Luke 13: God's Kingdom Grows

Jesus calls people to turn back to God and tells of a fig tree given one more year to bear fruit. On the Sabbath He heals a woman who had been bent over for eighteen years. He compares God's Kingdom to a tiny mustard seed and to yeast, urges people to enter through the narrow door, and grieves over Jerusalem like a hen longing to gather her chicks.

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Read Luke 13

World English Bible · 35 verses

¹ Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ He spoke this parable. “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down! Why does it waste the soil?’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ Behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years. She was bent over and could in no way straighten herself up.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² When Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ He laid his hands on her, and immediately she stood up straight and glorified God.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ The ruler of the synagogue, being indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the multitude, “There are six days in which men ought to work. Therefore come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Therefore the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each one of you free his ox or his donkey from the stall on the Sabbath and lead him away to water?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham whom Satan had bound eighteen long years, be freed from this bondage on the Sabbath day?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ As he said these things, all his adversaries were disappointed; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ He said, “What is God’s Kingdom like? To what shall I compare it?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and put in his own garden. It grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the sky live in its branches.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ Again he said, “To what shall I compare God’s Kingdom?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ It is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² He went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and traveling on to Jerusalem.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ One said to him, “Lord, are they few who are saved?” He said to them,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ “Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in and will not be able.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ When once the master of the house has risen up and has shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ then he will answer and tell you, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ He will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s Kingdom, and yourselves being thrown outside.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ They will come from the east, west, north, and south, and will sit down in God’s Kingdom.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ Behold, there are some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³¹ On that same day, some Pharisees came, saying to him, “Get out of here and go away, for Herod wants to kill you.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³² He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I complete my mission.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³³ Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, for it can’t be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁴ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused!This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁵ Behold, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Open Preschool on its own page

Luke 13 · Preschool

A Tiny Seed Grows Big

Name Date

Color the picture. Point to the seed, the tree and the birds.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

Again he said, “To what shall I compare God’s Kingdom?

Luke 13:20 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Ask: What did the seed grow into?

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Luke 13 · Grade 4

Turn Back to God

Name Date

Read and Think

Some people told Jesus about Galileans who had died. Jesus asked if those people were worse sinners than others. He said no. Everyone needs to repent, which means turning away from sin and back to God. Then He told about a fig tree with no fruit. The owner wanted to cut it down, but the gardener asked for one more year. God is patient with us, but we should not waste His patience.

On a Sabbath, Jesus saw a woman who had been bent over for eighteen years. He laid His hands on her, and she stood up straight and glorified God. When the synagogue ruler complained, Jesus called him a hypocrite. People cared for their animals on the Sabbath. This daughter of Abraham deserved to be freed.

Jesus said God's Kingdom starts small, like a mustard seed or a little yeast, but it grows and spreads. Many will try to enter too late, so strive to enter the narrow door now. Jesus also showed His love for Jerusalem. He longed to gather its people like a hen gathers her chicks, but they were not willing.

Show What You Know

What does it mean to repent?
What does the fig tree story teach?
Why did Jesus call the synagogue ruler a hypocrite?
How did Jesus show His love for Jerusalem?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

handstreeeighteendoorGod

Everyone needs to repent, which means turning away from sin and back to .
Then He told about a fig with no fruit.
On a Sabbath, Jesus saw a woman who had been bent over for years.
He laid His on her, and she stood up straight and glorified God.
Many will try to enter too late, so strive to enter the narrow now.

Think About It

The mustard seed starts tiny but grows big. How can God use small acts of faith in your life?
Jesus longed to gather people like a hen with chicks. How does that picture help you see God's love?

Memory Verse

“He laid his hands on her, and immediately she stood up straight and glorified God.”

Luke 13:13 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for this Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you keep kindness first?
What little step for God could you take this week?
How can you celebrate when God does good things for others?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Luke 13 · Grade 5

The Narrow Door

Name Date

Read and Think

Luke 13 opens with sad news. Some people asked Jesus about worshipers who had been killed, and about eighteen people who died when a tower fell. Jesus taught that these people were not worse sinners than anyone else. Instead, the news should remind everyone to repent. The fig tree parable adds hope: God gives time to turn back, like a gardener who digs around the tree and asks for one more year.

Jesus then showed what His Kingdom does. A woman had been bound for eighteen years, bent over and unable to straighten up. Jesus called her, set her free, and she glorified God. The synagogue ruler cared more about rules than about her, so Jesus called him out. His opponents were put to shame, and the crowd rejoiced at the glorious things He did.

The Kingdom may look small, like a mustard seed, but it becomes a tree where birds nest. It works quietly, like yeast through dough. When someone asked if only a few would be saved, Jesus said to strive to enter through the narrow door. People from east, west, north and south will sit at God's table. The last will be first. The chapter ends with Jesus mourning over Jerusalem, the city that would reject Him.

Show What You Know

What did Jesus teach about the people who died when the tower fell?
How does the fig tree parable give hope?
How did the crowd respond when Jesus healed the bent woman?
What does the yeast picture teach about God's Kingdom?
Who will sit at God's table?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

glorifiedeighteenseedtreeyeast

Some people asked Jesus about worshipers who had been killed, and about people who died when a tower fell.
The fig parable adds hope: God gives time to turn back, like a gardener who digs around the tree and asks for one more year.
Jesus called her, set her free, and she God.
The Kingdom may look small, like a mustard , but it becomes a tree where birds nest.
It works quietly, like through dough.

Think About It

When sad things happen in the news, how does Jesus want us to respond?
Jesus asked people to strive to enter the narrow door. What does that mean for you today?

Memory Verse

“Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in and will not be able.

Luke 13:24 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for this Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you keep mercy ahead of rules?
Small things can grow big in God's Kingdom. What small act of faith could you start?
What does it look like for you to follow Jesus with all your heart?

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Luke 13: God's Kingdom Grows

Read Luke 13

Worksheets

A Tiny Seed Grows Big

Prayer

Take It Home

God's Kingdom Grows

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

God's Kingdom Grows

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Put the Story in Order

Prayer

Take It Home

Standing Up Straight

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

The Mustard Seed

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Put the Story in Order

Prayer

Take It Home

Turn Back to God

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

The Narrow Door

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

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