People must live as God wants them to live
1When Jesus told the people that they must live as God wanted them to live, some of them came to Jesus and told Him that Pilate had killed a lot of people in Galilee while they were giving offerings to God. 2Jesus asked them: ‘What do you think? Why did these men of Galilee die in such a cruel way? Do you think they have sinned more than the other people in Galilee? 3No, I tell you: They did not die because they had sinned more than the other people. But if you do not turn to God and start to live like He wants, then you will also die. 4Do you remember those 18 people who all died when the tower of Siloam fell on them? Do you think they died because they did more bad things than the other people in Jerusalem? 5No, I tell you: They died, but it was not because they had done wrong. If you do not turn to God and start living like He wants, you will also die.’
The parable of the fig tree that did not have figs
6Then Jesus told them this parable. He said:
‘A man had a fig tree that grew in his vineyard. He went to see if there were figs on the tree, but he did not find any figs. 7The man told his servant: “It has now been 3 years that I come to see if there are figs on this tree, but every year I get nothing. You must cut it down because it just grows and wastes the water and ground.”
8Then the servant said: “Sir, let the fig tree grow for one more year. I will dig around the tree and give it manure. 9And if the tree has figs next year, it will be good. But if it has no figs next year, then you can cut down the tree.” ’
Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath day
10Jesus was teaching people in the synagogue on the Sabbath day. 11There was a woman who could not walk normally. An evil_spirit had made her cripple for 18 years. She could not stand up straight, and her back was bent over. 12When Jesus saw her, He called her and said to her: ‘Woman, God heals you.’ 13Then Jesus put his hands on her and immediately she was well and she started to praise God. 14The leader of the synagogue was angry because Jesus healed her on the Sabbath day. The leader said to the people: ‘There are 6 days when a person must work. You can come on one of these 6 days if you want to be healed, but you must not come on the Sabbath day.’
15Then the Lord said to him: ‘You are a hypocrite. Each one of you unties your donkeys or animals on the Sabbath day and takes them to water so that they can drink. 16This woman is one of us, an Israelite. The devil has tied her up for 18 years. Do you think it is wrong if I untie her on the Sabbath day?’ 17When Jesus said this, his enemies did not know what to say. But the other people were very happy about the wonderful things that Jesus did.
The parables of the mustard_seed and the yeast
(Also in Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32)
18Jesus said: ‘How can I explain to you what it is like when God is King? What story can I tell? 19Where God is King, it is like when a man plants a mustard_seed in the ground. The plant begins to grow. It becomes a big tree and the birds come and make their nests in its branches.’
20Then Jesus said: ‘I will try to explain it like this: 21Where God is King, it is like when a woman takes a little bit of yeast and she mixes it with a lot of flour. The flour then becomes dough and the yeast makes the dough become bigger and more.’
The small door
22Jesus went to Jerusalem and on his way He went to many small and big towns. In every town He started to teach the people. 23Someone asked Him: ‘Lord, will God save only a few people?’ Jesus said to him:
24‘You must try very hard to go in through the small door, because I tell you: There are many people who will look for this door, but they will not find it. 25The time will come when the owner of the house will come to the door and he will lock the door. There will be many people who will be outside and they will knock on the door and say: “Sir, open the door for us.”
But the owner will tell them: “I do not know you. I do not know where you come from.”
26And they will say: “But we were with you at the table, eating and drinking with you, and we listened when you were teaching the people in our streets.”
27But the owner will tell them: “I do not know you. I do not know where you come from. Go away from me. You have done bad things.”
28Then they will cry and bite hard on their teeth in pain. They will see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets where God is King, but God will throw them outside. 29The people will come from the east, west, north and south and they will eat with God where He is King. 30You must understand this: A lot of people who are not important now will be important, and people who are important now will be unimportant.’
Jesus cries over Jerusalem
31Then some of the Pharisees came to Jesus and said to Him: ‘It will be better if You go away from here because King Herod wants to kill You.’ 32But Jesus said to them: ‘Go and tell that bad and cunning man: “My work is to chase_demons out of people and to heal them today and tomorrow, and on the 3rd day I will finish my work.” 33I know that I have to go to Jerusalem later, because Jerusalem is the place where the people kill the prophets of God.
34People of Jerusalem, you kill the prophets. You kill the messengers of God with stones. I often wanted to bring you together like a hen that puts her wings over her chicks, but you did not want to come to Me. 35Now you must listen carefully: Your homes will be destroyed. No one in Jerusalem will stay alive. I tell you: You will not see Me again until that day when you will say:
“Praise the Man who comes.
The Lord has sent Him to do his work.” ’
