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Luke Chapter
Thirteen
Luke 13
Now
at this moment they reminded Him of a terrible
judgment that had fallen upon some among them. He declares to them that neither
this case
nor another which He recalls to their minds
is exceptional: that
except they repent
the same thing should happen to them all. And He adds a
parable in order to make them understand their position. Israel was the
fig-tree in the vineyard of God. For three years He had been threatening to cut
it down; it did but spoil His vineyard-did but encumber and uselessly cover the
ground. But Jesus was trying for the last time all that could be done to make
it bear fruit; if this did not succeed
grace could but make way for the just
judgment of the Master of the vineyard. Why cultivate that which only did harm?
Nevertheless He acts in grace and in power towards the daughter of
Abraham
according to the promises made to that people
and demonstrates that
their resistance
pretending to oppose the law to grace
was but hypocrisy.
However (v. 18-21) the kingdom of God was to take an
unexpected form in consequence of His rejection. Sown by the word
and not
introduced in power
it would grow on the earth until it became a worldly
power; and
as an outward profession and doctrine
would penetrate the whole
sphere prepared for it in the sovereign counsels of God. Now this was not the
kingdom established in power acting in righteousness
but as left to the
responsibility of man
although the counsels of God were being accomplished.
At last
the Lord takes up
in a direct manner
the
question of the position of the remnant and of the fate of Jerusalem (v.
22-35).
As He went through the cities and villages
fulfilling
the work of grace
in spite of the contempt of the people
some one asked Him
whether the remnant
those that would escape the judgment of Israel
should be
many. He does not reply as to the number; but addresses Himself to the
conscience of the inquirer
urging him to put forth all his energy that he
might enter in at the strait gate. Not only would the multitude not enter in
but many
neglecting that gate
would desire to enter into the kingdom and not
be able. And moreover
when once the master of the house was risen up
and the
door was shut
it would be too late. He would say unto them
"I know you
not
whence ye are." They would plead that He had been in their city. He
would declare that He knew them not
workers of iniquity: there was "no
peace for the wicked.' The gate of the kingdom was moral
real before
God-conversion. The multitude of Israel would not go in at it; and outside
in
tears and anguish
they should see the Gentiles sitting with the depositaries
of the promises; while they
the children of the kingdom
according to the
flesh
were shut out
and so much the more miserable that they had been nigh
unto it. And those who had appeared to be first should be the last
and the
last first.
The Pharisees
under pretence of consideration for the Lord
advise
Him to go away. Thereupon He refers finally to the will of God as to the fulfilment
of His work. It was no question of the power of man over Him. He should
accomplish His work
and then go away; because Jerusalem had not known the time
of her visitation. Himself
her true Lord
Jehovah
how often would He have
gathered the children of this rebellious city under His wings
and they would
not! Now His last effort in grace was accomplished
and their house left
desolate
until they should repent
and
returning to the Lord
say according
to Psalm 111
"Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."
Then He would appear
and they should see Him.
Nothing can be plainer than the connection and the force
of these conversations. For Israel it was the last message
the last visitation
of God. They rejected it. They were forsaken of God (though still beloved)
until they should call upon Him whom they had rejected. Then this same Jesus
would appear again
and Israel should see Him. This would be the day that the
Lord had made.
His rejection-admitting the establishment of the kingdom
as a tree and as leaven
during His absence-bore its fruit among the Jews until
the end; and the revival amid that nation in the last days
and the return of
Jesus on their repentance
will have reference to that great act of sin and
rebellion. But this gives rise to further important instructions with regard to
the kingdom.
── John Darby《Synopsis of Luke》
Luke 13
Chapter Contents
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)
Commentary on Luke 13:1-5
(Read Luke 13:1-5)
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.
Commentary on Luke 13:6-9
(Read Luke 13:6-9)
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.
Commentary on Luke 13:10-17
(Read Luke 13:10-17)
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.
Commentary on Luke 13:18-22
(Read Luke 13:18-22)
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.
Commentary on Luke 13:23-30
(Read Luke 13:23-30)
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.
Commentary on Luke 13:31-35
(Read Luke 13:31-35)
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.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Luke》
Luke 13
Verse 3
[3] I
tell you
Nay: but
except ye repent
ye shall all likewise perish.
Ye shall all likewise perish — All ye of Galilee and of Jerusalem shall perish in the very same manner.
So the Greek word implies. And so they did. There was a remarkable resemblance
between the fate of these Galileans and of the main body of the Jewish nation;
the flower of which was slain at Jerusalem by the Roman sword
while they were
assembled at one of their great festivals. And many thousands of them perished
in the temple itself
and were literally buried under its ruins.
Verse 6
[6] He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his
vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon
and found none.
A man had a fig tree — Either we may understand God the Father by him that had the vineyard
and Christ by him that kept it: or Christ himself is he that hath it
and his
ministers they that keep it. Psalms 80:8. etc.
Verse 7
[7] Then
said he unto the dresser of his vineyard
Behold
these three years I come
seeking fruit on this fig tree
and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it
the ground?
Three years —
Christ was then in the third year of his ministry. But it may mean only several
years; a certain number being put for an uncertain.
Why doth it also cumber the ground? — That is
not only bear no fruit itself
but take up the ground of
another tree that would.
Verse 11
[11] And
behold
there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years
and
was bowed together
and could in no wise lift up herself.
She was bowed together
and utterly unable to
lift up herself — The evil spirit which possessed her
afflicted her in this manner. To many doubtless it appeared a natural
distemper. Would not a modern physician have termed it a nervous case?
Verse 15
[15] The Lord then answered him
and said
Thou hypocrite
doth not each one of
you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall
and lead him away to
watering?
Thou hypocrite —
For the real motive of his speaking was envy
not (as he pretended) pure zeal
for the glory of God.
Verse 16
[16] And
ought not this woman
being a daughter of Abraham
whom Satan hath bound
lo
these
eighteen years
be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
And ought not this woman? — Ought not any human creature
which is so far better than an ox or an
ass? Much more
this daughter of Abraham - probably in a spiritual as well as
natural sense
to be loosed?
Verse 18
[18] Then
said he
Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble
it?
Verse 20
[20] And
again he said
Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
Verse 21
[21] It
is like leaven
which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal
till the
whole was leavened.
Covered up — So
that
for a time
nothing of it appeared.
Verse 24
[24]
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many
I say unto you
will seek to
enter in
and shall not be able.
Strive to enter in —
Agonize. Strive as in an agony. So the word signifies Otherwise none shall
enter in. Barely seeking will not avail. Matthew 7:13.
Verse 25
[25] When
once the master of the house is risen up
and hath shut to the door
and ye
begin to stand without
and to knock at the door
saying
Lord
Lord
open unto
us; and he shall answer and say unto you
I know you not whence ye are:
And even agonizing will not avail
after the
door is shut. Agonize
therefore
now by faith
prayer
holiness
patience.
And ye begin to stand without — Till then they had not thought of it! O how new will that sense of their
misery be? How late? How lasting? I know not whence ye are - I know not
that
is
I approve not of your ways.
Verse 27
[27] But
he shall say
I tell you
I know you not whence ye are; depart from me
all ye
workers of iniquity.
Verse 28
[28]
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth
when ye shall see Abraham
and
Isaac
and Jacob
and all the prophets
in the kingdom of God
and you
yourselves thrust out.
Verse 29
[29] And
they shall come from the east
and from the west
and from the north
and from
the south
and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
They shall sit down in the kingdom of God — Both the kingdom of grace and of glory.
Verse 30
[30] And
behold
there are last which shall be first
and there are first which shall be
last.
But there are last —
Many of the Gentiles who were latest called
shall be most highly rewarded; and
many of the Jews who were first called
shall have no reward at all. Matthew 19:30.
Verse 31
[31] The
same day there came certain of the Pharisees
saying unto him
Get thee out
and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
Herod is minded to kill thee — Possibly they gave him the caution out of good will.
Verse 32
[32] And
he said unto them
Go ye
and tell that fox
Behold
I cast out devils
and I
do cures to day and to morrow
and the third day I shall be perfected.
And he said
Go and tell that fox — With great propriety so called
for his subtilty and cowardice. The
meaning of our Lord's answer is
Notwithstanding all that he can do
I shall
for the short time I have left
do the works of him that sent me. When that
time is fulfilled
I shall be offered up. Yet not here
but in the bloody city.
Behold
I cast out devils — With what majesty does he speak to his enemies! With what tenderness to
his friends! The third day I am perfected - On the third day he left Galilee
and set out for Jerusalem
to die there. But let us carefully distinguish
between those things wherein Christ is our pattern
and those which were
peculiar to his office. His extraordinary office justified him in using that
severity of language
when speaking of wicked princes
and corrupt teachers
to
which we have no call; and by which we should only bring scandal on religion
and ruin on ourselves
while we irritated rather than convinced or reformed
those whom we so indecently rebuked.
Verse 33
[33]
Nevertheless I must walk to day
and to morrow
and the day following: for it
cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
It cannot be
that a prophet perish out of
Jerusalem — Which claims prescription for murdering
the messengers of God. Such cruelty and malice cannot be found elsewhere.
Verse 34
[34] O
Jerusalem
Jerusalem
which killest the prophets
and stonest them that are
sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together
as a hen
doth gather her brood under her wings
and ye would not!
How often would I have gathered thy children
together — Three solemn visits he had made to
Jerusalem since his baptism for this very purpose. Matthew 23:37.
Verse 35
[35]
Behold
your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you
Ye
shall not see me
until the time come when ye shall say
Blessed is he that
cometh in the name of the Lord.
Your house is left to you desolate — Is now irrecoverably consigned to desolation and destruction: And verily
I say to you
after a very short space
ye shall not see me till the time come
when taught by your calamities
ye shall be ready and disposed to say
Blessed
is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. It does not imply
that they should
then see Jesus at all; but only that they would earnestly wish for the Messiah
and in their extremity be ready to entertain any who should assume that
character.
── John ‘Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Luke》
Chapter 13. Repent in Time
Unless You
Repent
You Will All Perish
I. Parable of
the Fig Tree
II. Healing of
a Woman with Infirmity
III. Strive to
Enter by the Narrow Gate
── Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》
The Barren Fig Tree (Lk 13:6-9)
INTRODUCTION
1. As we were making our way through the parables of Jesus as recorded in Matthew's gospel
we noticed several that were directed toward the nation of Israel a. "The Two Sons"
which speaks to the rejection of John the Baptist - Mt 21:28-32 b. "The Wicked Vinedressers"
which applied to how Israel God's prophets
and eventually His Own Son - Mt 21:33-46 c. "The Wedding Feast"
which provided a more vivid depiction of wickedness and rebelliousness of the religious leaders - Mt 22:1-14
-- These three parables were told during the last week of Jesus' ministry
shortly before His crucifixion 2. Earlier
Jesus taught another parable that some believe was along a similar theme... a. That is
related to God's dealings with the nation of Israel whole b. And how the nation of Israel receive Jesus as the Messiah -- The parable is known as "The Barren Fig Tree"
recorded in Lk 13:6-9
3. That may be true... a. But the application has as much to do with individual repentance as national repentance b. This should make the parable of particular interest to us today
as we attempt to learn from our Lord what He was teaching about the need to repent [Let's begin our study by noticing...] I. THE PARABLE IN ITS ORIGINAL SETTING
A. JESUS WAS RESPONDING TO NEWS ABOUT A CALAMITY - Lk 13:1-5 1. He was told of how Pilate (the Roman governor) had... a. Killed some Galileans (Jews from Galilee
the same region Jesus was from) b. Mingled their blood along with their sacrifices 2. He anticipated the thinking of those who brought Him this news... a. Were those who suffered such atrocities worse sinners than other Galileans? b. No
and unless they repented they would likewise perish! 3. He reinforces His point with a reference to a similar calamity a. In which a tower in Siloam (in Jerusalem killed eighteen people b. Those victims were no worse sinners than others in Jerusalem 4. He then repeats His warning that unless they repent
they will all likewise perish! a. Some understand this to be a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem b. Whether or not
it still called for individual repentance B. THE PARABLE OF THE BARREN FIG TREE - Lk 13:6-9 1. The basic elements of the parable... a. A man is disappointed that a fig tree in his vineyard is unfruitful b. He wants to cut it down
but is persuaded by the keeper of the vineyard to give it one more year c. If no fruit is borne
then the tree is to be cut down 2. The basic point of the parable... a. The central lessons of verses 1-5 are clear: "Repent!" b. The parable in verses 6-9 takes the call to repentance one step further: "Repent NOW!" (HENDRIKSEN) c. Fruitlessness will not be endured forever! [Those who heard Jesus would appreciate the point
for what farmer desires to put up with a tree that won't bear fruit? But do we todayappreciate the point? To help make it even clearer
consider what we can glean from thisparable as some...] II. LESSONS FOR US TODAY
A. WHERE GOD HAS EXTENDED PRIVILEGES
HE EXPECTS RETURNS... 1. The owner of the vineyard expected the fig tree to bear fruit a. He had given it good soil b. For three years it had been provided care c. He was giving it an extra year
but only for the purpose of bearing fruit 2. God blessed Israel bear fruit- cf. Isa 5:1-7 3. So He has blessed us through His Son Jesus
and we are to glorify God by bearing fruit - Jn 15:8 -- Have you utilized the privileges God has given you...? B. THE LORD IS LONGSUFFERING
BUT IT DOESN'T LAST FOREVER... 1. We see the longsuffering of the owner of the vineyard a. He had given the fig tree three years to produce fruit b. He was persuaded to give it another year with special care c. But that last year was the final opportunity the tree would be given 2. We see the longsuffering of the Lord in His dealing with nation of Israel a. His longsuffering in the wilderness b. His longsuffering in the times of the judges c. His longsuffering during the reigns of the kings d. And yet
He did take the "kingdom of God and give it to a nation bearing the fruits of it - cf. Mt 21:43
3. So the Lord has been longsuffering to us... a. For He does not want anyone to be lost - 2 Pe 3:9 b. His longsuffering has been for our salvation - 2 Pe 3:15 c. But the longsuffering will one day end
and the "day of the Lord" will come - 2 Pe 3:7
10 C. THOSE WHO ARE UNFRUITFUL WILL BE CUT OFF... 1. The barren fig tree
if it remained so
was to be cut down 2. So Jesus warned His disciples that such would happen to them if they did not bear fruit ... a. "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes