Luke Chapter 13

From The Open Bible Project

13:1 Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

• (1) We must not rejoice at the just punishment of others, but rather we should be instructed by it to repent.
• (a) Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea almost ten years, and about the fourth year of his government, which might be about the fifteenth year of Tiberius’ reign, Christ finished the work of our redemption by his death.

13:2 Jesus answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things?

13:3 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.

13:4 Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them; do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem?

• (b) That is, in the place, or river: for Siloam was a small river from which the conduits of the city came; see (John 9:7; Isaiah 8:6); and therefore it was a tower or a castle, built upon the conduit side, which fell down suddenly and killed some.

13:5 I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way."

13:6 He spoke this parable. "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none.

13:7 He said to the vine dresser, 'Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down. Why does it waste the soil?'

• (c) Make the ground barren in that part which is otherwise good for vines.

13:8 He answered, 'Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it, and fertilize it.

13:9 If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.'"

13:10 He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day.

• (3) Christ came to deliver us from the hand of Satan.

13:11 Behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and she was bent over, and could in no way straighten herself up.

• (d) Troubled with a disease which Satan caused.

13:12 When Jesus saw her, he called her, and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity."

• (e) For Satan had the woman bound, as if she had been in chains, to the extent that for eighteen years time she could not hold up her head.

13:13 He laid his hands on her, and immediately she stood up straight, and glorified God.

13:14 The ruler of the synagogue, being indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the multitude, "There are six days in which men ought to work. Therefore come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day!"

• (4) A graphic image of hypocrisy, and the reward of it.
• (f) One of the rulers of the synagogue, for it appears that there were many rulers of the synagogue, see (Mark 5:22) (Acts 13:15).

13:15 Therefore the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each one of you free his ox or his donkey from the stall on the Sabbath, and lead him away to water?

13:16 Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound eighteen long years, be freed from this bondage on the Sabbath day?"

13:17 As he said these things, all his adversaries were disappointed, and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

13:18 He said, "What is the Kingdom of God like? To what shall I compare it?

13:19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and put in his own garden. It grew, and became a large tree, and the birds of the sky lodged in its branches."

• (5) God begins his kingdom with small beginnings so that its growth, which is not looked for, may better set forth his power.

13:20 Again he said, "To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?

13:21 It is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in [33] three measures [See Luke Footnotes 33] of flour, until it was all leavened."

13:22 He went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and traveling on to Jerusalem.

• (6) Against those who had rather err with many than go right with a few, and because of this through their own indifference they are shut out of the kingdom of God.

13:23 One said to him, "Lord, are they few who are saved?" He said to them,

13:24 "Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in, and will not be able.

13:25 When once the master of the house has risen up, and has shut the door, and you begin to stand outside, and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' then he will answer and tell you, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'

13:26 Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.'

• (7) It is vain to be in the Church if one is not of the Church; and whether or not one is in the Church is shown by the purity of life.

13:27 He will say, 'I tell you, I don't know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.'

13:28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets, in the Kingdom of God, and yourselves being thrown outside.

• (8) The casting off of the Jews and the calling of the Gentiles is foretold.

13:29 They will come from the east, west, north, and south, and will sit down in the Kingdom of God.

• (g) From all the corners of the world, and the places mentioned here are four of the main ones.

13:30 Behold, there are some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last."

13:31 On that same day, some Pharisees came, saying to him, "Get out of here, and go away, for Herod wants to kill you."

• (9) We must go forward in regards to our calling, through the midst of terrors, whether they be real or imagined.

13:32 He said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I complete my mission.

• (h) That deceitful and treacherous man.
• (i) That is, a small time, and Theophylact says it is a proverb: or else by "to day" we may understand the present time, and by tomorrow the time to come, meaning by this the entire time of his ministry and office.
• (k) That is, when the sacrifice for sin is finished.

13:33 Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, for it can't be that a prophet perish outside of Jerusalem.'

• (10) Nowhere else are there more cruel enemies of the godly than within the sanctuary and Church itself: but God sees it and will in his time have an account for it from them.

• This verse reveals who the Babylon in Revelation is. Compare Revelation 18:20,24.

13:34 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused!

• (l) Literally, "the nest": now the brood of chickens is the nest.

13:35 Behold, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'"[34]

• Jesus clearly says that their house, or Temple, will become desolate.