20. And again He said, To what shall I liken the kingdom of God?
21. It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of wheat flour or meal until it was all leavened (fermented).
22. [Jesus] journeyed on through towns and villages, teaching, and making His way toward Jerusalem.
23. And someone asked Him, Lord, will only a few be saved (rescued, delivered from the penalties of the last judgment, and made partakers of the salvation by Christ)? And He said to them,
24. Strive to enter by the narrow door [force yourselves through it], for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.
25. When once the Master of the house gets up and closes the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door [again and again], saying, Lord, open to us! He will answer you, I do not know where [what household–certainly not Mine] you come from.
26. Then you will begin to say, We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.
27. But He will say, I tell you, I do not know where [what household–certainly not Mine] you come from; depart from Me, all you wrongdoers!
28. There will be weeping and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves being cast forth (banished, driven away).
29. And [people] will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit down (feast at table) in the kingdom of God.
30. And behold, there are some [now] last who will be first [then], and there are some [now] first who will be last [then].
31. At that very hour some Pharisees came up and said to Him, Go away from here, for Herod is determined to kill You.
32. And He said to them, Go and tell that fox [sly and crafty, skulking and cowardly], Behold, I drive out demons and perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish (complete) My course.
33. Nevertheless, I must continue on My way today and tomorrow and the day after that–for it will never do for a prophet to be destroyed away from Jerusalem!
34. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who continue to kill the prophets and to stone those who are sent to you! How often I have desired and yearned to gather your children together [around Me], as a hen [gathers] her young under her wings, but you would not!