Chapter XLIV

TOKENS OF COMING JUDGMENT--EIGHTEEN YEARS INFIRMITY.

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them,

Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the
Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay:
but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those
eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them,
think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in
Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall
all likewise perish.

He spake also this parable:

A certain _man_ had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he
came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he
unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I
come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it
down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto
him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about
it, and dung _it_: and if it bear fruit, _well_: and if not,
_then_ after that thou shalt cut it down.

And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up _herself_. And when Jesus saw her, he called _her_ to _him_, and said unto her.

Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

And he laid _his_ hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. The Lord then answered him, and said,

_Thou_ hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath
loose his ox or _his_ ass from the stall, and lead _him_ away
to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of
Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be
loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him. Then said he,

Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I
resemble it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man
took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a
great tree: and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of
it.

And again he said,

Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven,
which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the
whole was leavened.

And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto
you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once
the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the
door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door,
saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us: and he shall answer and say
unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to
say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast
taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know
you not whence ye are; depart from me, all _ye_ workers of
iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when
ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the
prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you _yourselves_ thrust
out.

And they shall come from the east, and _from_ the west, and
from the north, and _from_ the south, and shall sit down in
the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be
first, and there are first which shall be last.

The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out and depart hence, for Herod will kill thee. And he said unto them,

Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do
cures to day and to morrow, and the third _day_ I shall be
perfected. Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow,
and the _day_ following: for it cannot be that a prophet
perish out of Jerusalem.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and
stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have
gathered thy children together, as a hen _doth gather_ her
brood under _her_ wings, and ye would not! Behold your house
is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall
not see me, until _the time_ come when ye shall say, Blessed
_is_ he that cometh in the name of the Lord.