不悔改的下場

13 這時,有人把加利利人獻祭時被彼拉多屠殺的事告訴了耶穌。

耶穌說:「你們以為這些人被殺,是因為他們的罪比其他加利利人的罪更重嗎? 不!我告訴你們,你們若不悔改,同樣也必滅亡。 西羅亞樓倒塌時曾壓死了十八個人。你們以為他們比耶路撒冷其他人更有罪嗎? 不!我告訴你們,你們若不悔改,同樣也必滅亡。」

於是,耶穌說了一個比喻:「有人在葡萄園裡種了一棵無花果樹,他去樹那裡找果子,卻找不到。 他對園丁說,『三年來,我一直盼望它結果子,它卻一個也沒結。把它砍了,免得白佔土地。』

「園丁請求說,『主人,再留它一年吧!讓我在它四周鬆土、施肥, 明年如果結了果子就留它,否則再砍掉它。』」

治好駝背婦人

10 有個安息日,耶穌在會堂裡講道。 11 那裡有個婦人被邪靈纏身十八年,腰彎得很厲害,無法站直。 12 耶穌看見她,便叫她過來,說:「婦人,你再不會被疾病纏身了!」 13 耶穌雙手按在她身上,她的腰立刻直了,便頌讚上帝。

14 會堂主管看到耶穌在安息日為人治病,十分惱怒,就對眾人說:「一週有六天可以工作,求醫應當在這六天之內,不可在安息日!」

15 主說:「你們這些偽君子,莫非你們在安息日不解開棚裡的牛和驢,帶牠們去喝水嗎? 16 這婦人身為亞伯拉罕的女兒,受撒旦的捆綁十八年,難道不該在安息日為她解開捆索嗎?」 17 反對祂的人聽了這番話後,都非常羞愧,眾人卻為耶穌的奇妙作為高興歡喜。

上帝國的比喻

18 耶穌繼續說:「上帝的國好像什麼呢?我該把上帝的國比作什麼呢? 19 上帝的國就像一粒芥菜種,有人把它種在園裡,它長成了一棵樹,連飛鳥也來棲息在它的樹枝上。」

20 耶穌又說:「我該把上帝的國比作什麼呢? 21 上帝的國就像麵酵,婦人拿來摻在三斗麵裡,使整團麵都發起來。」

努力進窄門

22 耶穌繼續前往耶路撒冷,沿途在各城鎮教導人。 23 有人問祂:「主啊,得救的人是否很少呢?」耶穌對他們說:

24 「你們要努力進窄門,因為我告訴你們,將來有許多人想要進卻進不去。 25 當主人起來把門關閉之後,你們才站在外面叩門哀求,說,『主啊,給我們開門吧!』主人必說,『我不認識你們,你們是從哪裡來的?』

26 「那時,你們必說,『我們不是在一起用過餐嗎?你不是在街上教導過我們嗎?』

27 「主人必說,『我告訴你們,我不認識你們,也不知道你們是從哪裡來的。你們這些作惡的人,走開!』

28 「當你們看見亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各和眾先知在上帝的國,自己卻被丟在門外,必要在那裡哀哭切齒。 29 那時人們會從東西南北來參加上帝國的宴席。 30 看啊,有些殿後的將要為首,有些為首的將要殿後。」

為耶路撒冷哀傷

31 那時,有幾個法利賽人來告訴耶穌,說:「快離開這裡吧,希律要殺你!」

32 耶穌說:「你們去告訴那個狐狸,『今天和明天,我要繼續趕鬼治病,到第三天,我的任務就完成了。』 33 無論如何,今天、明天和後天我必須繼續前行,因為先知不能死在耶路撒冷以外的地方。

34 「耶路撒冷啊,耶路撒冷啊!你常殺害先知,又用石頭打死派到你那裡的使者。我多次想要招聚你的兒女,像母雞將小雞招聚在翅膀底下,可是你們卻不肯。 35 看啊!你們的家園將一片荒涼。我告訴你們,在你們說『奉主名來的當受稱頌』之前,你們再也見不到我了。」

Change Your Hearts

13 Some people there with Jesus at that time told him about what had happened to some worshipers from Galilee. Pilate had them killed. Their blood was mixed with the blood of the animals they had brought for sacrificing. Jesus answered, “Do you think this happened to those people because they were more sinful than all other people from Galilee? No, they were not. But if you don’t decide now to change your lives, you will all be destroyed like those people! And what about those 18 people who died when the tower of Siloam fell on them? Do you think they were more sinful than everyone else in Jerusalem? They were not. But I tell you if you don’t decide now to change your lives, you will all be destroyed too!”

The Useless Tree

Jesus told this story: “A man had a fig tree. He planted it in his garden. He came looking for some fruit on it, but he found none. He had a servant who took care of his garden. So he said to his servant, ‘I have been looking for fruit on this tree for three years, but I never find any. Cut it down! Why should it waste the ground?’ But the servant answered, ‘Master, let the tree have one more year to produce fruit. Let me dig up the dirt around it and fertilize it. Maybe the tree will have fruit on it next year. If it still does not produce, then you can cut it down.’”

Jesus Heals a Woman on the Sabbath

10 Jesus taught in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day. 11 A woman was there who had an evil spirit inside her. It had made the woman crippled for 18 years. Her back was always bent; she could not stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called to her, “Woman, you have been made free from your sickness!” 13 He laid his hands on her, and immediately she was able to stand up straight. She began praising God.

14 The synagogue leader was angry because Jesus healed on the Sabbath day. He said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come to be healed on one of those days. Don’t come for healing on the Sabbath day.”

15 The Lord answered, “You people are hypocrites! All of you untie your work animals and lead them to drink water every day—even on the Sabbath day. 16 This woman that I healed is a true descendant of Abraham.[a] But Satan has held her for 18 years. Surely it is not wrong for her to be made free from her sickness on a Sabbath day!” 17 When Jesus said this, all those who were criticizing him felt ashamed of themselves. And all the people were happy for the wonderful things he was doing.

What Is God’s Kingdom Like?(A)

18 Then Jesus said, “What is God’s kingdom like? What can I compare it to? 19 God’s kingdom is like the seed of the mustard plant. Someone plants this seed in their garden. The seed grows and becomes a tree, and the birds build nests on its branches.”

20 Jesus said again, “What can I compare God’s kingdom with? 21 It is like yeast that a woman mixes into a big bowl of flour to make bread. The yeast makes all the dough rise.”

The Narrow Door(B)

22 Jesus was teaching in every town and village. He continued to travel toward Jerusalem. 23 Someone said to him, “Lord, how many people will be saved? Only a few?”

Jesus said, 24 “The door to heaven is narrow. Try hard to enter it. Many people will want to enter there, but they will not be able to go in. 25 If a man locks the door of his house, you can stand outside and knock on the door, but he won’t open it. You can say, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you. Where did you come from?’ 26 Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you. You taught in the streets of our town.’ 27 Then he will say to you, ‘I don’t know you. Where did you come from? Get away from me! You are all people who do wrong!’

28 “You will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s kingdom. But you will be left outside. There you will cry and grind your teeth with pain. 29 People will come from the east, west, north, and south. They will sit down at the table in God’s kingdom. 30 People who have the lowest place in life now will have the highest place in God’s kingdom. And people who have the highest place now will have the lowest place in God’s kingdom.”

Jesus Will Die in Jerusalem(C)

31 Just then some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away from here and hide. Herod wants to kill you!”

32 Jesus said to them, “Go tell that fox,[b] ‘Today and tomorrow I am forcing demons out of people and finishing my work of healing. Then, the next day, the work will be finished.’ 33 After that I must go, because all prophets should die in Jerusalem.

34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets. You stone to death the people God has sent to you. How many times I wanted to help your people. I wanted to gather them together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you did not let me. 35 Now your home will be left completely empty. I tell you, you will not see me again until that time when you will say, ‘Welcome! God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’[c]

Footnotes

  1. Luke 13:16 true descendant of Abraham Literally, “daughter of Abraham.”
  2. Luke 13:32 fox Jesus means that Herod is clever and sly like a fox.
  3. Luke 13:35 Quote from Ps. 118:26.

Call to Repent

13 Now on that very occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood (A)Pilate had [a]mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus responded and said to them, (B)Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans just because they have suffered this fate? No, I tell you, but unless you [b]repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you think that those eighteen on whom the tower in (C)Siloam fell and killed them were worse [c](D)offenders than all the other people who live in Jerusalem? No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

And He began telling this parable: “A man had (E)a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Look! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree [d]without finding any. (F)Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, leave it alone for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”

Healing on the Sabbath

10 Now Jesus was (G)teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And [e]there was a woman who for eighteen years had had (H)a [f]sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent over double, and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your sickness.” 13 And He (I)laid His hands on her; and immediately she stood up straight again, and began (J)glorifying God. 14 But (K)the synagogue leader, indignant because Jesus (L)had healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, “(M)There are six days during which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 But (N)the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites, (O)does each of you on the Sabbath not untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it away to water it? 16 And this woman, (P)a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom (Q)Satan has bound for [g]eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this restraint on the Sabbath day?” 17 And as He said this, all His opponents were being [h]humiliated; and (R)the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.

Parables of Mustard Seed and Leaven

18 So (S)He was saying, (T)What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and threw into his own garden; and it grew and became a tree, and (U)the birds of the sky nested in its branches.”

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

Teaching in the Villages

22 And He was passing through one city and village after another, teaching, and (Y)proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, 24 (Z)Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 Once the head of the house gets up and (AA)shuts the door, and you begin standing outside and knocking on the door, saying, ‘(AB)Lord, open up to us!’ and He then will answer and say to you, ‘(AC)I do not know where you are from.’ 26 Then you will (AD)begin saying, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets!’ 27 And yet He will [k]say, ‘(AE)I do not know where you are from; (AF)leave Me, all you [l]evildoers.’ 28 (AG)In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out. 29 And they (AH)will come from east and west, and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, (AI)some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

31 At that very time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him, “Go away and leave this place, because (AJ)Herod wants to kill You.” 32 And He said to them, “Go and tell that [m]fox, ‘Behold, I am casting out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I [n](AK)reach My goal.’ 33 Nevertheless (AL)I must go on My journey today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a (AM)prophet would perish outside Jerusalem. 34 (AN)Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, (AO)just as a hen gathers her [o]young under her wings, and you were unwilling! 35 Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until you say, ‘(AP)Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Footnotes

  1. Luke 13:1 I.e., shed along with
  2. Luke 13:3 Or are repentant
  3. Luke 13:4 Lit debtors
  4. Luke 13:7 Lit and I do not find
  5. Luke 13:11 Lit behold, a woman
  6. Luke 13:11 Lit spirit of sickness
  7. Luke 13:16 Lit behold, eighteen years
  8. Luke 13:17 Or put to shame
  9. Luke 13:21 I.e., fermented dough
  10. Luke 13:21 A Gr term for a Heb measure, totaling about 48 lb. or 22 kg of flour
  11. Luke 13:27 Lit say, telling you
  12. Luke 13:27 Or workers of injustice
  13. Luke 13:32 I.e., crafty, devious person
  14. Luke 13:32 Or am perfected
  15. Luke 13:34 Lit brood