15. The Lord answered, “You people are hypocrites! All of you untie your work animals and lead them to drink water every day—even on the Sabbath day!
16. This woman that I healed is our Jewish sister. But Satan has held her for 18 years. Surely it is not wrong for her to be freed from her sickness on a Sabbath day!”
17. When Jesus said this, all the men who were criticizing him were ashamed. And all the people were happy for the wonderful things Jesus was doing.
18. Then Jesus said, “What is God’s kingdom like? What can I compare it with?
19. God’s kingdom is like the seed of the mustard plant. A man plants this seed in his garden. The seed grows and becomes a tree. The wild birds build nests on its branches.”
20. Jesus said again, “What can I compare God’s kingdom with?
21. It is like yeast that a woman mixes into a big bowl of flour. The yeast makes all the dough rise.”
22. Jesus was teaching in every town and village. He continued to travel toward Jerusalem.
23. Someone said to Jesus, “Lord, how many people will be saved? Only a few?”Jesus said,
24. “Try hard to enter through the narrow door that opens the way to heaven! Many people will try to enter there, but they will not be able.
25. A man gets up and closes the door of his house. You can stand outside and knock on the door. You can say, ‘Sir, open the door for us!’ But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you! Where did you come from?’
26. Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you. You taught in the streets of our town.’
27. But he will say to you, ‘I don’t know you! Where did you come from? Go away from me! All of you do evil!’
28. You will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s kingdom. But you will be thrown outside. Then you will cry and grind your teeth with pain.
29. People will come from the east, west, north, and south. They will sit down at the table in the kingdom of God.