Parable of the Leaven

Matt. 13:33–35

20 And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21 It is like 7leaven, which a woman took and hid in three lmeasures 8of meal till it was all leavened.”

The Way into the Kingdom

22 mAnd He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there nfew who are saved?”

And He said to them, 24 o“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for pmany, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 qWhen once the Master of the house has risen up and rshut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, s‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, t‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 uBut He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. vDepart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28 wThere will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, xwhen you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. 29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 yAnd indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

Christ Mourns Over Jerusalem

31 9On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.”

32 And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day zI shall be 1perfected.’ 33 Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.

34 a“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! 35 See! bYour house is left to you desolate; and 2assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, c‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

Instruction on the Sabbath

14 Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely. 2 And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy. 3 And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, a“Is it lawful to heal on the 1Sabbath?”

4 But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go. 5 Then He answered them, saying, b“Which of you, having a 2donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” 6 And they could not answer Him regarding these things.

Parable of the Ambitious Guest

7 So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: 8 “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; 9 and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 cBut when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 11 dFor whoever exalts himself will be 3humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

12 Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite ethe poor, the 4maimed, the lame, the blind. 14 And you will be fblessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”