which he deserves a whipping. Much is required from the person to whom much is given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given.

Jesus the Cause of Division

49. “I came to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to receive, and how distressed I am until it is over! 51 Do you suppose that I came to bring peace to the world? No, not peace, but division. 52 From now on a family of five will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53 Fathers will be against their sons, and sons against their fathers; mothers will be against their daughters and daughters against mothers; mothers-in-law will be against their daughters-in-law, and daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law.”

Understanding the Time

54. Jesus said also to the people, “When you see a cloud coming up in the west, at once you say that it is going to rain – and it does. 55 And when you feel the south wind blowing, you say that it is going to get hot – and it does. 56 Hypocrites! You can look at the earth and the sky and predict the weather; why, then, don’t you know the meaning of this present time?

Settle with Your Opponent

57. “Why do you not judge for yourselves the right thing to do? 58 If someone brings a lawsuit against you and takes you to court, do your best to settle the dispute with him before you get to court. If you don’t, he will drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to the police, and you will be put in jail. 59 There you will stay, I tell you, until you pay the last penny of your fine.”

Chapter 13 Turn from Your Sins or Die

At that time some people were there who told Jesus about the Galileans whom Pilate had killed while they were offering sacrifices to God. 2 Jesus answered them, “Because those Galileans were killed in that way, do you think it proves that they were worse sinners than all the other Galileans? 3 No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did. 4 What about those eighteen people in Siloam who were killed when the tower fell on them? Do you suppose this proves that they were worse then all the other people living in Jerusalem? 5 No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did.”

The Parable of the Unfruitful Fig-tree

6. Then Jesus told them this parable: “There was once a man who had a fig-tree growing in his vineyard. He went looking for figs on it but found none.