Read Luke 13
Repent or Perish
13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath
10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”
15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”
17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”
20 Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
The Narrow Door
22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”
He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’
“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’
28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”
Jesus’ Sorrow for Jerusalem
31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”
32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ 33 In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!
34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 35 Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Go Deeper
In this chapter we see Jesus’ eager desire to save juxtaposed with humankind’s natural resistance to that salvation. Jesus teaches, heals, and challenges, but every step of the way He’s met with resistance. The synagogue leaders tell Him to not heal on the Sabbath, and other religious leaders try to kick him out of town. Thinking He is ruining their lives, they are actually resisting the One who would give them life! The closing verses here perfectly illustrate Jesus’ demeanor throughout the passage. He desperately desires to save but is mourned by the defiance of the people, particularly the religious leaders.
When we read this chapter, we need to know that we will often respond to Jesus in a similar manner. We aren’t always willing listeners! Just like the religious leaders, it is our natural inclination to resist Life. We will push back against Jesus because He will call us toward something that is hard to do, difficult to understand, or even costly to our lives. Because of this, many will try to find life, but few will actually be able to enter into it (v. 24). If we are to do something which most others will not be able to accomplish, we must do what others do not. We must place our preconceived notions about Jesus aside, and take Him for what He truly is. He’s not a God that can be put in a box, or a Savior who can be told where to go.
All it takes to come to Jesus is a need. You must acknowledge that you don’t have all the answers, that you’ve fallen short, and that you’re in need of saving. If we are willing to come to Him with need, He will glady gather you to Himself as His child (v. 34). But if you approach Him with the pride of the Pharisees, “he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’” (v. 27). The challenge for us today is that we wouldn’t resist Jesus because He challenges our position, pride, or prejudice. Instead, approach Him humbly with the need like that of the crippled (v. 11), and allow Him to bring healing to your life.
Questions
- What most stands out to you about Jesus from this chapter?
- Why do you think most people will not be able to enter into salvation?
- In what areas of your life do you have pride that might keep you from experiencing Jesus more fully?
Keep Digging
Check out this article from GotQuestions.org called “Just How Narrow is the Narrow Gate?”
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1 thought on “Luke 13”
The teachings of Christ have often been described as “upside down” and challenge man-made rules/traditions on every level. His message is clear—God is patient and willing that all come to repentance and none perish. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. A day of accounting is coming, so be wise, be ready, be transformed by the renewing of our minds. The real question is, how will we respond? Hebrews 4:7 says “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Clearly Christ is speaking to us through the written Word of God, today I’m checking the status of my heart. Where has it grown cold, calloused, or like concrete?