LUKE CHAPTER 13 PREVIEW:

for Luke Chapter 13


Luke 13 - Repentance, False Religion and the True Way

A. The imperative of repentance

1. (1-5) Jesus uses two recent disasters to drive home a point
a. Previous to this, Pilate had desired to build an aqueduct from the Pools of Solomon to the city of Jerusalem. To do this, he demanded money from the temple treasury, money that had been dedicated to God - and this outraged the people. When the Jews sent a delegation to beg for their money back, Pilate sent into a crowd soldiers dressed as common people, and at a certain signal they took out daggers and attacked the people asking for the money
i. This doesn't seem to be the same incident mentioned here, but it shows how completely consistent it was with the character of Pilate to slaughter some Galileans on their way to sacrifice to the Lord in Jersusalem
b. Jesus cites two instances of disaster that were well known in His day - one, an evil done by the hand of man; the other, seemingly a natural disaster
i. We normally think of some people as "good," and some people as "bad," and believe that God should allow good things to happen to good people and bad things to bad people. Jesus dispels this notion
ii. But Jesus' point is not that the Galileans in question were innocent; they were simply not more guilty than the others. All are guilty

c. In analyzing the issue, Jesus gets away from the question "why did this happen?" and turns it into "what does this mean to me?"
i. It means that we all may die at any time, so repentance must be a top priority. Those who died in both of these instances did not think they would die soon, but they did none the less
d. Here, Jesus mentions two kinds of repentance, both essential. Verse five (unless you repent) describes a "once and for all" repentance; the verb tense in verse three (unless you repent) describes a continual repentance
i. Jesus' warning that they must repent or perish had an immediate, chilling fulfillment; not far from this, those citizens of Jerusalem who had not repented and turned to Jesus perished in the destruction of Jerusalem
2. (6-9) Jesus illustrates some principles regarding God's judgment
a. God looks for fruit (he came seeking fruit)
i. The fruit of our live shows what kind of person we really are; an apple tree will bring forth apples, not watermellons. If our lives have really been touched by Jesus Christ, it will show in the fruit we bear - even if it takes a while for the fruit to come forth
ii. What fruit is God looking for? It certainly has to begin with the fruit of the Spirit, mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

b. God is patient; He gives a second chance (let it alone this year)
i. And God does not leave the tree alone; He gives it special care. Perhaps God is showing His special care for you right now - but maybe it feels like there is manure all around you! Yet, don't resist God's work. Flow with it and bear fruit as He continues to work in your life
c. God is just; He gives a final chance (if not, after that you can cut it down)
B. The danger of false religion
1. (10-17) False religion is manifested in the synagogue
a. Apparently, this woman's physical condition (bent over and could in no way raise herself up) was due to a spiritual dynamic (a spirit of infirmity). We are foolish to think that all physical problems are directly caused by spiritual things, but we just as foolish to think that no physical problems are caused by spiritual things
i. This woman is often used as an example of a "believer" who can be demon posessed. But as godly as she may have been, she was not born again by the Spirit of God, because the work of Jesus had not yet been accomplished on the cross. We believe that Christians cannot be demon possessed, not because they are good, church-going people, but because the are new creatures in Christ, and are off limits to demonic posession
b. Of course, Jesus has no problem ministering to this woman's need; He shows complete mastery over the demonic and sickness and disease
c. The religious leaders object, saying that Jesus has broken the Sabbath; they were more concerned about observing religious traditions and forms than in seeing human need touched by God's Spirit

i. If you can loose an animal on the Sabbath, why can't you free a suffering person on the Sabbath?
d. Jesus uses a strong word - really, He is more saying she must be loosed than she ought to be loosed
2. (18-21) Two parables warn of false religion's corruption of the kingdom community (the church)
a. The standard interpretation of these parables is that they describe the growth and spreading influence of the church
b. But it is more likely, in light of the language used and the course of church history, that these parables describe the corruption of the church by false religion

c. With the parable of the mustard seed, Jesus is describing an abnormal - even monstrous growth; mustard seed plants simply do not become large, tall trees

i. Additionally, trees are sometimes used in the Bible to describe human governments, and evil governments at that. In fact, this tree reminds us of the one Nebuchadnezzar saw in his vision (Daniel 4:10-16)
ii. Additionally, birds are emissaries of evil in Jesus' parables (Matthew 13:4, 19). Apparently, the church has become so large and established that it is a roosting place for evil

d. With the parable of the leaven in the three measures of meal, Jesus is also describing corruption; leaven is always representative of sin; three measures of meal was the standard grain offering to God
i. Essentially, Jesus is giving a picture of corrupt worship - an offering to God that has been corrupted by the hiding of sin within it
e. History abundantly proves the dangerous influence that false religion has had on the church (shown in political intrigue, lust for power, intolerance, vain superstition, immorality, and greed)
C. The first and the last
1. (22-24a) Jesus responds to a question about salvation
a. We often wonder about the salvation of others; but Jesus points back to the only person's salvation we can really know - and asks, "are you yourself saved?"
i. The rabbis used to love to debate the question of whether many or few would be saved; but Jesus won't be drawn into this debate. His only question is, "are you saved?"
b. The way is narrow - we can't bring our self-centeredness, pride, lusts, hate or especially our own righteousness
i. As the famous hymn states: "Nothing in my hand I bring, only to Thy cross I cling"
c. Therefore, we must strive (the word is literally agonize) in order to lay these things aside and come in. The Greek word for strive has "the idea of a struggle or prize-fight" (Bruce)
d. Strive to enter through the narrow gate isn't a call to save yourself by good works. Good works aren't the right gate. You can strive to enter all your life long, but if it isn't at the right gate, it makes no difference. Jesus Himself is the gate; He is the door.

e. Then why must we strive to enter? Because there are a lot of obstacles on the way. The world is an obstacle. The devil is an obstacle. But probably the worst obstacle is your own flesh.

2. (24b-27) The reason why it is important to strive in entering
a. The punctuation in verses 24-25 is poor; it should read will not be able when once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door. The point is that there will come a time when it is too late - that is why one must have an urgency to enter now
i. This is true regarding our soul's salvation; you can know something about Jesus and not be saved. You can be in the presence of Jesus and not be saved
ii. It is likewise true of so many areas where God challenges our lives; we must have an urgency to do what God tells us now. For example, many men are terrible husbands, until the day when their wife just gives up - then they wake up, but it may be too late

b. Many will seek to enter (in the sense of wishing to enter), but they will not be able to. When the door is open, it is open; when it is shut, it is shut
i. There is a real difference between a mere seeking and striving to enter. A casual wish to be saved isn't enough; there are too many obstacles on the way
3. (28-30) The destiny of those who don't strive to enter
a. They will be in hell (the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth); and they will see that others enter instead of them
i. One woman protested to an evangelist that weeping and gnashing of teeth cannot apply to those who have lost their teeth; he solemnly replied, "teeth will be provided!"
b. Yet, indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last; the makeup of those in (or out) of the Kingdom may be different than what some expected
4. (31-33) Jesus proceeds despite a threat from Herod
a. Why did Jesus call Herod a fox? Fox refers to a "cunning but weak ruler" (Geldenhuys); it was used as a contrast with a majestic animal like a lion
i. We need to be aware that Satan can come at us as a fox as much as like a lion; we often just wait for a lion to come along, and we are deceived by a fox
b. Herod is also an example of one of the first who will be last; though now he sits in power and authority, it won't last long
c. Be perfected actually has the idea of "reach the goal"; Jesus knew that before long, He would reach the goal on the third day - resurrection would be His

5. (34-35) Jesus laments over the city of His rejection
a. Jesus knew of the destruction and terror that was coming upon Jerusalem; He knew that their only chance of avoiding that horror was to receive Him as the He who comes in the name of the Lord
i. "When the hen sees a beast of prey coming, she makes a noise to assemble her chickens, that she may cover them with her wings from the danger. The Roman eagle is about to fall upon the Jewish state - nothing can prevent this but their conversion to God through Christ - Jesus cries throughout the land, publishing the gospel of reconciliation - they would not assemble, and the Roman eagle came and destroyed them." (Clarke)
b. This is what G. Campbell Morgan called "the Mother heart of God"; God desires to save His people from the pain and suffering their sin will bring upon them
i. What would God spare you from? What things would Jesus gather you under His wings and protect you from? When the little chick is our running on its own, it is especially vulnerable!
c. Jesus also reveals something of the conditions surrounding His second coming; when He comes again, they will welcome Him as the Messiah, saying blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord
i. It will take a great deal to bring Israel to that point, but God will do it, and Israel will welcome Jesus back - even as Paul said in Romans 11:26: And so all Israel will be saved.

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