Luke 13

Demand for genuine change

1 Some who were present on that occasion told Jesus about the Galileans whom Pilate had killed while they were offering sacrifices.

2 He replied, " Do you think the suffering of these Galileans proves that they were more sinful than all the other Galileans?

3 No, I tell you, but unless you change your hearts and lives, you will die just as they did.

4 What about those eighteen people who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them? Do you think that they were more guilty of wrongdoing than everyone else who lives in Jerusalem?

5 No, I tell you, but unless you change your hearts and lives, you will die just as they did."

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

7 He said to his gardener, ‘Look, I've come looking for fruit on this fig tree for the past three years, and I've never found any. Cut it down! Why should it continue depleting the soil's nutrients?'

8 The gardener responded, ‘Lord, give it one more year, and I will dig around it and give it fertilizer.

9 Maybe it will produce fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down.'"

Healing on a Sabbath

10 Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.

11 A woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and couldn't stand up straight.

12 When he saw her, Jesus called her to him and said, " Woman, you are set free from your sickness."

13 He placed his hands on her and she straightened up at once and praised God.

14 The synagogue leader, incensed that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, responded, "There are six days during which work is permitted. Come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath day."

15 The Lord replied, " Hypocrites! Don't each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from its stall and lead it out to get a drink?

16 Then isn't it necessary that this woman, a daughter of Abraham, bound by Satan for eighteen long years, be set free from her bondage on the Sabbath day?"

17 When he said these things, all his opponents were put to shame, but all those in the crowd rejoiced at all the extraordinary things he was doing.

Growth of God’s kingdom

18 Jesus asked, " What is God's kingdom like? To what can I compare it?

19 It's like a mustard seed that someone took and planted in a garden. It grew and developed into a tree and the birds in the sky nested in its branches."

20 Again he said, " To what can I compare God's kingdom?

21 It's like yeast, which a woman took and hid in a bushel of wheat flour until the yeast had worked its way through the whole."

Who will be saved?

22 Jesus traveled through cities and villages, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem.

23 Someone said to him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?" Jesus said to them,

24 " Make every effort to enter through the narrow gate. Many, I tell you, will try to enter and won't be able to.

25 Once the owner of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.' He will reply, ‘I don't know you or where you are from.'

26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.'

27 He will respond, ‘I don't know you or where you are from. Go away from me, all you evildoers!'

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

29 People will come from east and west, north and south, and sit down to eat in God's kingdom.

30 Look! Those who are last will be first and those who are first will be last."

Sorrow for Jerusalem

31 At that time, some Pharisees approached Jesus and said, "Go! Get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you."

32 Jesus said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Look, I'm throwing out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work.

33 However, it's necessary for me to travel today, tomorrow, and the next day because it's impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.'

34 " Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who were sent to you! How often I have wanted to gather your people just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you didn't want that.

35 Look, your house is abandoned. I tell you, you won't see me until the time comes when you say, Blessings on the one who comes in the Lord's name."

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Ps 6:9 LXX
• [b]. Ps 118:26