sobre ella; y ella se enderezó luego, y glorificaba a Dios. 14 Pero el principal de la sinagoga, enojado de que Jesús hubiese sanado en el día de reposo,[b] dijo a la gente: Seis días hay en que se debe trabajar; en estos, pues, venid y sed sanados, y no en día de reposo.(A) 15 Entonces el Señor le respondió y dijo: Hipócrita, cada uno de vosotros ¿no desata en el día de reposo[c] su buey o su asno del pesebre y lo lleva a beber? 16 Y a esta hija de Abraham, que Satanás había atado dieciocho años, ¿no se le debía desatar de esta ligadura en el día de reposo?[d] 17 Al decir él estas cosas, se avergonzaban todos sus adversarios; pero todo el pueblo se regocijaba por todas las cosas gloriosas hechas por él.

Parábola de la semilla de mostaza

(Mt. 13.31-32; Mr. 4.30-32)

18 Y dijo: ¿A qué es semejante el reino de Dios, y con qué lo compararé? 19 Es semejante al grano de mostaza, que un hombre tomó y sembró en su huerto; y creció, y se hizo árbol grande, y las aves del cielo anidaron en sus ramas.

Parábola de la levadura

(Mt. 13.33)

20 Y volvió a decir: ¿A qué compararé el reino de Dios? 21 Es semejante a la levadura, que una mujer tomó y escondió en tres medidas de harina, hasta que todo hubo fermentado.

La puerta estrecha

(Mt. 7.13-14,21-23)

22 Pasaba Jesús por ciudades y aldeas, enseñando, y encaminándose a Jerusalén. 23 Y alguien le dijo: Señor, ¿son pocos los que se salvan? Y él les dijo: 24 Esforzaos a entrar por la puerta angosta; porque os digo que muchos procurarán entrar, y no podrán. 25 Después que el padre de familia se haya levantado y cerrado la puerta, y estando fuera empecéis a llamar a la puerta, diciendo: Señor, Señor, ábrenos, él respondiendo os dirá: No sé de dónde sois. 26 Entonces comenzaréis a decir: Delante de ti hemos comido y bebido, y en nuestras plazas enseñaste. 27 Pero os dirá: Os digo que no sé de dónde sois; apartaos de mí todos vosotros, hacedores de maldad.(B) 28 Allí será el llanto y el crujir de dientes,(C) cuando veáis a Abraham, a Isaac, a Jacob y a todos los profetas en el reino de Dios, y vosotros estéis excluidos. 29 Porque vendrán del oriente y del occidente, del norte y del sur, y se sentarán a la mesa en el reino de Dios.(D) 30 Y he aquí, hay postreros que serán primeros, y primeros que serán postreros.(E)

Lamento de Jesús sobre Jerusalén

(Mt. 23.37-39)

31 Aquel mismo día llegaron unos fariseos, diciéndole: Sal, y vete de aquí, porque Herodes te quiere matar. 32 Y les dijo: Id, y decid a aquella zorra: He aquí, echo fuera demonios y hago curaciones hoy y mañana, y al tercer día termino mi obra. 33 Sin embargo, es necesario que hoy y mañana y pasado mañana siga mi camino; porque no es posible que un profeta muera fuera de Jerusalén. 34 ¡Jerusalén, Jerusalén, que matas a los profetas, y apedreas a los que te son enviados! ¡Cuántas veces quise juntar a tus hijos, como la gallina a sus polluelos debajo de sus alas, y no quisiste! 35 He aquí, vuestra casa os es dejada desierta; y os digo que no me veréis, hasta que llegue el tiempo en que digáis: Bendito el que viene en nombre del Señor.(F)

Footnotes

  1. Lucas 13:10 Aquí equivale a sábado.
  2. Lucas 13:14 Aquí equivale a sábado.
  3. Lucas 13:15 Aquí equivale a sábado.
  4. Lucas 13:16 Aquí equivale a sábado.