If You Sin, Stop It
1Some people in the crowd approached Jesus and told him that Pilate had murdered some fellow Galileans who had gone to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the Temple. 2Jesus asked them, “Do you think this means those Galileans were worse sinners than other Galileans? 3No, it doesn’t. But I’ll also tell you this. Unless you reject [1] your sinful way of living, you’re going to be destroyed too. 4And remember those 18 people who died when the tower in Siloam [2] collapsed and fell on them? Were they worse than anyone else in Jerusalem? 5No, they weren’t. But I’ll tell you this. Unless you reject your sinful way of living, you’re going to be destroyed too.”Story of a Figless Fig Tree
6Jesus told this parable. [3] “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He went to see if any figs were growing, and there wasn’t a fig on a branch. [4] 7He went to the worker who maintained his vineyard and complained, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to this tree looking for a fig, and I have never found a single one. Get it out of my vineyard. Why should it take up any space in my dirt?’8“The vineyard worker answered, ‘Please, sir, let’s give it one more year. I’ll dig around the tree and add some manure as fertilizer. 9Maybe then it will bear some fruit next year. But if it doesn’t, you can go ahead and take it down.’”
Practicing Medicine on the Sabbath
10Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath 11when he saw a woman suffering because of a spirit inside her that left her weak and unable to enjoy her life—for the past 18 years. She was bent over and couldn’t straighten up. 12Jesus called her out and said, “Dear lady, you are free—no longer a slave to this weakness.”13Jesus put his hands on her and she instantly stood up straight. She burst out thanking God and saying wonderful things about him. 14The synagogue leader got ticked. He knew that Jews weren’t supposed to practice medicine on the Sabbath. [5] So he scolded the crowd in the synagogue, “There are six days for working. Come on one of those days to get yourself healed. Don’t be coming here on the Sabbath for that.”
15The Lord answered, “Tell me this, you hypocrites. Every Sabbath, don’t each one of you untie your ox or your donkey and lead it out so they’re free to get a drink of water? 16Shouldn’t this woman be freed too? She’s a daughter of Abraham who has been tied up by Satan for 18 years. Why not free her on the Sabbath?” 17With those words, Jesus put his critics to shame. Everyone else was happy about all the wonderful things he did.
How Mustard Grows
18Jesus said, “What is the kingdom of God like? How on earth can I possibly help you picture it? 19Let’s try this. In a way, it’s like a tiny mustard seed that a man threw into his garden. The seed grew into a plant as tall as a small tree. It grew big enough that even birds could build their nests in its branches.”How Yeast Permeates
20He tried another example. “What on earth can I use as an illustration to help you understand the kingdom of God? 21Let’s try this. It’s like a tiny bit of yeast a woman added to a batch of flour and worked it into a dough, which grew into a fat loaf once the yeast spread everywhere and did its work.”Door to the Kingdom of God
22Constantly headed toward Jerusalem, Jesus taught the people in town after town and village after village.23Someone asked him, “Sir, will only a few get saved?”
He answered, 24“Do the absolute best you can to squeeze through the narrow door into the kingdom of God. I’m telling you, many people will try to get through that door, but they won’t make it. 25It’s like this, when the owner of a house locks the door, you’re going to be left standing outside. You’ll knock on the door and you’ll say, ‘Sir, please open the door for us.’ But he’ll holler back from inside, ‘I don’t know who you are or where you come from.’ 26You’ll say, ‘But we ate together. And you taught in the streets of our town.’
27“But he’ll say it again, ‘I don’t know who you are or where you come from. So get away from me, you troublemakers [6] who love to hurt people.’ 28When you see where you’re headed, you troublemakers will bawl, clench your jaw, and grind your teeth in horror. You’ll get to see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You’ll see all the prophets too. They’ll all be there in the kingdom of God. But you won’t be. You’re going to get thrown out.
29“But there are others, good people, who will come from the east and the west and the north and the south. They will sit at the banquet table in the kingdom of God. 30But here’s a little heads-up for you. Some people who don’t seem very important here will be some of the most important people there. And some of the people who are most important here are not going to seem especially important there.”
Jesus Gets Sad about Jerusalem
31Within the hour some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “You’d better get out of here if you want to live. Herod [7] wants to kill you.”32Jesus told them, “Go give that fox a message for me. ‘Look, I’m exorcising demons and curing sick people. I’m doing it today. I’ll be doing it tomorrow. I’ll be finished with my work on day three.’ 33It’s true, I have to continue my trip today and tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. I don’t have a choice because it wouldn’t do for a prophet to die outside of Jerusalem.
34“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem. City that kills the prophets. City that stones to death messengers sent by God. So many times I have wanted to gather your children around me like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings of protection. But you didn’t want that. 35Your Jerusalem home will become a home for no one. I’m telling you this, the next time you see me you’ll be saying, ‘He comes with God’s approval and on God’s behalf.’” [8]
