Luke 13

1 At that time [in that season, then] some of those present [certain ones, people who were there] told Jesus about the Galileans [people from Jesus’ home region, inhabitants of Galilee] whose blood [the atoning blood, life force] Pilate [the Roman governor, ruler] had mixed [mingled, combined] with their sacrifices [offerings to God, acts of worship]. word study 2 To this He replied, “Do you think [suppose, have an opinion] that these Galileans [people from Jesus’ home region] were worse [greater, more] sinners [those who miss the mark, fall short of God’s standard] than all [every, the whole] the other Galileans, because [since, as a result of] they suffered [experienced pain, endured hardship] this fate [such things, a particular kind of suffering]? word study 3 No [not at all, by no means], I tell you [say to you, speak to you]. But [on the contrary, however] unless you [all of you, everyone] repent [change your mind, turn away from sin], you too [also, likewise] will all [every one of you, completely] perish [be destroyed, lost forever]. word study 4 Or those eighteen [who suffered a tragic fate] who were killed [slaughtered, met a sudden death] when the tower [a high structure, a watchtower] of Siloam [a significant location in Jerusalem, a pool] collapsed [fell, came crashing down] on them: Do you think [suppose, have an opinion] that they were more sinful [offenders, debtors to God] than all the others [every person, all men] living [dwelling, residing] in Jerusalem [the holy city, the capital of Palestine]? word study 5 No [not at all, by no means], I tell you [declare to you]. But [on the contrary] unless you [all of you] repent [change your mind, turn from sin], you too [all of you, similarly] will all [every one of you] perish [be destroyed, lost completely].” word study 6 Then Jesus told this parable [a story that teaches a moral lesson]: “A man [a certain one, a person] had a fig tree that was planted [set in the earth to grow] in his vineyard [a place of cultivation and care]. He went to look for fruit [the product of spiritual growth] on it, but did not find [discover, come across] any [no, none at all]. word study 7 So he said to the keeper [vinedresser, caretaker] of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years [a period of testing and patience] I have come to search [seek, investigate] for fruit [the product of spiritual growth] on this fig tree and haven’t found any [none, no results]. Therefore cut it down [remove, eliminate]! Why should it use up [waste, occupy] the soil [the ground, the earth]?’ word study 8 ‘Sir [Lord, Master, a term of respect],’ the man replied, ‘leave [release, let it go] it alone [undisturbed, unharmed] again this year [a period of twelve months], until [while waiting, during the time that] I dig [excavate, make a hole] around [about, surrounding] it and fertilize [put manure on, add nutrients to] it [the tree, the fig tree]. word study 9 If it bears [produces, brings forth] fruit [the product of its labor, spiritual results] next year, fine [well, good]. But if not [it does not, otherwise], you can cut it down [chop it off, remove it].’” word study 10 One [Jewish day of rest, seventh day] Sabbath [day of worship and rest] Jesus [the Messiah, Christ] was teaching [instructing, guiding] in [among, within] one [mia, unified] of the [specific, particular] synagogues [gathering places], word study 11 and a woman [having a spirit of infirmity] there had been disabled [crippled, bent over] by a spirit [an evil or unclean spirit] for eighteen [eight and ten] years. She was hunched over [bowed together, stooped] and could not [in no wise, unable to] stand up straight [lift herself up, straighten herself]. word study 12 When Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] saw her, He called [summoned, invited] her over and said, “Woman [a female, either married or unmarried], you are set free [released, loosed, forgiven] from your disability [weakness, infirmity, sickness, a lack of strength or health].” word study 13 Then He placed [laid, put] His hands [as a symbol of power and healing] on her, and immediately [at once, instantly] she straightened up [was made straight, restored] and began to glorify [praise and honor] God [the one true deity]. word study 14 But the synagogue leader [ruler of the synagogue, being in charge] was indignant [deeply upset, much displeased] that Jesus had healed [served, cured] on the Sabbath [day of rest, seventh day]. “There are six days [periods of work, time for labor] for work [labor, effort],” he told the crowd [multitude, large group]. “So come and be healed [cured, made whole] on those days [times of work, periods of labor] and not on the Sabbath [day of rest, day of worship].” word study 15 “You [false pretenders] hypocrites!” the Lord [God, the supreme authority] replied. “Does not each [every one, individually] of you on the Sabbath [day of rest, seventh day] untie [loose, set free] his ox [domesticated animal, beast of burden] or donkey [working animal, humble creature] from the stall [manger, feeding trough] and lead [guide, take away] it to water [give drink, quench thirst]? word study 16 Then should not this daughter [a female child or descendant] of Abraham [the father of the Jewish nation], whom Satan [the adversary, accuser] has kept bound [tied up, fastened] for eighteen [eight and ten] long years, be released [loosed, set free] from her bondage [chain, shackle] on the Sabbath day [a day of rest, the seventh day of the week]?” word study 17 When Jesus said this [these things, these words], all His adversaries [opponents, those against Him] were humiliated [ashamed, put to shame, dishonored]. And the whole crowd [multitude, large group of people] rejoiced [felt happy and glad, were delighted] at all the glorious [honored, noble, splendid] things He was doing [being done by Him, coming into being through Him]. word study 18 Then Jesus asked, “What [in what manner or to what extent] is the kingdom [God’s royal power and dominion] of God [the one true deity] like [similar in nature or character]? To what [which thing or circumstance] can I compare [make similar or liken] it [the kingdom, God’s reign]? word study 19 It is like [similar in appearance or character] a mustard seed [a small, insignificant grain] that a man [a human being] tossed [threw with force] into his garden [a cultivated plot of land]. It grew [increased in size] and became a tree [a large, sturdy plant], and the birds [flying creatures] of the air [the sky, heaven] nested [made their home] in its branches [small, extending parts].” word study 20 Again [once more, anew] He asked, “To what [which thing, what comparison] can I compare [liken, make similar] the kingdom [reign, dominion] of God [the one true deity, Creator]? word study 21 It is like [similar in appearance or character] leaven [yeast, a moral influence] that a woman [a female, either married or unmarried] took [received, accepted] and mixed [hid, blended] into three [a specific number, a quantity] measures [a unit of dry measurement, a peck and a half] of flour [the kind used for baking bread], until [continuing until the point that] all [the whole, complete in every way] of it was leavened [influenced, made to rise].” word study 22 Then Jesus traveled [went on his way, journeying] throughout the towns [cities] and villages [rural areas, country places], teaching [instructing, guiding] as He made His way [progressed, journeying] toward [unto, into] Jerusalem [the holy city, capital of Palestine]. word study 23 “Lord [Master, God, the Supreme One],” someone [a certain person, one] asked Him, “will only [are there few, a small number of] a few people [ones, individuals] be saved [rescued, delivered from harm, to save or deliver from sin]?” Jesus [the Savior, the Messiah] answered [replied, spoke to them, to say or speak], word study 24 “Make every effort [to strive, to struggle] to enter [to go into, to become part of] through [by means of, because of] the narrow [restricted, difficult] door [gate, entrance]. For many [a large number, numerous], I tell [say, declare] you, will try [seek, attempt] to enter [to go in, to become part of] and will not be able [will not have the strength, will not succeed]. word study 25 After the master [householder, head of the family] of the house gets up [arises, stands up] and shuts [closes, locks] the door, you will stand outside [outwardly, in a physical or spiritual sense] knocking and saying, ‘Lord [Master, God, the supreme authority], open [make accessible, unlock] the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know [am unaware of, do not recognize] where you are from [your origin, your spiritual source].’ word study 26 Then [at that specific point in time] you will say [begin to speak, declare], ‘We ate [shared meals, feasted] and drank [partook of beverages, celebrated] with you [in your presence, before you], and you taught [instructed, guided] in our streets [public squares, gathering places].’ word study 27 And he will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know [have no spiritual awareness of] where you are from [whence ye are, your origin]. Depart [leave, go away] from me, all [every one of] you evildoers [workers of iniquity, those who practice unrighteousness].’ word study 28 There will be [intense, sorrowful] weeping and [angry, frustrated] gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all [every single one of] the prophets [God’s messengers, spokesmen] in the kingdom [reign, dominion] of God [the supreme deity, Creator], but you yourselves are [forcefully, completely] thrown out [expelled, excluded]. word study 29 People will come [from all directions, from every corner] from east [the rising sun] and west [the direction of sunset] and north [the northern regions, often associated with cold and darkness] and south [the southern regions, often associated with warmth and light], and will recline [sit down to eat, feast, and rest] at the table [a place of fellowship and communion] in the kingdom [the reign, dominion, and rule] of God [the one true deity, Creator, and Savior]. word study 30 And indeed [truly, as a matter of fact], some who are [exist as, have the position of] last [least, farthest] will be [shall exist as] first [foremost, most important], and some who are [have the position of] first [most prominent, leading] will be [shall exist as] last [least significant, final].” word study 31 At that very hour [on the same day], some Pharisees [members of a Jewish sect] came to Jesus and told Him, “Leave [go out, depart] this place and get away [travel from here], because Herod [the ruler, a Jewish king] wants [desires, intends] to kill [destroy, take the life of] You [as an individual].” word study 32 But Jesus replied, “Go tell that [sly and cunning] fox, ‘Look, I will keep driving out [expelling, casting away] demons [evil spirits, unclean beings] and healing [restoring to wholeness, curing] people today [in this present time] and tomorrow [on the next day], and on the third [final, completing] day I will reach [attain, fulfill] My goal [purpose, mission].’ word study 33 Nevertheless [however, in spite of this], I must keep going [travel, journey] today [at this present time] and tomorrow [the next day] and the next day [the day following], for it is not admissible [possible, permissible] for a prophet [one who speaks God’s message] to perish [be destroyed, lose one’s life] outside of [beyond the boundaries of] Jerusalem [the holy city, the capital of Israel]. word study 34 O Jerusalem [the holy city, capital of Palestine], Jerusalem, who kills [puts to death, destroys] the prophets [God’s messengers, spokesmen] and stones [throws stones at, persecutes] those sent [apostles, emissaries] to her, how often [many times, frequently] I have longed [desired, willed] to gather [collect, bring together] your children [offspring, descendants] together as a hen [a mother bird] gathers [brings under her care, protects] her chicks [young ones, brood] under her wings, but you were unwilling [refused, did not want]! word study 35 Look [behold, take notice], your house [home, family, or temple] is left [abandoned, deserted] to you desolate [empty, uninhabited]. And I tell [say, speak] you that you will not see [perceive, experience] Me again until [until the time comes] you say [speak, declare], ‘Blessed [praised] is He who comes [arrives] in the name [authority, character] of the Lord [God, Master].’ ” word study