Study Desk

At that time,^(a) some people came and reported to Him about the Galileans^(b) whose blood Pilate^(c) had mixed with their sacrifices.

And He^[a] responded to them, "Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all Galileans because they suffered these things?^(d)

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well!

Or those 18 that the tower in Siloam^(e) fell on and killed—do you think they were more sinful than all the people who live in Jerusalem?

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well!"

And He told this parable:^(f) "A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none. ^(g)

He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down!^(h) Why should it even waste the soil?'⁽ⁱ⁾

"But he replied to him, ‘Sir,^[b] leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. ^(j)

Perhaps it will bear fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.'"

As He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath,^(k)

a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit^[c](l) for over 18 years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.^[d]

When Jesus saw her, He called out to her,^[e] "Woman, you are free of your disability."

Then He laid His hands on her,^(m) and instantly she was restored⁽ⁿ⁾ and began to glorify God.^(o)

But the leader of the synagogue, indignant^(p) because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, responded by telling the crowd, "There are six days when work should be done;^(q) therefore come on those days and be healed and not on the Sabbath day."

But the Lord answered him and said, "Hypocrites!^(r) Doesn't each one of you untie his ox^(s) or donkey from the feeding trough^(t) on the Sabbath and lead it to water? ^(u)

Satan^(v) has bound^(w) this woman, a daughter of Abraham,^(x) for 18 years—shouldn't she be untied from this bondage on the Sabbath day?"

When He had said these things, all His adversaries^(y) were humiliated,^(z) but the whole crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things He was doing.^(aa)

He said, therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like,^(ab) and what can I compare it to?

It's like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches."

Again He said, "What can I compare the kingdom of God^(ac) to?

It's like yeast^(ad) that a woman took and mixed into 50 pounds^[f] of flour until it spread through the entire mixture." ^[g]

He went through one town and village after another, teaching and making His way to Jerusalem.^(ae)