[1] Now some people who were there at that time, gave him an account of how
the blood of some Galilaeans had been mixed by Pilate with their offerings.
[2] And he, in answer, said to them, Are you of the opinion that these
Galilaeans were worse than all other Galilaeans, because these things were
done to them? [3] I say to you, It is not so: but if your hearts are not
changed, you will all come to the same end. [4] Or those eighteen men who
were crushed by the fall of the tower of Siloam, were they worse than all
the other men living in Jerusalem? [5] I say to you, It is not so: but if
your hearts are not changed, you will all come to an end in the same way.
[6] And he made up this story for them: A certain man had a fig-tree in his
garden, and he came to get fruit from it, and there was no fruit. [7] And
he said to the gardener, See, for three years I have been looking for fruit
from this tree, and I have not had any: let it be cut down; why is it
taking up space? [8] And he said, Lord, let it be for this year, and I will
have the earth turned up round it, and put animal waste on it, to make it
fertile: [9] And if, after that, it has fruit, it is well; if not, let it
be cut down. [10] And he was teaching in one of the Synagogues on the
Sabbath. [11] And there was a woman who had had a disease for eighteen
years; she was bent, and was not able to make herself straight. [12] And
when Jesus saw her, he said to her, Woman, you are made free from your
disease. [13] And he put his hands on her, and she was made straight, and
gave praise to God. [14] And the ruler of the Synagogue was angry because
Jesus had made her well on the Sabbath, and he said to the people, There
are six days in which men may do work: so come on those days to be made
well, and not on the Sabbath. [15] But the Lord gave him an answer and
said, O you false men! do you not, every one of you, on the Sabbath, let
loose his ox and his ass and take it to the water? [16] And is it not right
for this daughter of Abraham, who has been in the power of Satan for
eighteen years, to be made free on the Sabbath? [17] And when he said these
things, those who were against him were shamed, and all the people were
full of joy because of the great things which were done by him. [18] Then
he said, What is the kingdom of God like? what comparison may I make of it?
[19] It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and put in his
garden, and it became a tree, and the birds of heaven made their
resting-places in its branches. [20] And again he said, What is the kingdom
of God like? [21] It is like leaven, which a woman put into three measures
of meal, and it was all leavened. [22] And he went on his way, through
towns and country places, teaching and journeying to Jerusalem. [23] And
someone said to him, Lord, will only a small number have salvation? And he
said to them, [24] Do your best to go in by the narrow door, for I say to
you, A number will make the attempt to go in, but will not be able to do
so. [25] When the master of the house has got up, and the door has been
shut, and you, still outside, give blows on the door, saying, Lord, let us
in; he will make answer and say, I have no knowledge of where you come
from. [26] Then you will say, We have taken food and drink with you, and
you were teaching in our streets. [27] But he will say, Truly, I have no
knowledge of you or where you come from; go away from me, you workers of
evil. [28] There will be weeping and cries of sorrow when you see Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, but you
yourselves are shut outside. [29] And they will come from the east and from
the west, from the north and from the south, and take their places in the
kingdom of God. [30] And the last will be first, and the first will be
last. [31] At that time, certain Pharisees came to him and said, Go away
from this place, because Herod's purpose is to put you to death. [32] And
he said, Go and say to that fox, I send out evil spirits and do works of
mercy today and tomorrow, and on the third day my work will be complete.
[33] But I have to go on my way today and tomorrow and the third day, for
it is not right for a prophet to come to his death outside Jerusalem. [34]
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, putting to death the prophets, and stoning those
who were sent to her! again and again would I have taken your children to
myself, as a bird takes her young ones under her wings, but you would not!
[35] Now see, your house is waste, and I say to you, You will not see me
again till you say, A blessing on him who comes in the name of the Lord.
