Luke 13

Repent or Perish

1 At that time, some people came and reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

2 And He^[a] responded to them, "Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all Galileans because they suffered these things?

3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well!

4 Or those 18 that the tower in Siloam fell on and killed-do you think they were more sinful than all the people who live in Jerusalem?

5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well!"

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

6 And He told this parable: "A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none.

7 He told the vineyard worker, 'Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it even waste the soil?'

8 "But he replied to him, 'Sir, ^[b] leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

9 Perhaps it will bear fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.' "

Healing a Daughter of Abraham

10 As He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath,

11 a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit^[c] for over 18 years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.^[d]

12 When Jesus saw her, He called out to her,^[e] "Woman, you are free of your disability."

13 Then He laid His hands on her, and instantly she was restored and began to glorify God.

14 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, responded by telling the crowd, "There are six days when work should be done; therefore come on those days and be healed and not on the Sabbath day."

15 But the Lord answered him and said, "Hypocrites! Doesn't each one of you untie his ox or donkey from the feeding trough on the Sabbath and lead it to water?

16 Satan has bound this woman, a daughter of Abraham, for 18 years-shouldn't she be untied from this bondage on the Sabbath day?"

17 When He had said these things, all His adversaries were humiliated,^[f] but the whole crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things He was doing.

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and of the Yeast

18 He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like, and what can I compare it to?

19 It's like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches."

20 Again He said, "What can I compare the kingdom of God to?

21 It's like yeast that a woman took and mixed into 50 pounds ^[g] of flour until it spread through the entire mixture." ^[h]

The Narrow Way

22 He went through one town and village after another, teaching and making His way to Jerusalem.

23 "Lord," someone asked Him, "are there few being saved?"^[i] He said to them,

24 "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter and won't be able

25 once the homeowner gets up and shuts the door. Then you will stand ^[j] outside and knock on the door, saying, 'Lord, open up for us!' He will answer you, 'I don't know you or where you're from.'

26 Then you will say, ^[k] 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets!'

27 But He will say, 'I tell you, I don't know you or where you're from. Get away from Me, all you workers of unrighteousness!'

28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but yourselves thrown out.

29 They will come from east and west, from north and south, and recline at the table in the kingdom of God.

30 Note this: some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."

Jesus and Herod Antipas

31 At that time some Pharisees came and told Him, "Go, get out of here! Herod wants to kill You!"

32 He said to them, "Go tell that fox, 'Look! I'm driving out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day ^[l] I will complete My work.' ^[m]

33 Yet I must travel today, tomorrow, and the next day, because it is not possible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem!

Jesus' Lamentation over Jerusalem

34 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem! The city who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

35 See, your house ^[n] is abandoned to you. And I tell you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! " ^[o]

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In Luke 13:1-5, What Did Jesus Mean by "Repent"?

Luke 13 Commentary

Chapter 13

Christ exhorts to repentance from the case of the Galileans and others. (1-5) Parable of the barren fig-tree. (6-9) The infirm woman strengthened. (10-17) The parables of the mustard seed, and leaven. (18-22) Exhortation to enter at the strait gate. (23-30) Christ's reproof to Herod, and to the people of Jerusalem. (31-35)

Verses 1-5 Mention was made to Christ of the death of some Galileans. This tragical story is briefly related here, and is not met with in any historians. In Christ's reply he spoke of another event, which, like it, gave an instance of people taken away by sudden death. Towers, that are built for safety, often prove to be men's destruction. He cautioned his hearers not to blame great sufferers, as if they were therefore to be accounted great sinners. As no place or employment can secure from the stroke of death, we should consider the sudden removals of others as warnings to ourselves. On these accounts Christ founded a call to repentance. The same Jesus that bids us repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, bids us repent, for otherwise we shall perish.

Verses 6-9 This parable of the barren fig-tree is intended to enforce the warning given just before: the barren tree, except it brings forth fruit, will be cut down. This parable in the first place refers to the nation and people of the Jews. Yet it is, without doubt, for awakening all that enjoy the means of grace, and the privileges of the visible church. When God has borne long, we may hope that he will bear with us yet a little longer, but we cannot expect that he will bear always.

Verses 10-17 Our Lord Jesus attended upon public worship on the sabbaths. Even bodily infirmities, unless very grievous, should not keep us from public worship on sabbath days. This woman came to Christ to be taught, and to get good to her soul, and then he relieved her bodily infirmity. This cure represents the work of Christ's grace upon the soul. And when crooked souls are made straight, they will show it by glorifying God. Christ knew that this ruler had a real enmity to him and to his gospel, and that he did but cloak it with a pretended zeal for the sabbath day; he really would not have them be healed any day; but if Jesus speaks the word, and puts forth his healing power, sinners are set free. This deliverance is often wrought on the Lord's day; and whatever labour tends to put men in the way of receiving the blessing, agrees with the design of that day.

Verses 18-22 Here is the progress of the gospel foretold in two parables, as in ( Matthew 13 ) . The kingdom of the Messiah is the kingdom of God. May grace grow in our hearts; may our faith and love grow exceedingly, so as to give undoubted evidence of their reality. May the example of God's saints be blessed to those among whom they live; and may his grace flow from heart to heart, until the little one becomes a thousand.

Verses 23-30 Our Saviour came to guide men's consciences, not to gratify their curiosity. Ask not, How many shall be saved? But, Shall I be one of them? Not, What shall become of such and such? But, What shall I do, and what will become of me? Strive to enter in at the strait gate. This is directed to each of us; it is, Strive ye. All that will be saved, must enter in at the strait gate, must undergo a change of the whole man. Those that would enter in, must strive to enter. Here are awakening considerations, to enforce this exhortation. Oh that we may be all awakened by them! They answer the question, Are there few that shall be saved? But let none despond either as to themselves or others, for there are last who shall be first, and first who shall be last. If we reach heaven, we shall meet many there whom we little thought to meet, and miss many whom we expected to find.

Verses 31-35 Christ, in calling Herod a fox, gave him his true character. The greatest of men were accountable to God, therefore it became him to call this proud king by his own name; but it is not an example for us. I know, said our Lord, that I must die very shortly; when I die, I shall be perfected, I shall have completed my undertaking. It is good for us to look upon the time we have before us as but little, that we may thereby be quickened to do the work of the day in its day. The wickedness of persons and places which more than others profess religion and relation to God, especially displeases and grieves the Lord Jesus. The judgment of the great day will convince unbelievers; but let us learn thankfully to welcome, and to profit by all who come in the name of the Lord, to call us to partake of his great salvation.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)