In the day of Jesus, amidst a gathering in Galilee, there were men who told Jesus about the cruel acts of Pontius Pilate, who had ordered the blood of some Galileans to be mingled with their sacrifices. Jesus took this as an opportunity to impart wisdom, so he posed a question to the present crowd. He asked them if they thought that the slain Galileans were sinners above all others because they had suffered these dreadful things. His answer was negative, and he stated that unless people repented for their sins, they would meet a similar fate.

Continuing his teaching, Jesus brought up another incident: the accident where eighteen individuals were killed when the tower in Siloam fell on them. He asked if they thought those eighteen were worse offenders than all others in Jerusalem. Jesus again emphasized the necessity of repentance else they would likewise perish.

Jesus then spoke a parable, the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree. In it, a man planted a fig tree in his vineyard, but it bore no fruit for three years. Frustrated, the man requested the vinedresser to cut it down. However, the vinedresser persuaded the owner to give the tree another year, during which time he would care for it so that, maybe, it might bear fruit. If it didn’t, then the tree would be cut down.

With the Sabbath came the opportunity for Jesus to perform miracles. Within a synagogue, there was a woman who had an infirmity for eighteen years, causing her to be hunched over. On seeing the woman’s state, Jesus called out and declared her freedom from the infirmity. He laid his hands on her, and immediately she was cured, standing straight and glorifying God.

However, the ruler of the synagogue objected to Jesus’ actions as the healing had been performed on the Sabbath. Jesus countered by pointing out the hypocrisy of his accuser: if it was permissible to lead their ox or ass for watering on the Sabbath, why then was it not permissible to free a woman from her infirmity? This silenced his adversaries and brought joy to the multitude gathered there.

In continuation of his teachings, Jesus likened the kingdom of God to a mustard seed sown in a garden that grew and became a tree providing shelter to birds. He also likened the kingdom to leaven that a woman mixed into dough until it was fully leavened.

Jesus continued his journey and teaching, heading towards Jerusalem. On the way, there was a question about those who would be saved. Jesus reminded them of the narrow door and the struggle to enter through it. He spoke of a time when the master of the house would rise, shut the door and many who were left outside would wail.

His teachings alarmed the Pharisees who tried to threaten him with the news of Herod’s intent to kill him. Unfazed by the threats, Jesus reminded them of his mission to cast out evil and perform cures. His lament over Jerusalem’s history of stoning prophets signified his tragic foreknowledge about his own fate there.

Finally, Jesus forewarned the people of Jerusalem that their city would be left desolate. The people wouldn’t see him again until they acknowledged his purpose and blessed his arrival in the Lord’s name. Thus did Jesus continue teaching, knowing the sacrifice that awaited him.