Just at that time some people came who told Jesus about the ¹Galileans whose blood ^aPilate the governor had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus replied to them, “^aDo you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans because they have suffered in this way? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways and live changed lives, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or do you assume that ¹those eighteen on whom the tower in ^aSiloam fell and killed were worse ^bsinners than all the others who live in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways and live changed lives, you will all likewise perish.”

6 Then He began telling them this parable: “A certain man had ^aa fig tree that had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it, but did not find any; 7 so he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and have found none. ^aCut it down! Why does it even use up the ground depleting the soil and blocking the sunlight?’ 8 But he replied to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, just one more year until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; 9 and if it bears fruit after this, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”

10 Now Jesus was ^ateaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had ^aan illness caused by a spirit (demon) . She was bent double, and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are released from your illness.” 13 Then He ^alaid His hands on her; and immediately she stood erect again and she began ^bglorifying and praising God. 14 But ^athe leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus ^bhad healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, “^cThere are six days in which work ought to be done; so come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Ex 20:9, 10 15 But ^athe Lord replied to him, “You hypocrites (play-actors, pretenders) ! ^bDoes not each one of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead it away to water it? 16 And this woman, ^aa daughter (descendant) of Abraham whom ^bSatan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?” 17 As He was saying this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and ^athe entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things that were being done by Him.

18 So this led ^aHim to say, “^bWhat is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? Matt 13:31, 32; Mark 4:30-32 19 It is like a ¹mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his own garden; and it grew and became a tree, and ^aTHE BIRDS OF THE SKY FOUND SHELTER and NESTED IN ITS BRANCHES.” Ezek 17:23; Dan 4:12

20 And again He said, “^aTo what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 ^aIt is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in ^bthree peck measures of flour until it was all leavened.” Matt 13:33

22 Jesus journeyed on through cities and villages, teaching and ^amaking His way toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone asked Him, “Lord, will only a few be saved from the penalties of the last judgment?” And He said to them, 24 “^aStrive to enter through the narrow door force aside unbelief and the attractions of sin; for many, I tell you, will try to enter by their own works and will not be able. 25 Once the head of the house gets up and ^acloses the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door again and again, saying, ‘^bLord, open to us!’ then He will answer you, ‘^cI do not know where you are from for you are not of My household.’ 26 Then you will ^abegin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; 27 but He will say to you, ‘^aI do not know where you are from; ^bDEPART FROM ME, ALL YOU EVILDOERS!’ Ps 6:8 28 ^aIn that place there will be weeping in sorrow and pain and grinding of teeth in distress and anger when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out and driven away. 29 And people ^awill come from east and west, and from north and south, and they will sit down and feast at the table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, ^asome are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

31 At that very hour some Pharisees came up and said to Him, “Leave and go away from here, because ^aHerod Antipas wants to kill You.” 32 And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox that sly, cowardly man, ‘Listen carefully: I cast out demons and perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I ^areach My goal.’ 33 Nevertheless ^aI must travel on today and tomorrow and the day after that—for it cannot be that a ^bprophet would die outside of Jerusalem. 34 ^1aO Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones to death those messengers who are sent to her by God! How often I have wanted to gather your children together around Me, ^bjust as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you were not willing! Matt 23:37-39 35 Listen carefully: your house is left to you desolate abandoned by God and destitute of His protection; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘^aBLESSED to be celebrated with praise IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’” Ps 118:26; Jer 22:5

Now on that very occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood ^aPilate had ¹mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus responded and said to them, “^aDo you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans just because they have suffered this fate? 3 No, I tell you, but unless you ¹repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or do you think that those eighteen on whom the tower in ^aSiloam fell and killed them were worse ^1boffenders than all the other people who live in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

6 And He began telling this parable: “A man had ^aa fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. 7 And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Look! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree ¹without finding any. ^aCut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, leave it alone for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; 9 and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”

10 Now Jesus was ^ateaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And ¹there was a woman who for eighteen years had had ^aa ²sickness 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 ^alaid His hands on her; and immediately she stood up straight again, and began ^bglorifying God. 14 But ^athe synagogue leader, indignant because Jesus ^bhad healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, “^cThere are six days during which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 But ^athe Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites, ^bdoes 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, ^aa daughter of Abraham as she is, whom ^bSatan has bound for ¹eighteen 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 ¹humiliated; and ^athe entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.

18 So ^aHe was saying, “^bWhat 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 ^athe birds of the sky nested in its branches.”

20 And again He said, “^aTo what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 ^aIt is like ¹leaven, which a woman took and hid in ^bthree ²sata of flour until it was all leavened.”

22 And He was passing through one city and village after another, teaching, and ^aproceeding 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 “^aStrive 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 ^ashuts the door, and you begin standing outside and knocking on the door, saying, ‘^bLord, open up to us!’ and He then will answer and say to you, ‘^cI do not know where you are from.’ 26 Then you will ^abegin saying, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets!’ 27 And yet He will ¹say, ‘^aI do not know where you are from; ^bLEAVE ME, ALL YOU ²EVILDOERS.’ 28 ^aIn 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 ^awill come from east and west, and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, ^asome 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 ^aHerod wants to kill You.” 32 And He said to them, “Go and tell that ¹fox, ‘Behold, I am casting out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I ^2areach My goal.’ 33 Nevertheless ^aI must go on My journey today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a ^bprophet would perish outside Jerusalem. 34 ^aJerusalem, 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, ^bjust as a hen gathers her ¹young 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, ‘^aBLESSED IS THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’”