THE FALL OF THE TOWER.

Now there were some present at that very season who told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  And he answered and said unto them, “Think ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they have suffered these things?  I tell you, Nay:  but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish.  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, think ye that they were offenders above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem?  I tell you, Nay:  but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

And he spake this parable:  “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found none.  And he said unto the vinedresser, ’Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none:  cut it down; why doth it also cumber the ground.’  And he answering saith unto him, ’Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:  and if it bear fruit thenceforth, well; but if not, thou shalt cut it down.’”

THE USES OF THE SABBATH.

And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath day.  And behold, a woman that had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years; and she was bowed together, and could in no wise lift herself up.  And when Jesus saw her, he called her, and said to her, “Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.”

And he laid his hands upon her:  and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

And the ruler of the synagogue, being moved with indignation because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, answered and said to the multitude, “There are six days in which men ought to work:  in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the day of the sabbath.”

But the Lord answered him and said, “Ye hypocrites, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?  And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound, lo, these eighteen years, to have been loosed from this bond on the day of the sabbath?”

And as he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame:  and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

A QUESTION OF SALVATION.

And he went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and journeying on unto Jerusalem.  And one said unto him, “Lord, are they few that are saved?”