Luke 13:14-31

¹⁴But the synagogue leader, indignant that Jesus had worked the cure on the Sabbath, intervened and said to the people, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come to be cured on one of those, and not on the Sabbath.”

¹⁵“You hypocrites!” the Master answered him. “Does not everyone of you let your ox or your ass loose from its manger, and take it out to drink, on the Sabbath?

¹⁶But this woman, a daughter of Abraham, who has been kept in bondage by Satan for now eighteen years, ought not she to have been released from her bondage on the Sabbath?”

¹⁷As he said this, his opponents all felt ashamed; but all the people rejoiced to see all the wonderful things that he was doing.

¹⁸So Jesus said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what can I liken it?

¹⁹It is like a mustard seed which a man took and put in his garden. The seed grew and became a tree, and the wild birds roosted in its branches.”

²⁰And again Jesus said, “To what can I liken the kingdom of God?

²¹It is like some yeast which a woman took and covered in three pecks of flour, until the whole had risen.”

²²Jesus went through towns and villages, teaching as he went, and making his way towards Jerusalem.

²³“Master,” someone asked, “are there but few in the path of salvation?” And Jesus answered,

²⁴“Strive to go in by the small door. Many, I tell you, will seek to go in, but they will not be able,

²⁵when once the master of the house has got up and shut the door, while you begin to say, as you stand outside and knock, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ His answer will be — ‘I do not know where you come from.’

²⁶Then you will begin to say ‘We have eaten and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in our streets,’ and his reply will be —

²⁷‘I do not know where you come from. Leave my presence, all you who are living in wickedness.’

²⁸There, there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, while you yourselves are being driven outside.

²⁹People will come from East and West, and from North and South, and take their places at the banquet in the kingdom of God.

³⁰there are some who are last now who will then be first, and some who are first now who will then be last!”

³¹Just then some Pharisees came up to Jesus and said, “Go away and leave this place, for Herod wants to kill you.”