13:1 Now there were some in attendance at that time who told him about the Galileans Pilate had killed and whose blood he mingled with their own sacrifices.

13:2 And Jesus responded, “Do you think that those Galileans must have been more deviant than everyone else, to have this happen to them?

13:3 Not at all, I tell you! But unless you change your minds, you too will be destroyed.

13:4 Or how about the eighteen who were killed when the tower in Siloam fell on them; do you think they were more guilty than everyone else in Jerusalem?

13:5 Not at all, I tell you! But unless you change your minds, you too will be destroyed.”

13:6 Then he gave them this parable: “Someone had a fig tree planted in their vineyard, but when they went to check on its fruit there was none.

13:7 So he said to the gardener, ‘Enough! I waited three years for this tree to produce figs and found nothing. Chop it down, because it’s wasting good soil.’

13:8 But the gardener replied, ‘Master, give it one more year. I’ll dig around it and fertilize it,

13:9 and if there’s still no fruit, then cut it down’ .”

13:10 One Sabbath when Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,

13:11 suddenly there was a woman who had suffered from a spirit of frailty for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not stand up straight at all.

13:12 When Jesus saw her he said to her, “Dear woman, you are fully released from your infirmities!”

13:13 He put his hands on her and instantly she straightened up and gave honor to God.

13:14 But the synagogue ruler reacted with indignation to Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath. So he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which people can work, so come for healing on those days rather than the Sabbath Day.”

13:15 Yet the Master responded, “Pedants! Any of you would, on the Sabbath, untie your ox or donkey from the feeding trough and lead it away to get a drink of water.

13:16 Yet this daughter of Abraham— whom the Adversary had imprisoned for eighteen years!— was not to be set free from her confinement on the Sabbath Day?!”

13:17 These words shamed all who were opposing him. The whole crowd, though, was delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

13:18 Then he said to them, “What is like the kingdom of God? To what can I compare it?

13:19 It’s like a mustard seed that someone planted in their garden, that grew to become a tree in whose branches the birds built their nests.

13:20 To what else can I compare the kingdom of God?

13:21 It’s like yeast that a woman combined with three measures of flour until the whole batch rose.”

13:22 Then he went through cities and villages, teaching along his way to Jerusalem.

13:23 And someone said to him, “Master, are only a few to be saved?”

13:24 “Compete to enter through the narrow door,” he replied. “For I tell you that many who try to enter will not be strong enough.

13:25 Once the homeowner gets up and locks the doors, you will stand outside knocking on the doors and saying, ‘Master, open up the door for us!’ But he will reply to you, ‘I don’t know you or where you’re from’.

13:26 “Then you’ll start to say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our city squares!’

13:27 But he will retort, ‘I’ve never seen you before. Where did you come from? Get out of here, you outlaws!’

13:28 There will be much crying and teeth grinding when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, while you are expelled.

13:29 People will come from east and west, from north and south, and be seated at the table in the kingdom of God.

13:30 But take note of this! The last will be first, and the first will be last.”

13:31 At that time some Pharisees approached him and said, “Get away from here and go someplace else, because Herod intends to kill you!”

13:32 Jesus replied. “You go and tell that fox, ‘Watch this: I am driving out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and the third day I’m done’.

13:33 After all, I must go on today, tomorrow, and the day after, because it just isn’t right for a prophet to be done away with outside of Jerusalem!

13:34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem… you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you! So many times I’ve wanted to gather your children the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing!

13:35 And now look; your temple is to be taken away from you. But I say to you, you will not recognize me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one coming in the name of the Master’.”