Luke 13

CHAPTER 13THEME: Jesus teaches men not to judge but repent; parable of the fig tree; Jesus heals woman with infirmity; parables of the mustard seed and leaven; continues to teach as He goes toward Jerusalem; Jesus weeps over Jerusalem

Luke 13:1

JESUS TEACHES MEN NOT TO JUDGE BUT REPENTThe victims of Pilate and the men who were killed when the tower fell were not judged of God. God does nothing in spite. But Christ was telling the religious crowd of His day that unless they repented, they would also perish. This passage has several fine lessons for us. The first one teaches us that when some Christian has trouble beyond the average amount (and many do), we are not to interpret it to mean that he is a greater sinner than others. Trouble does not always come to a person because of his sins. The other side of the coin is that just becoming a Christian does not automatically inoculate you against trouble. You will miss the Great Tribulation, but you will not miss the little tribulation if you are a Christian. You are going to have a little of it right down here. Another thing we should see is that when trouble comes to someone else and not to you, it does not indicate that you are superior to that individual. Perhaps God is permitting you to see the other fellow’s trouble in order to bring you to Himself.

Luke 13:6

PARABLE OF THE FIG TREEThe parable of the fig tree grew out of the previous discussion. The fig tree without fruit is symbolic, in my opinion, of the nation Israel. The owner of the fig tree expected it to bear fruit and was disappointed when it was barren. He had the unquestioned right to take the fruit and to act in judgment by cutting down the tree. Israel had been promised blessings if they walked in the light God had given them and curses if they rejected the light. The nation was given special attentioncultivated and fertilized. It should have produced fruit, but it did not. Israel rejected Christ, even saying, “…His blood be on us, and on our children” (Mat_27:25). Israel did experience God’s judgment and was scattered among the nations of the world. It is interesting to note that Israel cannot live in her land today and have peace while she continues to reject God. It is not Russia or the Arabs that are giving Israel so much trouble; it is God. Israel is God’s chosen people. He is going to bring them back to their land someday in faith and belief. They are returning to the land today in unbelief, and they do not have peace. This is the evidence of the hand of God in the affairs of the world.

Luke 13:10

JESUS HEALS THE WOMAN WITH THE INFIRMITYThis woman had one of the worst cases of illness recorded in the Bible. She had a severe malady. The problem arose not because our Lord healed her, but because He healed her on the Sabbath day. The Lord healing people on the Sabbath day was a recurring source of contention between Himself and the religious rulers. This woman had a spirit of infirmity that had plagued her for eighteen years. It is difficult to translate into English the terminology that Dr. Luke uses to describe her condition. They are medical terms. Her illness was chronic. Because of it she was bowed down or, as Weymouth translates it, “bent double.” This poor woman could not lift herself up. Here was a woman in a desperate condition. She was an unfortunate wretch who was an object of pity. This was probably one of the most terrible cases of physical infirmity that the Lord dealt with on earth.

Luke 13:15

I must confess that I do not understand why this woman had been bound by Satan. She apparently was not an immoral person, as she was a regular attendant at the synagogue even in her condition. It was in the synagogue that the Great Physician said to her, “Be loosed.” He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight and glorified God. His touch upon her was not essential but was an aid to her faith. It was personal contact. And personal contact with Him is the important thing for us also. The ruler of the synagogue rebuked her sharplyyet this woman had not come to the synagogue with any intention of being healed. The reaction of the religious ruler was strange indeed. He was more interested in the rule than he was in the fact that a poor woman, who had been shackled for eighteen years with a grievous infirmity, had been freed. The Sabbath question was the most important issue to these religious rulers. Yet Sabbath prohibitions had become a burden too great to be borne. The Sabbath question is still one of heated debate today. The important thing is not to argue about religion, but to learn to live it.

Luke 13:17

The people, though they heard Him gladly, seemed to go no farther with Him. It is possible to become so religious and callous that you can exclude Jesus from your life too. You may know all the answers and be an expert in argument, but the real question is, “Have you ever let Christ into your heart?” There is no substitute for that. Are you filled with doubts? Are you puzzled or troubled? Are you bent double with the burdens of life? Then come to the Lord Jesus Christ with your burdens and sins. You can come to Him anytime. He is ready and waiting to meet your need.

Luke 13:18

PARABLES OF THE MUSTARD SEED AND LEAVENThe mustard seed is symbolic of the outward aspect of Christendom with its multiplied organizations and denominations. The mustard seed is to become an herb and not a tree. Instead of church organizations lagging behind, there is actually an abnormal growth which has been too fast. They have lost their true character as they have become great. The “birds” are the key of this parable. They represent the Devil who is active in Christendom and in many so-called churches. Leaven represents not the gospel but a principle of evil. Leaven never represents good as used in the Bible. Leaven occurs about ninety-eight times in the Bibleabout seventy-five times in the Old Testament and about twenty-three times in the New Testament. It is always used in a bad sense. Although many sincere folk think of leaven as representing the gospel, which will spread over the entire world and convert the world, they are doomed to disappointment. There will be no kingdom and no peace until Christ returns to establish His Kingdom on this earth. The organized church cannot bring in His Kingdom. In His own good time Christ Himself will come and establish His Kingdom.

Luke 13:22

JESUS CONTINUES TO TEACH AS HE GOES TOWARD JERUSALEMJesus is continuing to move toward Jerusalem. Luke has already told us, “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luk_9:51). He is on His way there, on His way to die in Jerusalem. This was to be our Savior’s last journey.

Luke 13:23

Why this question was asked is difficult to discern. Perhaps it was sincere. The charisma of Christ drew the multitudes, but they soon discovered that it cost to follow Him. There were those coming and going all the time. As He approached Jerusalem this last time it was noticeable. There came a day when it was written, “And they all forsook him, and fled” (Mar_14:50). He made it abundantly clear that it would cost to follow Him. That we in our sophisticated and soft affluency think otherwise is heresy! Since this was a speculative question, Jesus did not answer it directly. He is saying to this man, “Make sure you are saved.” In the rest of this brief discourse, the Lord made it clear that many will be saved who are not sons of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Luke 13:31

In this warning from the Pharisees, the Lord Jesus labeled Herod a fox. Man has not ascended from the animal; but sometimes he descends to the animal plane in living. Our Lord gives here the veiled program of His redemption and resurrection.

Luke 13:34

JESUS WEEPS OVER JERUSALEMAgain He expresses His love and concern for Jerusalem, the city where He was to die. He also pronounces judgment upon the “…city of the great King” (Mat_5:35). Also He announces that He is coming again. The next time will be the real Triumphal Entry.