Luke 13:18-34

¹⁸Then Jesus said, “What is the kingdom of God like, and what can I compare it to?

¹⁹It is like a mustard seed that a man took and threw into his garden, and it grew into a big tree, and the birds of heaven built their nests in its branches.”

²⁰Again he said, “To what can I compare the kingdom of God?

²¹It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until it spread through all the flour.”

²²Then Jesus traveled through the towns and villages, teaching and making his way toward Jerusalem.

²³Someone said to him, “Lord, are only a few people to be saved?” So he said to them,

²⁴“Struggle to enter through the narrow door, because, I say to you, many will want to enter, but will not be able to enter.

²⁵Once the owner of the house gets up and locks the door, then you will stand outside and pound the door and say, 'Lord, Lord, let us in.' He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you or where you are from.'

²⁶Then you will say, 'We ate and drank in front of you and you taught in our streets.'

²⁷But he will reply, 'I say to you, I do not know where you are from. Get away from me, you evildoers!'

²⁸There will be crying and the grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God's kingdom, but you are thrown out.

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

³⁰Know this, those who are least important will be first, and those who are most important will be last.”

³¹Shortly after, some Pharisees came and said to him, “Go and leave here because Herod wants to kill you.”

³²Jesus said, “Go and tell that fox, 'Look, I cast out demons and perform healings today and tomorrow, and the third day I will reach my goal.'

³³In any case, it is necessary for me to continue on today, tomorrow, and the following day, since it is not acceptable to kill a prophet away from Jerusalem.

³⁴Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to you. How often I desired to gather your children the way a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you did not desire this.