Luke 13
Christian Standard Bible
Repent or Perish
13 At that time,(A) some people came and reported to him about the Galileans(B) whose blood Pilate(C) had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And he[a] responded to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all the other Galileans because they suffered these things?(D) 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well. 4 Or those eighteen that the tower in Siloam(E) fell on and killed—do you think they were more sinful than all the other people who live in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well.”
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
6 And he told this parable:(F) “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none.(G) 7 He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down!(H) Why should it even waste the soil?’(I)
8 “But he replied to him, ‘Sir,[b] leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.(J) 9 Perhaps it will produce fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.’”
Healing a Daughter of Abraham
10 As he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath,(K) 11 a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit[c](L) for over eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.[d] 12 When Jesus saw her, he called out to her,[e] “Woman, you are free of your disability.” 13 Then he laid his hands on her,(M) and instantly she was restored(N) and began to glorify God.(O)
14 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant(P) because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, responded by telling the crowd, “There are six days when work should be done;(Q) therefore come on those days and be healed and not on the Sabbath day.”
15 But the Lord answered him and said, “Hypocrites!(R) Doesn’t each one of you untie his ox(S) or donkey from the feeding trough(T) on the Sabbath and lead it to water?(U) 16 Satan(V) has bound(W) this woman, a daughter of Abraham,(X) for eighteen years—shouldn’t she be untied from this bondage[f] on the Sabbath day?”
17 When he had said these things, all his adversaries(Y) were humiliated,(Z) but the whole crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things he was doing.(AA)
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and of the Leaven
18 He said, therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like,(AB) and what can I compare it to? 19 It’s like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.”
20 Again he said, “What can I compare the kingdom of God(AC) to? 21 It’s like leaven[g](AD) that a woman took and mixed into fifty pounds[h] of flour until all of it was leavened.”
The Narrow Way
22 He went through one town and village after another, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem.(AE) 23 “Lord,” someone asked him, “are only a few people going to be saved?” (AF)
He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door,(AG) because I tell you, many will try to enter and won’t be able 25 once the homeowner gets up and shuts the door.(AH) Then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up for us!’ He will answer you, ‘I don’t know you or where you’re from.’ 26 Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you’re from. Get away from me,(AI) all you evildoers!’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth(AJ) in that place,(AK) when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God,(AL) but yourselves thrown out. 29 They will come from east and west, from north and south, to share the banquet[i] in the kingdom of God. 30 Note this: Some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”(AM)
Jesus and Herod Antipas
31 At that time some Pharisees came and told him, “Go, get out of here. Herod(AN) wants to kill you.”(AO)
32 He said to them, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I’m driving out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work.’[j](AP) 33 Yet it is necessary that I(AQ) travel today, tomorrow, and the next day, because it is not possible for a prophet(AR) to perish(AS) outside of Jerusalem.
Jesus’s Lamentation over Jerusalem
34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem,(AT) who kills the prophets and stones(AU) those who are sent to her.(AV) How often I wanted to gather your children(AW) together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,(AX) but you were not willing!(AY) 35 See, your house is abandoned to you.(AZ) I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when[k] you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’!”[l](BA)
Footnotes
- 13:2 Other mss read Jesus
- 13:8 Or Lord
- 13:11 Lit had a spirit of disability
- 13:11 Or straighten up completely
- 13:12 Or he summoned her
- 13:16 Or isn’t it necessary that she be untied from this bondage
- 13:21 Or yeast
- 13:21 Lit three sata; about forty liters
- 13:29 Lit recline at the table
- 13:32 Lit I will be finished
- 13:35 Other mss omit the time comes when
- 13:35 Ps 118:26
Luke 13
The Voice
13 As He said this, some people told Him the latest news about a group of Galilean pilgrims in Jerusalem—a group not unlike Jesus’ own entourage. Pilate butchered them while they were at worship, their own blood mingling with the blood of their sacrifices.
Jesus: 2 Do you think these Galileans were somehow being singled out for their sins, that they were worse than any other Galileans, because they suffered this terrible death? 3 Of course not. But listen, if you do not consider God’s ways and truly change, then friends, you should prepare to face His judgment and eternal death.
4 Speaking of current events, you’ve all heard about the 18 people killed in that building accident when the tower in Siloam fell. Were they extraordinarily bad people, worse than anyone else in Jerusalem, so that they would deserve such an untimely death? 5 Of course not. But all the buildings of Jerusalem will come crashing down on you if you don’t wake up and change direction now.
6 (following up with this parable) A man has a fig tree planted in his vineyard. One day he comes out looking for fruit on it, but there are no figs. 7 He says to the vineyard keeper, “Look at this tree. For three years, I’ve come hoping to find some fresh figs, but what do I find? Nothing. So just go ahead and cut it down. Why waste the space with a fruitless tree?”
8 The vineyard keeper replies, “Give it another chance, sir. Give me one more year working with it. I’ll cultivate the soil and heap on some manure to fertilize it. 9 If it surprises us and bears fruit next year, that will be great, but if not, then we’ll cut it down.”
10 Around this time, He was teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath, the Jewish day of rest. 11 A woman there had been sick for 18 years; she was weak, hunched over, and unable to stand up straight. 12-13 Jesus placed His hands on her and suddenly she could stand straight again. She started praising God, 14 but the synagogue official was indignant because Jesus had not kept their Sabbath regulations by performing this healing.
Synagogue Official: Look, there are six other days when it’s appropriate to get work done. Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath!
Jesus: 15 You religious leaders are such hypocrites! Every single one of you unties his ox or donkey from its manger every single Sabbath Day, and then you lead it out to get a drink of water, right? 16 Do you care more about your farm animals than you care about this woman, one of Abraham’s daughters, oppressed by Satan for 18 years? Can’t we untie her from her oppression on the Sabbath?
17 As the impact of His words settled in, His critics were humiliated, but everyone else loved what Jesus said and celebrated everything He was doing.
Jesus (explaining): 18 Do you want to understand the kingdom of God? Do you want Me to tell you what it’s like? 19 It’s like a single mustard seed that someone took and planted in his garden. That tiny seed grew and became a tree so large that the birds could fly in and make their nests in its branches.
20 Do you want Me to tell you what the kingdom of God is like? 21 It’s like some yeast which a woman hid within a huge quantity of flour; soon the whole batch of dough was rising.
22 He was pressing toward Jerusalem, His journey taking Him through various towns and villages. In each one, He taught the people. 23 Once a person asked this question:
Inquiring Individual: Lord, will only a few people be rescued?
Jesus: 24 Strive to enter through the narrow door now, because many people—hear Me on this—will try to enter later on and will not be able to. 25 Imagine you want to enter someone’s home, but you wait until after the homeowner has shut the door. Then you stand outside and bang on the door, and you say, “Sir, please open the door for us!” But he will answer, “I don’t know where you’re from.”
26 Then you’ll say, “Just a minute. We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.” 27 But he’ll say, “Sorry, I have no idea where you’re from. Leave me, all of you evildoers.” 28 Then you’ll see something that will make you cry and grind your teeth together—you’ll see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves will be on the outside looking in.
29 And then you’ll see people streaming in from east and west, from north and south, gathering around the table in the kingdom of God, but you’ll be on the outside looking in. 30 That’s how it will be; some are last now who will be first then, and some are first now who will be last then.
Jesus’ response shows that the Jewish people will be surprised by who enters the kingdom of God. It will not be just the Jews but people from all around the world—east and west, north and south. And they will also be surprised by who does not enter the kingdom, since some Jews will be on the outside looking in.
31 Right then some Pharisees came and warned Him.
Pharisees: You’d better get out of here because Herod is plotting Your murder.
Jesus: 32 You can give that sly fox this message: “Watch as I cast out demons and perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I’ll reach My destination. 33 But for today and tomorrow and the next day, I have to continue My journey, for no prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.”
34 O Jerusalem! O Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and you stone the messengers who are sent to you. How often I wanted to gather in your children as a hen gathers in her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing to come to Me. 35 Look now, your house is abandoned and empty. You won’t see Me until you welcome Me with the words of the psalms, “Anyone who comes in the name of the Eternal One will be blessed!”[a]
Footnotes
Luke 13
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
Repent or Perish
13 At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 He asked them, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.’
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
6 Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7 So he said to the gardener, “See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” 8 He replied, “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.”’
Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman
10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are set free from your ailment.’ 13 When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. 14 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, ‘There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.’ 15 But the Lord answered him and said, ‘You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?’ 17 When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
18 He said therefore, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.’
The Parable of the Yeast
20 And again he said, ‘To what should I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with[a] three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’
The Narrow Door
22 Jesus[b] went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, ‘Lord, will only a few be saved?’ He said to them, 24 ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, “Lord, open to us”, then in reply he will say to you, “I do not know 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 do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!” 28 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, and you yourselves thrown out. 29 Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.’
The Lament over Jerusalem
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, ‘Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.’ 32 He said to them, ‘Go and tell that fox for me,[c] “Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed away from Jerusalem.” 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when[d] you say, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.”’
Footnotes
- Luke 13:21 Gk hid in
- Luke 13:22 Gk He
- Luke 13:32 Gk lacks for me
- Luke 13:35 Other ancient authorities lack the time comes when
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The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.