Chapter 13

Luke 13

Jesus Calls the People to Repent (vv.1-9)
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath (vv.10-17))
The Parables of the Kingdom of God (vv. 18-21)
The Narrow Door (vv 22-30)
Jesus Mourns for Jerusalem (vv 31-35)

Jesus Calls the People to Repent (vv. 1-9)

At that time some people were there who told Jesus about the Galileans whom Pilate had killed while they were offering sacrifices to God. a 11 Jesus answered them, “Because those Galileans were killed in that way, do you think it proves that they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? b 3 No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did. 4 What about those eighteen people in Siloam c who were killed when the tower fell on them? Do you suppose this proves that they were worse than all the other people living in Jerusalem? 5 No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did.”
6 Then Jesus told them this parable: “There was once a man who had a fig tree d  growing in his vineyard. He went looking for figs on it but found none. 7 So he said to his gardener, ‘Look, for three years  e  I have been coming here looking for figs on this fig tree, and I haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it go on using up the soil?’ 8 But the gardener answered, ‘Leave it alone, sir, just one more year; I will dig around it and put in some fertilizer. 9Then if the tree bears figs next year, so much the better; if not, then you can have it cut down.’ “

Interesting Stuff:

a This is the only place where this incident is recorded but having people killed while offering sacrifices fits in with what is known about Pilate’s character. These Galileans might have broken an important Roman regulation which led to their bloody punishment by Pilate.
b It was commonly believed that disaster would come upon those who were extremely sinful. Jesus pointed out that the death of those Galileans was not because they had sinned greatly.
Everyone, according to Jesus, is a sinner, and he warned his hearers to repent, otherwise they would also perish.
c This is another unknown incident. The tower of Siloam was located inside the southeast section of Jerusalem’s wall. Again Jesus pointed out to his hearers that those who died were no worse sinners than they and warned them of the urgency of repenting.
d Jesus was probably referring to the Jewish nation although he could also be talking about the individual Jew.
e This seems to indicate that the tree was well established and had ample opportunity to bear fruit.

Questions:

  1. According to the crowd, what was the reason for the deaths of the Galileans and the 18 men in Siloam (vv. 1-4)?
Hover Over for Answer:
The crowd thought that it was because these people had sinned greatly and were being punished for their sin.

2. How did Jesus answer them (vv. 2-5)?

Hover Over for Answer:
Jesus told them that it was not because they were worse sinners than the crowd themselves that they met with such a terrible death. He said that the crowd must themselves repent and turn away from their sins or they would die in the same way as well.

3. Relate the parable of the fig tree (vv. 6-9).

Hover Over for Answer:
This parable was about a man who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. When he went looking for figs on the tree, he could not find any. He was angry and told the gardener that he had been looking for figs for the past three years but he had not found any. So he asked the gardener to cut the fig tree down because it was not producing fruit and should not go on using up the soil. The gardener, however, asked the owner to leave it alone for one more year. He would dig around the tree and put in fertilizer. If the tree would bear figs the next year, then all would be well. But if it did not, then the owner could cut it down.

What was Jesus trying to point out in the parable?

Hover Over for Answer:
Jesus was using the parable to warn his hearers that they needed to repent and bear the fruit of their repentance. He pointed out that although God is slow to punish, the opportunity that God gives would not last forever and there would come a time when it would be too late.

Summary of Section:

  1. Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whom Pilate killed while they were offering sacrifices to God.
  2. Jesus told them they were wrong in thinking that these Galileans were worse sinners than other Galileans just because they died such a death.
  3. He told them that if they did not turn away from their sins, they would die like the Galileans did.
  4. He then said the same thing, using another example of the eighteen people in Siloam who died when the tower fell on them.
  5. He told them the parable of the fig tree growing in a vineyard.
    a. For three years, the owner went looking for figs on it but he could not find any.
    b. So he told his gardener to cut down the tree because it was not bearing fruit and was using up the soil.
    c. The gardener told him to leave it alone for one more year. He would dig around it and put in fertilizer and if the tree still did not bear any figs the next year, then the owner could have it cut down.

Nuggets of Wisdom

  1. The crowd held to the belief that judgment would only fall on those who sin greatly, and not on people like them. Jesus’ reply did not deny that sin leads to judgment but he rejected the belief that those who encounter disaster have necessarily been marked by God as more deserving of judgment than those who do not. He, however, affirmed that everyone is sinful and will face judgment unless they repent.
  2. Jesus continued by using the parable to teach them that the unrepentant have escaped judgment not because they are less sinful but because of God’s mercy. However, although God has acted in mercy to hold back destruction, his stay of judgment is only temporary. Jesus’ warning was that now is the time to repent and to live fruitful lives.
  3. Note that although the tree has a history of being sterile, there is still the possibility of fruit bearing. Jesus was thus implying that repentance can bring about a new life of fruitfulness.

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath (vv. 10-17)

10 One Sabbath Jesus was teaching in a synagogue. f 11 A woman there had an evil spirit that had kept her sick for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called out to her, “Woman, you are free from your sickness!” g 13 He placed his hands on her, and at once she straightened herself up and praised God.
14 The official h of the synagogue was angry that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, so he spoke up and said to the people, “There are six days in which we should work; so come during those days and be healed, but not on the Sabbath!”
15The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Anyone of you would untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and take it out to give it water on the Sabbath. i 16 Now here is this descendant of Abraham whom Satan has kept in bonds for eighteen years; should she not be released on the Sabbath?” j 17 His answer made his enemies ashamed of themselves, while the people rejoiced over all the wonderful things that he did.

Interesting Stuff:

f The Sabbath issue was a continuing source of conflict between Jesus and his opponents. This conflict again took place in a synagogue.
g Here Jesus took the initiative to heal the woman.
 h Also called the ruler of the synagogue (see chap 8, note c’).
 i Jesus rebuked the hypocrisy of those who opposed his healing by pointing to the Jewish practice of looking after animals. The rabbis were greatly concerned that animals be treated well. On the Sabbath, animals could be led out by a chain or something
 j The woman’s condition was due to Satanic activity and Satan’s power over her must be broken, even if it was on a Sabbath.

Questions:

  1. Relate what Jesus did when he taught in the synagogue (vv. 10-13).
Hover Over for Answer:
There was a woman in the synagogue where Jesus was teaching. She was bent over because of an evil spirit and could not straighten herself for the past 18 years. When Jesus saw her, he called out to her that she was free from her sickness. He placed his hands on her and immediately, she straightened herself up and praised God.

2. How did the official of the synagogue respond to Jesus’ actions (v. 14)?

Hover Over for Answer:
The official of the synagogue was angry that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. He spoke to the people and told them that there are six days to work and that those who wanted to be healed should come on any one of those days and not on the Sabbath.

3. How did Jesus answer him (vv. 15-16)?

Hover Over for Answer:
Jesus accused him and those who were opposed to Jesus’ ministry of being hypocrites. He told them that all of them would untie their ox or donkey and take it out to give it water on the Sabbath. If they could allow such work to be done on the Sabbath for the sake of their animals, how much more should they allow this woman, a descendant of their ancestor Abraham, who had been kept bound by Satan for 18 years to be healed and set free on the Sabbath.

4. How did Jesus’ enemies and the crowd react to his answer (v. 17)?

Hover Over for Answer:
His answer made his enemies ashamed of themselves while the crowd rejoiced over all the wonderful things he had done.

Summary of Section:

  1. One Sabbath, Jesus was teaching in a synagogue. There was a woman there who was bent over and could not straighten her back for 18 years because of an evil spirit in her.
  2. When Jesus saw her, he called out to her that she was free from her sickness. He placed his hands on her and immediately she straightened herself and praised God.
  3. The official of the synagogue was angry at Jesus for healing on the Sabbath.
  4. He told the people that there are six days to work and they should come to be healed on one of those days, and not on the Sabbath.
  5. Jesus called him and those like him hypocrites. He said that they would think nothing of untying their animal from the stall and taking it out to give it water on the Sabbath even though it was forbidden. How much more should this woman who was a descendant of their patriarch Abraham be set free from 18 years under Satan’s bondage even though it was on a Sabbath?
  6. His answer made his enemies ashamed of themselves while the rest of the people rejoiced over all the wonderful things he did.

Nuggets of Wisdom

  1. The role of the synagogue official was to maintain the reading and faithful teaching of the Law. By taking his case directly to the people instead of to Jesus, the official of the synagogue was publicly challenging Jesus’ authority as teacher and reasserting himself as the authorised interpreter of Scripture.
  2. Jesus called his critics ‘hypocrites’ because although the prohibition against work extended to animals as well, they were willing to make allowances for their animals but not for a fellow Israelite who had been suffering for years under satanic bondage. Again because they did not understand God’s purposes, they could not discern accurately the meaning of the Scriptures and so their piety was just an outward show.
  3. In healing her of her illness, Jesus was also setting her free from her bondage to the power of Satan. He demonstrated that even a Sabbath day can be the right time for the redemptive purpose of God to be realised.
  4. The official had meant to shame Jesus but in the end, he and those with him who opposed Jesus, were shamed as the crowd sided with Jesus and accepted Jesus’ authority.

The Parables of the Kingdom of God (vv. 18-21)

18 Jesus asked, “What is the Kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it with? 19 It is like this. A man takes a mustard seed k and plants it in his field. The plant grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make their nests in its branches.” l
20 Again Jesus asked, “What shall I compare the Kingdom of God with? 21 It is like this. A woman takes some yeast and mixes it with a bushel of flour until the whole batch of dough rises.” m

Interesting Stuff:

k  The mustard seed was the smallest seed used by the Palestinian farmers. Under favourable conditions, the mustard plant could reach some three metres in height.
l The birds roosting in the branches are often a symbol in the Bible for the nations of the earth. The imagery suggests the growth of the Kingdom of God from tiny beginnings to world-wide size. The point of the parable is not so much the growth but the certainty that what appears tiny and insignificant would prove to have been the beginning of a mighty kingdom. The evidence may be slight – the trivial incident of the release of the woman from Satan’s power – but the small beginning is evidence of the victory of the Kingdom of God over the power of Satan. The defeat of Satan is always a sign of the advance of God’s rule.
m This second parable reinforces the lesson in the first parable. Normally leaven or yeast is used in the Bible to indicate a bad influence but here it refers to the powerful influence of the Kingdom of God. A bushel is equivalent to 7.3 litres according to the NT measurements. The idea here is that a small amount of yeast is able to penetrate and cause a large amount of dough to rise.

Questions:

  1. Describe the two parables of Jesus about the Kingdom of God (vv. 18-21).
Hover Over for Answer:
In the first parable, Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed which a man takes and plants in his field. The plant grows and becomes a tree and the birds make their nests in its branches. In the second parable, Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to some yeast that a woman takes and mixes with a bushel of flour until the whole batch of dough rises.

2.  Explain Jesus’ teaching behind these two parables.

Hover Over for Answer:
Jesus’ point was that although the Kingdom of God starts in small and insignificant ways, it would grow quietly and extend its influence throughout the world.

Summary of Section:

Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to two things:

  1. A Mustard Seed.
    a. He said that the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed which a man takes and plants in his field.
    b. The plant grows and becomes a tree and the birds make their nests in its branches.
  2. Yeast
    a. He said that the Kingdom of God is like yeast which a woman takes and mixes with a bushel of flour.
    b. The yeast works through the whole batch of dough and causes it to rise.

Nuggets of Wisdom

  1. The opposition of the synagogue official and his friends did not mean that the Kingdom of God would fail to spread and grow. The reactions of the multitudes showed that the Kingdom was making its impact.
  2. The parable of the mustard seed was to point out the Kingdom of God has its own power to grow until it becomes a universal kingdom.
  3. The parable of the yeast was to show that just as yeast works quietly and without being seen, the Kingdom also grows quietly, in unseen ways, in the hearts of men and women to transform them.

The Narrow Door (vv. 22-30)

22 Jesus went through towns and villages, teaching the people and making his way toward Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Sir, will just a few people be saved?” n Jesus answered them, 24 “Do your best to go in through the narrow door; o because many people will surely try to go in but will not be able. 25 The master of the house will get up and close the door; then when you stand outside and begin to knock on the door and say, ‘Open the door for us, sir!’ he will answer you, ‘I don’t know where you come from!’ 26 Then you will answer, ‘We ate and drank with you; you taught in our town!’ p 27 But he will say again, ‘I don’t know where you come from. Get away from me, all you wicked people!’ 28 How you will cry and gnash your teeth q when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, while you are thrown out! 29 People will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, r and sit down at the feast in the Kingdom of God. s 30 Then those who are now last will be first, and those who are now first will be last.” t

Interesting Stuff:

n Perhaps the questioner had observed that in spite of the very large crowds that came to hear Jesus’ preaching and be healed, there were only a few followers that were loyal.
o The narrow door probably refers to the door into salvation. Jesus did not answer the question directly. Instead, he urged his listeners to act now and strive to enter because the opportunities do not last forever. Once the time for decision has passed, and the master closes the door, further attempts to enter into salvation would be too late. The many who would be unable to enter are those who do not try to get in until it is too late.
p Claiming to just know Jesus without turning to God in repentance would be of no use after the time to repent is past. God would totally reject such people.
q This marks the ultimate in frustration and disappointment.
r This refers to the four corners of the earth, meaning people from all over the world, including the Gentiles
s The Jews believed that every one of them, except for the very blatant sinners, would sit with the patriarchs and the prophets at the heavenly banquet to feast with the Messiah. The double tragedy would be to find themselves excluded and seeing the despised Gentiles included.
t It may mean here that those who considered themselves unworthy would be included as opposed to those who think they alone are worthy. It may also contrast the Jews who were the first to hear the gospel with the Gentiles.

Questions:

  1. How did Jesus respond to the man’s question about whether only a few would be saved (vv. 24-27)?
Hover Over for Answer:
Jesus did not answer his question directly. Instead he urged those who were listening to do their best to enter by the narrow door because there would be many who would want to go in but would not be able to do so because it would be too late for them. He told this story of a master of a house who would get up and close the door and when they stood outside and knocked to come in, he would refuse to let them in. They would claim that he had taught in their town and they had eaten and drunk with him but he would declare that he did not know them and chase them away.

2. Why would those who could not enter by the narrow door cry and gnash their teeth (vv. 28-29)?

Hover Over for Answer:
They would cry and gnash their teeth because the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God would be there at the heavenly feast. They, however, would be thrown out because they were too late.

3. What is the reason for the presence of some of the people who are not from the nation of Israel (vv. 29-30)?

Hover Over for Answer:
The Gentiles from all over the four corners of the world would be there because the Jews had forfeited their place by rejecting Jesus. God would thus welcome all those who repent and desire to enter His Kingdom, regardless of whether they were Jews or Gentiles.

Summary of Section:

  1. As Jesus made his way to Jerusalem, he went through towns and villages teaching the people. Someone asked him whether only a few people would be saved.
  2. Jesus answered by telling them to do their best to go in through the narrow door. Many, he said, would try to go in but would not be able because it would be too late.
  3. The master of the house would get up and close the door. Even when they stood outside and knocked to ask him to open the door, he would refuse because he did not know them.
  4. They would answer that they ate and drank with him when he taught in their town but he would not recognise them and would ask them to get away.
  5. He told them that they would cry and gnash their teeth when they see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, together with all the prophets in the Kingdom of God sitting down at the heavenly feast. These would be joined by people from all the corners of the world but they would not be there because they would be too late.
  6. Jesus ended by warning them that those who were last would be first and those who were first would be last.

Nuggets of Wisdom

  1. Jesus was continuing on his way towards Jerusalem.
  2. The Jews held to the belief that all Israel would be saved except for a few really bad sinners. Gentiles would not have a place at God’s heavenly banquet at all. Jesus made it clear here that there would be many surprises in the final membership of the Kingdom.
  3. Jesus tied the concept of judgment in the future to human behaviour in the present. He was challenging the crowd to strive to enter now. Seeking to enter in the future is useless because it would be too late for the opportunity to respond would not always be available.
  4. Jesus also reminded them that their ties to Abraham and their association with Jesus would count for nothing if their lives did not change.
  5. It probably astounded the crowd to hear that the Gentiles would be taking part in the final banquet while they themselves would be excluded if they continued to reject God’s offer of salvation through Jesus. It is no wonder that they reacted so strongly to Jesus. It was a personal insult to them who took such pride in being God’s chosen and favoured people.

Jesus Mourns for Jerusalem (vv. 31-35)

31 At that same time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “You must get out of here and go somewhere else, because Herod u wants to kill you.”
32 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell that fox: v ‘I am driving out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow w, and on the third day I shall finish my work.’x
33 Yet I must be on my way today, tomorrow, and the next day; it is not right for a prophet to be killed any- where except in Jerusalem. y
34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets, you stone the messengers God has sent you! How many times I wanted to put my arms around all your people, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me! z 35 And so your Temple a’ will be abandoned. I assure you that you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ” b’

Interesting Stuff:

u This is Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great (see chap 3:1, note c). Jesus was probably in Perea which was under Herod’s jurisdiction. The Pharisees wanted to frighten Jesus into leaving this area and going to Judea.
v  The ‘fox’ was used by the Jews as a symbol of a sly man but more often of an insignificant or worthless man. Herod was thus greatly despised and looked down upon by the Jews.
w This phrase ‘today and tomorrow’ could refer to an indefinite but limited period of time.
x Jesus was saying that he would complete what he had set out to do and no harm would come to him until his work was done. God, not Herod, is the one who would determine when he was to die.
y Jerusalem was the capital and the heart of the nation. It was there that the destinies of the prophets were determined. And it would be there that God’s plans for His Messiah would be accomplished by the Messiah’s death.
z Jerusalem was also the symbol of the nation of Israel. Jesus loved God’s people with great passion and tenderness but they were unwilling to be loved by him.
a’ Some versions have translated this as ‘house’. Jesus could thus be referring not just to the Temple but to Jerusalem as a whole.
b’ Some believe that this event refers to the second coming of Christ.

Questions:

  1. What did some of the Pharisees come to warn Jesus about (v. 31)?
Hover Over for Answer:
They came to warn Jesus that Herod wanted to kill him and to ask him to get out of where he was and to go somewhere else.

2. How did Jesus react to this warning (vv. 32-33)?

Hover Over for Answer:
Jesus told them to go instead and tell Herod that he was doing his work of driving out demons and healing people and he would complete it. No one could kill him because his time had not yet come. His death would only take place in Jerusalem as part of God’s purposes, not as the result of any man’s decision.

3. Why was Jesus sad over Jerusalem (vv. 34-35)?

Hover Over for Answer:
He mourned over Jerusalem because she was unwilling to let God love her and had rejected again and again God’s love for her by killing the prophets and stoning the messengers He sent. Because of this, God would abandon her Temple.

Summary of Section:

  1. At that same time, some Pharisees came to warn Jesus to get away and go somewhere else because Herod wanted to kill him.
  2. Jesus answered by telling them to go and tell Herod that he would still be doing his work of driving out demons and healing people until it was completed.
  3. Nothing and no one could stop him from finishing his work. He would be following the footsteps of the prophets and would not be killed anywhere except in Jerusalem.
  4. Jesus then mourned over Jerusalem because she had killed the prophets and stoned the messengers that God had sent to warn her. Many times he had wanted to protect her like a mother hen gathering her chicks under her wings but she would not let Jesus do that.
  5. Because she had rejected Jesus, her Temple would be abandoned and the people would not see Jesus again until the time when they would say, “God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Nuggets of Wisdom

  1. The danger presented by Herod did not deter Jesus from continuing his ministry as before. Although he would be ‘on his way’, his going was not for the purpose of escaping the hand of Herod. His hour had not yet come even though he would die in Jerusalem like the prophets before him. This was because his final destiny was in the hands of God, and not of men like Herod.
  2. We catch a glimpse here of God’s faithful love for His people regardless of the countless times they had rejected Him. He showed His love again and again by sending prophets whom His people killed. He has now sent His Son who would also in the end by killed. Because of their rejection of Jesus, Jerusalem would be judged.
  3. Jesus showed very clearly that judgment was not what he desired for Jerusalem. He had yearned time and again to gather together his people for shelter and restoration but the people of Jerusalem rejected him.

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