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Luke 13

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1¶ There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

2And Jesus answering said unto them, ‹Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?›

3‹I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.›

4‹Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?›

5‹I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.›

6¶ He spake also this parable; ‹A certain› [man] ‹had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.›

7‹Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?›

8‹And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung› [it]:

9‹And if it bear fruit,› [well]: ‹and if not,› [then] ‹after that thou shalt cut it down.›

10¶ And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

11And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up [herself].

12And when Jesus saw her, he called [her to him], and said unto her, ‹Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.›

13And he laid [his] hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

14And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

15The Lord then answered him, and said, [Thou] ‹hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or› [his] ‹ass from the stall, and lead› [him] ‹away to watering?›

16‹And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?›

17And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

18¶ Then said he, ‹Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?›

19‹It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.›

20And again he said, ‹Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?›

21‹It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.›

22And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

23¶ Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

24‹Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.›

25‹When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:›

26‹Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.›

27‹But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all› [ye] ‹workers of iniquity.›

28‹There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you› [yourselves] ‹thrust out.›

29‹And they shall come from the east, and› [from] ‹the west, and from the north, and› [from] ‹the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.›

30‹And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.›

31¶ The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.

32And he said unto them, ‹Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third› [day] ‹I shall be perfected.›

33‹Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the› [day] ‹following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.›

34‹O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen› [doth gather] ‹her brood under› [her] ‹wings, and ye would not!›

35‹Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until› [the time] ‹come when ye shall say, Blessed› [is] ‹he that cometh in the name of the Lord.›

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Luke 13:1-5 Verses 1-5

Mention was made to Christ of the death of some Galileans. This tragical story is briefly related here, and is not met with in any historians. In Christ's reply he spoke of another event, which, like it, gave an instance of people taken away by sudden death. Towers, that are built for safety, often prove to be men's destruction. He cautioned his hearers not to blame great sufferers, as if they were therefore to be accounted great sinners. As no place or employment can secure from the stroke of death, we should consider the sudden removals of others as warnings to ourselves. On these accounts Christ founded a call to repentance. The same Jesus that bids us repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, bids us repent, for otherwise we shall perish.

Luke 13:6-9 Verses 6-9

This parable of the barren fig-tree is intended to enforce the warning given just before: the barren tree, except it brings forth fruit, will be cut down. This parable in the first place refers to the nation and people of the Jews. Yet it is, without doubt, for awakening all that enjoy the means of grace, and the privileges of the visible church. When God has borne long, we may hope that he will bear with us yet a little longer, but we cannot expect that he will bear always.

Luke 13:10-17 Verses 10-17

Our Lord Jesus attended upon public worship on the sabbaths. Even bodily infirmities, unless very grievous, should not keep us from public worship on sabbath days. This woman came to Christ to be taught, and to get good to her soul, and then he relieved her bodily infirmity. This cure represents the work of Christ's grace upon the soul. And when crooked souls are made straight, they will show it by glorifying God. Christ knew that this ruler had a real enmity to him and to his gospel, and that he did but cloak it with a pretended zeal for the sabbath day; he really would not have them be healed any day; but if Jesus speaks the word, and puts forth his healing power, sinners are set free. This deliverance is often wrought on the Lord's day; and whatever labour tends to put men in the way of receiving the blessing, agrees with the design of that day.

Luke 13:18-22 Verses 18-22

Here is the progress of the gospel foretold in two parables, as in Mt 13. The kingdom of the Messiah is the kingdom of God. May grace grow in our hearts; may our faith and love grow exceedingly, so as to give undoubted evidence of their reality. May the example of God's saints be blessed to those among whom they live; and may his grace flow from heart to heart, until the little one becomes a thousand.

Luke 13:23-30 Verses 23-30

Our Saviour came to guide men's consciences, not to gratify their curiosity. Ask not, How many shall be saved? But, Shall I be one of them? Not, What shall become of such and such? But, What shall I do, and what will become of me? Strive to enter in at the strait gate. This is directed to each of us; it is, Strive ye. All that will be saved, must enter in at the strait gate, must undergo a change of the whole man. Those that would enter in, must strive to enter. Here are awakening considerations, to enforce this exhortation. Oh that we may be all awakened by them! They answer the question, Are there few that shall be saved? But let none despond either as to themselves or others, for there are last who shall be first, and first who shall be last. If we reach heaven, we shall meet many there whom we little thought to meet, and miss many whom we expected to find.

Luke 13:31-35 Verses 31-35

Christ, in calling Herod a fox, gave him his true character. The greatest of men were accountable to God, therefore it became him to call this proud king by his own name; but it is not an example for us. I know, said our Lord, that I must die very shortly; when I die, I shall be perfected, I shall have completed my undertaking. It is good for us to look upon the time we have before us as but little, that we may thereby be quickened to do the work of the day in its day. The wickedness of persons and places which more than others profess religion and relation to God, especially displeases and grieves the Lord Jesus. The judgment of the great day will convince unbelievers; but let us learn thankfully to welcome, and to profit by all who come in the name of the Lord, to call us to partake of his great salvation.

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Abraham in Paradise Luke 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, but you yourselves are thrown out.

Abraham: How Regarded by his Descendants Luke 13:16, 28

Then should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be released from her bondage on the Sabbath day?” / There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves are thrown out.

Chickens: Broods Her Young Luke 13:34

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

Church: Backslidden Luke 13:6–9

Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. / So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Therefore cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ / ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone again this year, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

Despondency: General Scriptures Concerning Luke 13:27, 28

And he will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’ / There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves are thrown out.

Diseases: Frequently: Tedious Luke 13:16

Then should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be released from her bondage on the Sabbath day?”

Donkey: Domesticated by Jesus Luke 13:15

“You hypocrites!” the Lord replied. “Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it to water?

Door: Closed Luke 13:25

After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’

Entertainments: None Admitted To, After the Master had Risen and Shut The Luke 13:24, 25

“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. / After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’

Fig Tree: Barren, Parable of Luke 13:6–9

Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. / So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Therefore cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ / ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone again this year, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

Formalism: General Scriptures Concerning Luke 13:24–27

“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. / After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ / Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’

Fox of Craftiness Luke 13:32

But Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I will keep driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach My goal.’

Foxes Luke 13:32

But Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I will keep driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach My goal.’

Gentiles: Prophecies of the Conversion of Luke 13:29, 30

People will come from east and west and north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. / And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”

God: Longsuffering of Luke 13:6–9, 34

Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. / So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Therefore cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ / ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone again this year, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

God: Longsuffering of, Abused Luke 13:6–9

Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. / So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Therefore cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ / ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone again this year, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

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