Luke 13
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- REPENTANCE ENJOINED. PARABLE OF THE BARREN FIG-TREE. Luke 13:1-9
- Now there were some present at that very season. At the time when he preached about the signs of the times, etc. This phrase, however, israther indefinite ( Matthew 12:1 ; Matthew 14:1 ).
- Who told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. While Jesus spoke, certain ones came to him bearingthe news of a barbaric act of sacrilegious cruelty committed by Pilate.It may have been told to Jesus by enemies who hoped to ensnare him bydrawing from him a criticism of Pilate. But it seems more likely thatit was told to him as a sample of the corruption and iniquity of thetimes. History, of course, says nothing of Pilate's act here mentioned.Pilate's rule was marked by cruelty toward Jews, and contempt for theirreligious views and rites.
13:2 And he answered and said unto them, Think ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they have suffered these things1?
- Think ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they have suffered these things? The Jews ascribedextraordinary misfortunes to extraordinary criminality. Sacrifice wasintended to cleanse guilt. How hopeless, therefore, must their guilt bewho were punished at the very times when they should have beencleansed!
13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish1.
- I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish. But the Jews erred in this interpreting the event. Quantity ofindividual sin cannot safely be inferred from the measure of individualmisfortune. It was true that the Galileans suffered because of sin, forall suffering is the result of sin. But it was not true that thesuffering was punishment for unusual sinfulness. Our suffering is oftendue to the general sin of humanity--the sin of the whole associate bodyof which we are a part.
13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them1, think ye that they were offenders above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem2?
- Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them. Of this instance, also, there is no other historic mention. It,too was a small incident among the accidents of the day. The pool ofSiloam lies near the southeast corner of Jerusalem, at the entrance ofthe Tyropean village which runs up between Mt. Zion and Moriah. Themodern village of Siloam probably did not exist at that time. Whattower this was is not known. As the city wall ran through the districtof that fountain, it may possibly have been one of the turrets of thatwall.
- Think ye that they were offenders above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem? This instance presents a striking contrast to the slaughterof which they had told him, for it was, (1) Inflicted upon theinhabitants of Jerusalem; and (2) It came upon them as an act of God.
13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish1.
- I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. And Jesus therefore concludes that all shall likewise perish,he pronounces upon the entire people--Jews and Galilean alike--apunishment made certain by the decree of God. It is significant thatthe Jewish people did, as a nation, perish and lie buried under thefalling walls of their cities, and the debris of their temple, palaces,and houses. But the word "likewise" is not to be pressed to cover thisfact.
13:6 And he spake this parable1; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found none2.
- Luke 13:6-9
- And he spake this parable. This parable is closely connected with Luke 13:3 Luke 13:5 ; Luke 12:58 Luke 12:59 .
- A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found none. In this parable Jesus likenedhis hearers to a fig-tree planted in a choice place--a vineyard, theodd corners of which are still used as advantageous spots for fig-trees.
13:7 And he said unto the vinedresser, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down1; why doth it also cumber the ground2?
- And he said unto the vinedresser, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down. There isno emphasis on the number three, and no allusion to the nationalhistory of the Jews, as some suppose. It simply means that a fig-tree'sfailure to bear fruit for three years would justify its being cut down.
- Why doth it also cumber the ground? It cumbered the ground by occupying ground which the vines should have had, and by interferingwith their light by its shade, which is very dense.
13:8 And he answering saith unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it1:
- Luke 13:8 Luke 13:9
- Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it. Those to whom Jesus spoke had been called to repentance bythe preaching both of John and of Jesus, and had had ample time andopportunity to bring forth the fruits of repentance, and deserved to bedestroyed; but they would still be allowed further opportunity.
13:10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath day1.
- SABBATH HEALING. MUSTARD SEED AND LEAVEN. (Probably Perea.) Luke 13:10-21
- And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath day. Our Lord's habit of teaching in the synagogue, which had been for sometime interrupted by his retirement, had probably been revived duringthe mission of the seventy. On the synagogue, see Mark 1:39.
13:11 And behold, a woman that had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years1; and she was bowed together, and could in no wise lift herself up.
- 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. The use of the word "spirit" in this verse indicates that the curvature ofthe spine which afflicted this woman was attributed to demoniacalagency.
13:14 And the ruler of the synagogue, being moved with indignation because Jesus had healed on the sabbath1, answered and said to the multitude2, 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.
- And the ruler of the synagogue, being moved with indignation because Jesus had healed on the sabbath. There is not evidence that the womancame with any intention of being healed, nor was the ruler angry ather, but at Jesus. On the synagogue, see Mark 1:39.
- Answered and said to the multitude. Too cowardly to openly rebuke Jesus, the ruler fell to reprimanding the people, and thus indirectlycensuring the Lord.
13:15 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 watering1?
- 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? The word"hypocrite" was among the strongest ever used by our Lord. He hereapplies it to the whole class to whom the ruler belonged and for whomhe was the spokesman--the class who are mentioned as "adversaries" indisguising their hatred toward Christ under a pretended zeal for theSabbath. (2) Their zeal for the Sabbath was at no time sincere, forthey favored indulgence where their own interests were involved, butapplied their Sabbath rules sharply where others were concerned. It wastheir tradition and not the Sabbath which Jesus had broken, and he hereattempts no other justification of himself than to show that he isguiltless under a fair application of their own precedents.
13:16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham2, whom Satan had bound, lo, [these] eighteen years3, to have been loosed from this bond on the day of the sabbath?
- And ought not this woman . . . to have been loosed from this bond on the day of the sabbath? Taking their own conduct on the Sabbath day asthe basis for his justification, Jesus presents three contrasts, eachof which made his action better than theirs: (1) He had blessed thewoman instead of an ox. (2) He had loosed from a disease instead offrom a comfortable stall. (3) He had relieved a waiting of eighteenyears' standing instead of one of some few hours' duration--the brieftime since the watering of the morning.
- Being a daughter of Abraham. He mentions the woman's descent from Abraham because, according to their ideas, it made her worthy of everyconsideration.
- Whom Satan had bound, lo, [these] eighteen years. In attributing the infirmity to Satan he acknowledges the action of the demon asSatan's agent. Disease were not infrequently ascribed to Satan and thedemons ( Acts 10:38 ; 2 Corinthians 12:7 ).
13:17 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 him1.
- And all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him. The people rejoiced not only in the miracle, but in thatwisdom which silenced the narrow-minded rulers. The triumph which theyrejoiced in was but a slight foretaste of the victories to come, and topoint out the nature of those victories the Lord spoke the two parableswhich follow.
13:18 He said therefore, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I liken it?
- Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I liken it? See Mark 4:30.
13:19 It is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his own garden1; and it grew, and became a tree2; and the birds of the heaven lodged in the branches thereof.
- It is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his own garden. See Mark 4:31
- And it grew, and became a tree. See Mark 4:32.
13:20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God1?
- And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? See Mark 4:30.
13:21 It is like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened1.
- It is like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened. See Matthew 13:33.
13:22 And he went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and journeying on unto Jerusalem1.
- THE STRAIT GATE. WARNED AGAINST HEROD. (Perea.) Luke 13:22-35
- And he went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and journeying on unto Jerusalem. This verse probably refers back tobrief rest on the Sabbath day when he healed the woman with thecurvature of the spine.
13:23 And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that are saved1? And he said unto them,
- And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that are saved? It is likely that this question was asked by a Jew, and that the two parablesillustrating the smallness of the kingdom's beginning suggested it tohim. The Jews extended their exclusive spirit even to their ideals of aworld to come, so that they believed none but the chosen race wouldbehold its glories. The circumstances attending to the conversion ofCornelius, recorded in Acts, show how this exclusiveness survived evenamong Jewish Christians. The questioner wished Jesus to commit himselfto this narrow Jewish spirit, or else to take a position which wouldsubject him to the charge of being unpatriotic.
13:24 Strive1 to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able3.
- Strive. Literally, agonize.
- To enter in by the narrow gate. The passage should be compared with that in Matthew 7:13 . There one enters by a narrow gate upon a narrowroad, indicating the strictness of the Christian life. Here one entersby a narrow door upon a season of festivity, indicating the joyousprivileges of a Christian life.
- For many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Jesus answers that "many" shall be excluded from the kingdom,and that the questioner, and all others who hear, need to exercisethemselves and give the matter their own personal attention lest theybe among that many.
13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door1, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying2, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not whence ye are3;
- When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door. This verse gives the reason why one should strive to enter in.The "time" for entrance is limited, and he must get in before itexpires.
- And ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying,
- Lord, open to us. For when the limited time has passed, he cannot enter, no matter how earnestly he may seek or strive.
- And he shall answer and say to you, I know you not whence ye are. Our Lord pictures a householder who refuses to receive any guest thathas shown contempt for his feast by coming late. The strict spirit ofthe Lord in giving his invitation is indicated by the phrase "narrowdoor", but the phrase includes more than this for those who wouldstrive must not only be prompt to act, but must be painstaking so as toact intelligently, and of obedient spirit so as to act acceptably.
13:26 then shall ye begin to say, We did eat and drink in thy presence, and thou didst teach in our streets2;
- Then ye shall begin to say. In answer to the Lord's statement that he does not know them.
- We did eat and drink in thy presence, and thou didst teach in our streets. Thus they idly urged their privileges to him who wascondemning them for having neglected to make a proper use of thoseprivileges. Had these privileges been valued and improved, theclamoring outcasts would have been inside and not outside the door.
13:27 and he shall say, I tell you, I know not whence ye are1; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity2.
- And he shall say, I tell you, I know not whence ye are. See "Lu.
- Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. Thus pleading avails not. The door would not be narrow if it opened to excuses.
13:28 There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth1, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God2, and yourselves cast forth without.
- There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. See Matthew 8:12.
- When ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God. See Matthew 8:11.
13:29 And they shall come from the east and west1, and from the north and south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
- And they shall come from the east and west. See Matthew 8:11.
13:30 And behold, there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last1.
- There are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last. A familiar proverb of Christ's ( Matthew 19:30 ; Matthew 20:10 ), to beinterpreted by such passages as Matthew 21:31 ; Romans 9:30 Romans 9:31 . The Jew whothought the Gentile had no hope at all, and that he himself was sure ofsalvation, would be surprised to find that his opinion was the veryreverse of the real fact as time developed it.
13:31 In that very hour there came certain Pharisees, saying to him, Get thee out, and go hence: for Herod would fain kill thee1.
- In that very hour there came certain Pharisees, saying to him, Get thee out, and go hence: for Herod would fain kill thee. This shows thatJesus was in the territory of Herod Antipas, and hence probably inPerea. The Pharisees, no doubt, wished to scare Jesus that they mightexult over his fright. We might suppose, too, that their words wereuntrue, were it not that Jesus sends a reply to Herod. Herod longdesired to see Jesus ( Luke 9:9 ; Luke 23:8 ), but it was not likely that hedesired to put him to death. He was, doubtless, glad enough to getJesus out of his territory, lest he might foment an uprising, and tothis end he employed this strategy of sending messengers to warn Jesusunder the guise of friendship.
13:32 And he said unto them, Go and say to that fox1, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures to-day and to-morrow2, and the third [day] I am perfected3.
- Luke 13:32 Luke 13:33
- Go and say to that fox. That is, say to Herod, that crafty, sly fellow. The fox is a type of craftiness and treachery. We have no otherinstance where Jesus used such a contemptuous expression; but Herodrichly merited it. An Idumean by his father, a Samaritan by his mother,a Jew by profession, and a heathen by practice, he happened to be foxyby nature. And he was even now playing the fox by sending thesemessengers.
- Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures to-day and to-morrow,
- and the third [day]. Wiesler, Meyer, Alford, and other able commentators think that the days mentioned in this difficult passageare literal days. If the language is to be thus construed, the sayingamounts to a promise to leave Herod's territory in three days. Suchconstruction, however, is not consistent with the elevation of thesentiment and the solemnity of its repetition. Three days are thussometimes used proverbially to designate a short time ( Hosea 6:2 ), andthey are unquestionably so used here. The meaning then is this: "For alittle while I liberate and heal and abide in your territory to disturbyour peace. But in a few days I shall be perfected in my office as aliberator and healer, after which I shall be seen no more in yourterritory. And though I understand these plots against me, I must fillup my time and go on my course till I suffer martyrdom at Jerusalem,which has the gruesome honor of being the prophet-slaying city".
- I am perfected. This word finds its complement in the "It is finished" of John 19:30 . Both the verbs are derived from the Greekword "telos", which means "end" or "completion". Compare also 2 Corinthians 12:9 Philippians 3:12 ; Hebrews 2:10 ; Hebrews 5:8 Hebrews 5:9 ; Hebrews 11:40 .
13:33 Nevertheless I must go on my way to-day and to-morrow and the [day] following1: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem2.
- Nevertheless I must go on my way to-day and to-morrow and the [day] following. Although I know what lies before me.
- For it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. John the Baptist having perished at Machaerus in Perea is regarded as anexception to this rule and the prophets die at Jerusalem. The exceptiondoes not disprove the rule, if it be a true exception; which may bequestioned, since John died at the hands of Herod and Herodias, neitherof whom were, properly speaking Jews. John, therefore, died as aprophet to foreigners rather than as a prophet to the Jewish people.
( 490,
13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her1! how often would I have gathered thy children together2, even as a hen [gathereth] her own brood under her wings, and ye would not!
- O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! etc. Jesus repeated these words again asrecorded in Matthew 23:37-39 .
- How often would I have gathered thy children together. Inhabitants of Jerusalem. See Luke 19:44 .
- Even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! With such beautiful imagery does Jesus set forth his tender lovefor the people of that city which he knew would soon compass his death.
13:35 Behold, your house1 is left unto you [desolate]2: and I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord3.
- Behold, your house. The temple.
- Is left unto you [desolate]. He was about to withdraw from the temple, which for centuries to come was to be visited by no heavenlymessenger whatever.
- And I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. It is hardly possible thatthese words can refer to the triumphal entry for their fulfillment( Matthew 21:9 ). The use of them on that occasion may have had no referenceto his prediction. They undoubtedly refer to the Parousia, or secondcoming of the Lord in his glory, before which time the Jews must turnand believe ( Romans 11:25-27 ). Not until they were thus prepared wouldthey again see him without whom they were now rejecting.