Luke 13
13About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple.G1161G3918G1722G846G2540G5100G518G846G4012G1057G3739G129G4091G3396G3326G846G23782"Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?" Jesus asked. "Is that why they suffered?G2532G2424G611G2036G846G1380G3754G3778G1057G1096G268G3844G3956G1057G3754G3958G51083Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.G3004G5213G3780G235G3362G3340G622G3956G5615G6224And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem?G2228G1565G1176G2532G3638G1909G3739G4444G1722G4611G4098G2532G615G846G1380G3754G3778G1096G3781G3844G3956G444G2730G1722G24195No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too."G3004G5213G3780G235G3362G3340G622G3956G3668G6226Then Jesus told this story: "A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed.G3004G1161G5026G3850G5100G2192G4808G5452G1722G846G290G2532G2064G2212G2590G1722G846G2532G2147G37567Finally, he said to his gardener, 'I've waited three years, and there hasn't been a single fig! Cut it down. It's just taking up space in the garden.'G1161G2036G4314G289G2400G5140G2094G2064G2212G2590G1722G5026G4808G2532G2147G3756G1581G846G1581G2444G2532G2673G846G10938"The gardener answered, 'Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I'll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer.G1161G611G3004G846G2962G863G846G863G5124G2094G2532G2193G3755G4626G4012G846G2532G906G28749If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.'"G2579G3303G4160G2590G1490G1519G3195G1581G846G158110One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue,G1161G2258G1321G1722G3391G4864G1722G452111he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight.G2532G2400G2258G1135G2192G4151G769G1176G2532G3638G2094G2532G2258G4794G2532G1410G1519G3361G3838G35212When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!"G1161G2424G1492G846G4377G2532G2036G846G1135G630G4675G76913Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!G2532G2007G5495G2007G846G2532G3916G461G2532G1392G231614But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. "There are six days of the week for working," he said to the crowd. "Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath."G1161G752G611G23G3754G2424G2323G4521G3004G3793G1526G1803G2250G1722G3739G1163G2038G1722G5025G3767G2064G2323G2532G3361G4521G225015But the Lord replied, "You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don't you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water?G2962G3767G611G846G2532G2036G5273G3089G3756G1538G5216G4521G3089G846G1016G2228G3688G575G5336G2532G520G422216This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn't it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?"G1161G1163G3756G5026G5607G2364G11G3739G4567G1210G2400G1176G2532G3638G2094G3089G575G5127G1199G4521G225017This shamed his enemies, but all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things he did.G2532G846G3004G5023G3956G846G480G2617G2532G3956G3793G5463G1909G3956G1741G1096G5259G84618Then Jesus said, "What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it?G1161G3004G5101G2076G932G2316G3664G2532G5101G3666G84619It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches."G2076G3664G2848G4615G3739G444G2983G906G1519G1438G2779G2532G837G2532G1096G1519G3173G1186G2532G4071G3772G2681G1722G2798G84620He also asked, "What else is the Kingdom of God like?G2532G3825G2036G5101G3666G932G231621It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough."G2076G3664G2219G3739G1135G2983G1470G1519G5140G4568G224G2193G3739G3650G222022Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem.G2532G1279G2596G4172G2532G2968G1321G2532G4160G4197G1519G241923Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?" He replied,G1161G2036G5100G4314G846G2962G1487G3641G4982G1161G2036G84624"Work hard to enter the narrow door to God's Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.G75G1525G1223G4728G4439G3754G4183G3004G5213G2212G1525G2532G2480G3756G248025When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Lord, open the door for us!' But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'G575G3739G302G3617G1453G2532G608G2374G2532G756G2476G1854G2532G2925G2374G3004G2962G2962G455G2254G2532G611G2046G5213G1492G5209G3756G4159G207526Then you will say, 'But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'G5119G756G3004G5315G2532G4095G4675G1799G2532G1321G1722G2257G411327And he will reply, 'I tell you, I don't know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.'G2532G2046G3004G5213G1492G5209G3756G4159G2075G868G575G1700G3956G2040G9328"There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out.G1563G2071G2805G2532G1030G3599G3752G3700G11G2532G2464G2532G2384G2532G3956G4396G1722G932G2316G1161G5209G1544G185429And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God.G2532G2240G575G395G2532G1424G2532G575G1005G2532G3558G2532G347G1722G932G231630And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then."G2532G2400G1526G2078G3739G2071G4413G2532G1526G4413G3739G2071G207831At that time some Pharisees said to him, "Get away from here if you want to live! Herod Antipas wants to kill you!"G1722G846G2250G4334G5100G5330G3004G846G1831G2532G4198G1782G3754G2264G2309G615G457132Jesus replied, "Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose.G2532G2036G846G4198G2036G5026G258G2400G1544G1140G2532G2005G2392G4594G2532G839G2532G5154G504833Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn't do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!G4133G3165G1163G4198G4594G2532G839G2532G2192G3754G3756G1735G4396G622G1854G241934"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me.G2419G2419G3588G615G4396G2532G3036G649G4314G846G4212G2309G1996G4675G5043G1996G3739G5158G3733G1438G3555G5259G4420G2532G2309G375635And now, look, your house is abandoned. And you will never see me again until you say, 'Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!'"G2400G5216G3624G863G5213G2048G1161G281G3004G5213G3754G1492G3364G1492G3165G2193G302G2240G3753G2036G2127G2064G1722G3686G2962
Luke 14
14One Sabbath day Jesus went to eat dinner in the home of a leader of the Pharisees, and the people were watching him closely.G2532G1096G1722G846G2064G1519G3624G5100G758G5330G5315G740G4521G2532G846G2258G3906G8462There was a man there whose arms and legs were swollen.G2532G2400G2258G5100G444G1715G846G52033Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in religious law, "Is it permitted in the law to heal people on the Sabbath day, or not?"G2532G2424G611G2036G4314G3544G2532G5330G3004G1487G1832G2323G45214When they refused to answer, Jesus touched the sick man and healed him and sent him away.G1161G2270G2532G1949G2390G846G2532G6305Then he turned to them and said, "Which of you doesn't work on the Sabbath? If your son or your cow falls into a pit, don't you rush to get him out?"G2532G611G4314G846G2036G5101G5216G3688G2228G1016G1706G1519G5421G2532G385G3756G2112G385G846G385G1722G4521G22506Again they could not answer.G2532G2480G3756G470G846G470G4314G50237When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice.G1161G3004G3850G4314G2564G1907G4459G1586G4411G3004G4314G8468"When you are invited to a wedding feast, don't sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited?G3752G2564G5259G5100G1519G1062G2625G3361G2625G1519G4411G3379G1784G4675G5600G2564G5259G8469The host will come and say, 'Give this person your seat.' Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!G2532G2564G4571G2532G846G2064G2046G4671G1325G5129G5117G2532G5119G756G3326G152G2722G2078G511710"Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, 'Friend, we have a better place for you!' Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests.G235G3752G2564G4198G377G1519G2078G5117G2443G3752G2564G4571G2064G2036G4671G5384G4320G511G5119G4671G2071G1391G1799G4873G467111For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."G3754G3956G5312G1438G5013G2532G5013G1438G531212Then he turned to his host. "When you put on a luncheon or a banquet," he said, "don't invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward.G1161G3004G2532G2564G846G3752G4160G712G2228G1173G5455G3361G4675G5384G3366G4675G80G3366G4675G4773G3366G4145G1069G3379G846G2532G479G4571G479G2532G468G1096G467113Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.G235G3752G4160G1403G2564G4434G376G5560G518514Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you."G2532G2071G3107G3754G3756G2192G467G4671G1063G4671G467G1722G386G134215Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, "What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!"G1161G5100G4873G191G5023G2036G846G3107G3739G5315G740G1722G932G231616Jesus replied with this story: "A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations.G1161G2036G846G5100G444G4160G3173G1173G2532G2564G418317When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, 'Come, the banquet is ready.'G2532G649G846G1401G1173G5610G2036G2564G2064G3754G3956G2076G2235G209218But they all began making excuses. One said, 'I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.'G2532G3956G575G3391G756G3868G4413G2036G846G59G68G2532G2192G318G1831G2532G1492G846G2065G4571G2192G3165G386819Another said, 'I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.'G2532G2087G2036G59G4002G2201G1016G2532G4198G1381G846G2065G4571G2192G3165G386820Another said, 'I now have a wife, so I can't come.'G2532G2087G2036G1060G1135G2532G1223G5124G3756G1410G206421"The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, 'Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.'G2532G1565G1401G3854G518G846G2962G5023G5119G3617G3710G2036G846G1401G1831G5030G1519G4113G2532G4505G4172G2532G1521G5602G4434G2532G376G2532G5560G2532G518522After the servant had done this, he reported, 'There is still room for more.'G2532G1401G2036G2962G1096G5613G2004G2532G2089G2076G511723So his master said, 'Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.G2532G2962G2036G4314G1401G1831G1519G3598G2532G5418G2532G315G1525G2443G3450G3624G107224For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.'"G1063G3004G5213G3754G3762G1565G435G3588G2564G1089G3450G117325A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them,G1161G4848G4183G3793G846G2532G4762G2036G4314G84626"If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.G1536G2064G4314G3165G2532G3404G3756G1438G3962G2532G3384G2532G1135G2532G5043G2532G80G2532G79G2089G1161G1438G5590G2532G3756G1410G1511G3450G310127And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.G2532G3748G941G3756G941G846G4716G2532G2064G3694G3450G3756G1410G1511G3450G310128"But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?G1063G5101G1537G5216G2309G3618G4444G2523G3780G2523G4412G5585G1160G1487G2192G4314G53529Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you.G3363G3379G846G5087G2310G2532G2480G3361G2480G1615G3956G2334G756G1702G84630They would say, 'There's the person who started that building and couldn't afford to finish it!'G3004G3754G3778G444G756G3618G2532G2480G3756G2480G161531"Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him?G2228G5101G935G4198G4820G4171G1519G2087G935G2523G3780G2523G4412G1011G1487G2076G1415G1722G1176G5505G528G2064G1909G846G3326G1501G550532And if he can't, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away.G1490G846G5607G2089G4206G649G4242G2065G4314G151533So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.G3779G3767G3956G1537G5216G3739G657G3756G3956G5224G1438G3756G1410G1511G3450G310134"Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again?G217G2570G1161G1437G217G3471G1722G5101G74135Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!"G2076G3777G2111G1519G1093G3777G1519G2874G906G846G1854G2192G3775G191G191
Luke 15
15Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.G1161G2258G1448G846G3956G5057G2532G268G191G8462This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!G2532G5330G2532G1122G1234G3004G3754G3778G4327G268G2532G4906G8463So Jesus told them this story.G1161G2036G5026G3850G4314G846G30044"If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?G5101G444G1537G5216G2192G1540G4263G2532G622G1520G1537G846G2641G3756G2641G1768G1722G2048G2532G4198G1909G622G2193G2147G8465And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders.G2532G2147G2007G1909G1438G5606G54636When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'G2532G2064G1519G3624G4779G5384G2532G1069G3004G846G4796G3427G3754G2147G3450G4263G3588G6227In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!G3004G5213G3754G3779G5479G2071G1722G3772G1909G1520G268G3340G2228G1909G1768G1342G3748G2192G5532G3756G33418"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it?G2228G5101G1135G2192G1176G1406G1437G622G3391G1406G3780G681G3088G2532G4563G3614G2532G2212G1960G2193G3755G21479And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.'G2532G2147G4779G5384G2532G1069G4779G3004G4796G3427G3754G2147G1406G3739G62210In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents."G3779G3004G5213G1096G5479G1799G32G2316G1909G1520G268G334011To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: "A man had two sons.G1161G2036G5100G444G2192G1417G520712The younger son told his father, 'I want my share of your estate now before you die.' So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.G2532G3501G846G2036G3962G3962G1325G3427G3313G3776G1911G2532G1244G846G97913"A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.G2532G3756G4183G2250G3326G3501G5207G4863G537G4863G589G1519G3117G5561G2532G1563G1287G846G3776G811G219814About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.G1161G846G1159G3956G1096G2478G3042G2596G1565G5561G2532G846G756G530215He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.G2532G4198G2853G1520G4177G1565G5561G2532G3992G846G1519G846G68G1006G551916The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.G2532G1937G1072G846G2836G575G2769G3739G5519G2068G2532G3762G1325G84617"When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, 'At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!G1161G2064G1519G1438G2036G4214G3407G3450G3962G740G4052G1161G1473G622G304218I will go home to my father and say, "Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,G450G4198G4314G3450G3962G2532G2046G846G3962G264G1519G3772G2532G1799G467519and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant."'G2532G1510G3765G514G2564G4675G5207G4160G3165G5613G1520G4675G340720"So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.G2532G450G2064G4314G1438G3962G1161G846G2089G3112G568G846G3962G1492G846G2532G4697G2532G5143G1968G1909G846G5137G2532G2705G84621His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.'G1161G5207G2036G846G3962G264G1519G3772G2532G1799G4675G1799G2532G1510G3765G514G2564G4675G520722"But his father said to the servants, 'Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.G1161G3962G2036G4314G846G1401G1627G4413G4749G2532G1746G846G2532G1325G1146G1519G846G5495G2532G5266G1519G422823And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast,G2532G5342G4618G3448G2380G2532G5315G216524for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.' So the party began.G3754G3778G3450G5207G2258G3498G2532G326G2532G2258G622G2532G2147G2532G756G216525"Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house,G1161G846G4245G5207G2258G1722G68G2532G5613G2064G1448G3614G191G4858G2532G552526and he asked one of the servants what was going on.G2532G4341G1520G3816G4441G5101G5023G149827'Your brother is back,' he was told, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.'G1161G2036G846G3754G4675G80G2240G2532G4675G3962G2380G4618G3448G3754G618G846G519828"The older brother was angry and wouldn't go in. His father came out and begged him,G1161G3710G2532G2309G3756G1525G3767G1831G846G3962G1831G3870G84629but he replied, 'All these years I've slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.G1161G611G2036G3962G2400G5118G2094G1398G4671G3763G3928G3763G4675G1785G2532G2532G1325G3763G1325G1698G2056G2443G2165G3326G3450G538430Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!'G1161G3753G3778G4675G5207G2064G3588G2719G4675G979G3326G4204G2380G846G4618G344831"His father said to him, 'Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours.G1161G2036G846G5043G4771G1488G3842G3326G1700G2532G3956G1699G2076G467432We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!'"G1161G1163G2165G2532G5463G3754G3778G4675G80G2258G3498G2532G326G2532G2258G622G2532G2147
Dublin, OH
."G2532
