Luke Chapter 13.

Luke Chapter 13.

Three warnings.  13:1-9.   The theme of repentance is continued in these verses.  The people of Jerusalem must repent.  All were in need of repentance, therefore no one could be picked out as, alone, worthy of violent death.  Judgment will finally come upon all unless they repent.  Thus, the parable of the fig tree was a warning to Israel, that there is a limit to God's patience and that the final opportunity to repent had come.

           

The woman with an infirmity.  13:10-17.  Their zeal for the Sabbath would not excuse the hatred for him and their unwillingness to repent.  The ruler of the Synagogue had a wrong understanding of the meaning of the law.  The true interpretation of God's law, must be in a way of love to our fellowmen.

           

The mustard seed and the leaven.  13:18-21.   These parables imply a present aspect of the Kingdom of God.

*  The mustard seed.  From a small beginning the Kingdom of God would grow rapidly.  Some scholars think that the main point is not the rapid growth, but that the birds of heaven should lodge in its branches.  (See Ezek.17:22-23; 31:3-9).  All nations shall resort to its branches.

*  The leaven.  Three interpretations have been given:

           

1.  Christianity is a power permeating and controlling the world.  This cannot be the right interpretation and this idea conflicts with the general eschatological teachings of the Scriptures.

           

2.  The leaven speaks of evil, corrupting the Christian community.  This meaning fits well in Matt.13.  Again leaven is always a symbol of evil in the Bible.  See G.H.Lang.

           

3.  The leaven speaks of the dynamic growth of the Church and its universal diffusion in the world.  This meaning suits the context well in Luke, for the context concerns the universallism of the Gospel.  This interpretation must not be confused with the first.

           

On rejection from the Kingdom.  13:22-30.   In this passage the Lord continues to intimate the universal character of the Gospel and, at the same time, to stress to the Jews that the opportunity of repentance and conversion will not always be available to them.           

One raised the question, "Lord are there few that be saved?"  The Lord shows that many who had opportunity, shall be excluded because they did not take to heart opportunities seriously and earnestly.  But many who had not the same opportunity shall sit at the Messianic feast, in the Kingdom of God.  This proves that the Kingdom of God has a soteriological concept.  They must be in earnest, for two reasons:

  *   The door is narrow, only by sincere effort could they enter.

  *   The door is soon to be closed.  They must not neglect their opportunity.

           

The conflict of conversion.  13:23-30.   Conversion is not easy, there is a conflict.  Look up, 'strive' in the Vines Dictionary.    It is an agonizing struggle.  The Kingdom of God is a large house that has a narrow gate.  It is not easy to find, and hard to enter.  He who would enter, must be in earnest.

  *   There is conflict with self.  The moral struggle.  Selfishness, self-righteousness, and other forms of self, are likely to hold us back.

  *   There is a conflict, a struggle with traditional religious authority.  The religious struggle of conviction.  For the Pharisee, repentance would involve a new understanding of the Sabbath.

  *   The conflict with worldly friends.  The social struggle, family, or friends, may oppose us.  Many who can stand up to their enemies, lack courage to withstand their friends

  *  The conflict with unbelief.  The intellectual struggle.  Some of our thinking may be dominated with material science.

           

The Lord insists, that lost opportunities are irrecoverable.  External religious advantages are useless.  It is not whence you come, but where you are going.

           

Herod's threat.  13:31-33.  Herod was Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea.  Jesus was still in his territory;  Fox, has a twofold meaning :  Slyness.   Worthless and insignificant, (i.e. a contrast to a lion), so say Rabbinic literature.

           

The third day, means a short time, but the time will be his own ordering.  It was not Herod who would fix the day when he must leave. 

           

The word 'perfect' may refer to the completion of his work in these parts.  Note that in the N.E.B. verse 33 is, "it is unthinkable".  Herod's intention to kill him would not be realized, for Jerusalem has the first claim - the monopoly - of putting to death God's prophets.

           

The Lament over Jerusalem.  13:34-35.  The Lord was on his way to Jerusalem.  He was fully aware of all that would come to pass in that city.  It was a city that was greatly beloved, but it had a bad record for destroying the messengers that God sent to her.  She was about to destroy the greatest that God ever sent to her.  She refused her own good, and would not accept the proffered salvation.

           

Her House (or Temple).  Would be left unto her desolate, i.e. abandoned by God.  In the scriptures, house often stands for Kingdom.  She must repent before she would again see Him.