The Mustard Seed and the Leaven
18 eHe said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the fbirds of the air made nests in its branches.”
20 gAnd again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”
The Narrow Door
22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be hfew?” And he said to them, 24 i“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, j‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, k‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. lDepart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 mIn that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come nfrom east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, osome are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
The Cost of Discipleship
25 nNow great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own ofather and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and peven his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not qbear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and rcount the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and sdeliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not trenounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
Salt Without Taste Is Worthless
34 u“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
