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. And He[a] responded to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all Galileans because they suffered these things?(D) No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well! Or those 18 that the tower in Siloam(E) fell on and killed—do you think they were more sinful than all the people who live in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well!”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

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) 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)

“But he replied to him, ‘Sir,[b] leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.(J) Perhaps it will bear 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 18 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 18 years—shouldn’t she be untied from this bondage 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 Yeast

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 yeast(AD) that a woman took and mixed into 50 pounds[f] of flour until it spread through the entire mixture.”[g]

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 there few being saved?”[h](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[i] 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,[j] ‘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 workers of unrighteousness!’ 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, and recline at the table(AM) in the kingdom of God. 30 Note this: Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”(AN)

Jesus and Herod Antipas

31 At that time some Pharisees came and told Him, “Go, get out of here! Herod(AO) wants to kill You!”(AP)

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[k] I will complete My work.’[l](AQ) 33 Yet I must(AR) travel today, tomorrow, and the next day, because it is not possible for a prophet(AS) to perish(AT) outside of Jerusalem!

Jesus’ Lamentation over Jerusalem

34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem!(AU) She who kills the prophets and stones(AV) those who are sent to her.(AW) How often I wanted to gather your children(AX) together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,(AY) but you were not willing!(AZ) 35 See, your house[m] is abandoned to you.(BA) And I tell you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One’!”(BB)[n]

Footnotes

  1. Luke 13:2 Other mss read Jesus
  2. Luke 13:8 Or Lord
  3. Luke 13:11 Lit had a spirit of disability
  4. Luke 13:11 Or straighten up completely
  5. Luke 13:12 Or He summoned her
  6. Luke 13:21 Lit 3 sata; about 40 quarts
  7. Luke 13:21 Or until all of it was leavened
  8. Luke 13:23 Or are the saved few? (in number); lit are those being saved few?
  9. Luke 13:25 Lit you will begin to stand
  10. Luke 13:26 Lit you will begin to say
  11. Luke 13:32 Very shortly
  12. Luke 13:32 Lit I will be finished
  13. Luke 13:35 Probably the temple; Jr 12:7; 22:5
  14. Luke 13:35 Ps 118:26

A Call to Repentance

13 About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”

Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’

“The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

10 One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, 11 he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” 13 Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!

14 But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.”

15 But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water? 16 This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?”

17 This shamed his enemies, but all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things he did.

Parable of the Mustard Seed

18 Then Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? 19 It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.”

Parable of the Yeast

20 He also asked, “What else is the Kingdom of God like? 21 It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

The Narrow Door

22 Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?”

He replied, 24 “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. 25 When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26 Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’

28 “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out. 29 And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God. 30 And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.[a]

Jesus Grieves over Jerusalem

31 At that time some Pharisees said to him, “Get away from here if you want to live! Herod Antipas wants to kill you!”

32 Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. 33 Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!

34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. 35 And now, look, your house is abandoned. And you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’[b]

Footnotes

  1. 13:30 Greek Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.
  2. 13:35 Ps 118:26.