Luke 13
Contemporary English Version
Turn Back to God
13 About this same time Jesus was told that Pilate had given orders for some people from Galilee to be killed while they were offering sacrifices. 2 Jesus replied:
Do you think that these people were worse sinners than everyone else in Galilee just because of what happened to them? 3 Not at all! But you can be sure that if you don't turn back to God, every one of you will also be killed. 4 What about those 18 people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Do you think they were worse than everyone else in Jerusalem? 5 Not at all! But you can be sure that if you don't turn back to God, every one of you will also die.
A Story about a Fig Tree
6 Jesus then told them this story:
A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. One day he went out to pick some figs, but he didn't find any. 7 So he said to the gardener, “For three years I have come looking for figs on this tree, and I haven't found any yet. Chop it down! Why should it take up space?”
8 The gardener answered, “Master, leave it for another year. I'll dig around it and put some manure on it to make it grow. 9 Maybe it will have figs on it next year. If it doesn't, you can have it cut down.”
Healing a Woman on the Sabbath
10 One Sabbath, Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by an evil spirit for 18 years. She was completely bent over and could not straighten up. 12 When Jesus saw the woman, he called her over and said, “You are now well.” 13 He placed his hands on her, and at once she stood up straight and praised God.
14 (A) The man in charge of the synagogue was angry because Jesus had healed someone on the Sabbath. So he said to the people, “Each week has six days when we can work. Come and be healed on one of those days, but not on the Sabbath.”
15 The Lord replied, “Are you trying to fool someone? Won't any one of you untie your ox or donkey and lead it out to drink on a Sabbath? 16 This woman belongs to the family of Abraham, but Satan has kept her bound for 18 years. Isn't it right to set her free on the Sabbath?” 17 Jesus' words made his enemies ashamed. But everyone else in the crowd was happy about the wonderful things he was doing.
A Mustard Seed and Yeast
(Matthew 13.31-33; Mark 4.30-32)
18 Jesus said, “What is God's kingdom like? What can I compare it with? 19 It is like what happens when someone plants a mustard seed in a garden. The seed grows as big as a tree, and birds nest in its branches.”
20 Then Jesus said, “What can I compare God's kingdom with? 21 It is like what happens when a woman mixes yeast into three batches of flour. Finally, all the dough rises.”
The Narrow Door
(Matthew 7.13,14,21-23)
22 As Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, he taught the people in the towns and villages. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”
Jesus answered:
24 Do all you can to go in by the narrow door! A lot of people will try to get in, but will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and locks the door, you will be left standing outside. You will knock on the door and say, “Sir, open the door for us!”
But the owner will answer, “I don't know a thing about you!”
26 Then you will start saying, “We dined with you, and you taught in our streets.”
27 (B) But he will say, “I really don't know who you are! Get away from me, you evil people!”
28 (C)(D) Then when you have been thrown outside, you will weep and grit your teeth because you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God's kingdom. 29 People will come from all directions and sit down to feast in God's kingdom. 30 (E) There the ones who are now least important will be the most important, and those who are now most important will be least important.
Jesus and Herod
31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “You had better get away from here, because Herod[a] wants to kill you!”
32 Jesus said to them:
Go tell that fox, “I am going to force out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and three days later I'll be through.” 33 But I am going on my way today and tomorrow and the next day. After all, Jerusalem is the place where prophets are killed.
Jesus Loves Jerusalem
(Matthew 23.37-39)
34 (F) Jerusalem, Jerusalem! Your people have killed the prophets and have stoned the messengers who were sent to you. I have often wanted to gather your people, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you wouldn't let me. 35 (G) Now your temple will be deserted. You won't see me again until the time when you say,
“Blessed is the one who comes
in the name of the Lord.”
Footnotes
- 13.31 Herod: Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great.
Luke 13
Holman 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 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 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? 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 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
- Luke 13:2 Other mss read Jesus
- Luke 13:8 Or Lord
- Luke 13:11 Lit had a spirit of disability
- Luke 13:11 Or straighten up completely
- Luke 13:12 Or He summoned her
- Luke 13:21 Lit 3 sata; about 40 quarts
- Luke 13:21 Or until all of it was leavened
- Luke 13:23 Or are the saved few? (in number); lit are those being saved few?
- Luke 13:25 Lit you will begin to stand
- Luke 13:26 Lit you will begin to say
- Luke 13:32 Very shortly
- Luke 13:32 Lit I will be finished
- Luke 13:35 Probably the temple; Jr 12:7; 22:5
- Luke 13:35 Ps 118:26
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