5. I tell you, no! But unless you turn away from your sins, you will all die too."
6. Then Jesus told a story. "A man had a fig tree," he said. "It had been planted in his vineyard. When he went to look for fruit on it, he didn't find any.
7. So he went to the man who took care of the vineyard. He said, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree. But I haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'
8. " 'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year. I'll dig around it and feed it.
9. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.' "
10. Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on a Sabbath day.
11. A woman there had been disabled by an evil spirit for 18 years. She was bent over and could not stand up straight.
12. Jesus saw her. He asked her to come to him. He said to her, "Woman, you will no longer be disabled. I am about to set you free."
13. Then he put his hands on her. Right away she stood up straight and praised God.
14. Jesus had healed the woman on the Sabbath day. This made the synagogue ruler angry. He told the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days. But do not come on the Sabbath."
15. The Lord answered him, "You pretenders! Doesn't each of you go to the barn and untie his ox or donkey on the Sabbath day? Then don't you lead it out to give it water?
16. This woman is a member of Abraham's family line. But Satan has kept her disabled for 18 long years. Shouldn't she be set free on the Sabbath day from what was keeping her disabled?"
17. When Jesus said this, all those who opposed him were put to shame. But the people were delighted. They loved all the wonderful things he was doing.
18. Then Jesus asked, "What is God's kingdom like? What can I compare it to?
19. It is like a mustard seed. Someone took the seed and planted it in a garden. It grew and became a tree. The birds sat in its branches."
20. Again he asked, "What can I compare God's kingdom to?
21. It is like yeast that a woman used. She mixed it into a large amount of flour. The yeast worked its way all through the dough."
22. Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching the people. He was on his way to Jerusalem.
23. Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them,