CHAPTER XVIII. CHRIST COMMENTING ON THE SLAUGHTER OF CERTAIN GALILEANS, CURING A DEMONIAC ON THE SABBATH, THE SAVED, ETC.

1 ^13:1AND some were present at that time, telling him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices. ^13:2And he answered and said to them, Do you think those Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? ^13:3I tell you, No; but unless you change your minds you shall all in like manner be destroyed. ^13:4Or those eighteen on whom the tower in the Siloam fell, and killed them; do you think they were sinners above all men that live at Jerusalem? ^13:5I tell you, No; but unless you change your minds you shall all in like manner be destroyed.

2 ^13:6And he spoke this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. ^13:7And he said to his vine dresser, Behold, I have come three years seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none; cut it down; why should it make the ground unproductive? ^13:8And he answered and said to him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I dig about it, and put on manure; ^13:9and if it bears fruit, well; but if not, at a future time you shall cut it down.

3 ^13:10And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath, ^13:11and behold, there was a woman who had been subject to a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent down, and was not able to lift herself up at all. ^13:12And Jesus seeing her, called to her and said, Woman, you are released from your infirmity; ^13:13and he put his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. ^13:14And the synagogue ruler answered, being angry because Jesus had performed a cure on the sabbath, and said to the multitude, There are six days in which you ought to work; in them, therefore, come and be cured, and not on the sabbath. ^13:15Then the Lord answered him and said, Hypocrites, does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead him away to drink? ^13:16And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, behold, eighteen years, to be released from this bond on the sabbath? ^13:17And when he had said these things all his enemies were ashamed; and all the people rejoiced on account of all the glorious works performed by him.

4 ^13:18And he said, What is the kingdom of God like? and to what shall I liken it? ^13:19It is like a mustard seed which a man took and cast into his garden; and it grew and became a great tree, and the birds of heaven lodged in its branches. ^13:20Again he said, To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? ^13:21It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three sata [33 quarts] of flour, till the whole was leavened.

5 ^13:22And he went through the cities and villages teaching, and making his way towards Jerusalem. ^13:23And some one said to him, Lord, are there few who are saved? And he said to them, ^13:24Strive to enter in by the narrow gate; for many, I tell you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ^13:25When the householder has risen and shut the door, and you stand without and knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us, and he will answer and say to you, I know you not whence you are, ^13:26then you will say, We eat and drank in your presence, and you have taught in our streets; ^13:27and he will say to you, I know not whence you are; depart from me, all doers of wickedness. ^13:28There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you cast out. ^13:29And they shall come from the east and west, and from the north and south, and shall recline in the kingdom of God. ^13:30And behold, there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last.

6 ^13:31On the same day some of the Pharisees came to him, saying, Go out and depart hence, for Herod wishes to kill you. ^13:32And he said to them, Go and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out demons, and finish [performing] cures to-day and to-morrow, and on the third day I shall finish my course. ^13:33But I must go on to-day and to-morrow, and the day following; for it is not possible for a prophet to be destroyed out of Jerusalem. ^13:34Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those sent to her, how often would I have gathered your children together, as a bird gathers her young under her wings, and you would not! ^13:35Behold, your house is left to you. And I tell you, that you shall not see me, till [the day] shall come when you shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.