Repent and receive
Luke 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
Luke 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:4 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?
Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
There is a belief, especially among the Jews of this time, that bad comes to bad people. Jesus was not seeing as they were seeing. Even some in today's church may be thinking that bad things happen to people because of sin or lack of faith. How often I have heard people speak of their past, blaming God for abuse they suffered in the bad care of parents. Some just believe that because of all the bad, it was their fault, because they were told by those who they wished to please, that it was their fault. We need to know some things. The devil and sin cause problems. Accidents happen to all people, yes, and angels do protect God's children of faith. The answer is JESUS. Repent and receive him, for no matter what may cause your pain or death, it matters not, if your soul belongs to God. If you have repented of the way of sin and believe in Jesus and are his, you shall not perish. Jesus will love you forever and you will be a member of God's family. Do not try to reason why things happen, instead receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and master, you are eternally safe in him.
God wants fruit
Luke 13:6 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.
This is a parable about bearing fruit. A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard;
Luke 13:7 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?
In John fifteen, God the Father is the husbandman or the vinedresser.
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Luke 13:8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
Luke 13:9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
He will move on the heart of a person, and give it what is needed. The tree will be given fertilizer, if the tree responds and bears fruit it will be spared.
John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
God wants us to bear fruit.
John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Spirit of infirmity
Luke 13:10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
Jesus himself was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. The sabbath begins at sundown Friday until sundown Saturday.
Luke 13:11 And, 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.
Note that she had a spirit. A spirit of infirmity. Not every illness is a spirit, but this woman was afflicted by a bad spirit, causing her to be bent over and twisted.
Luke 13:12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
Seeing her condition and knowing it was caused by a bad spirit, Jesus had compassion on her. He did not heal everyone. He healed everyone who came to him. This was a divine healing directed from the Father. In a church service it is appropriate to pray for healing. Usually people come forward, sometimes the Spirit of God will lead you to someone who needs healing. Healing is from God. We do not lay hands on people if we are not directed to do so by God.
Luke 13:13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
The laying on of hands brought healing, the bad spirit was gone and she glorified God. Isn't this a reason for meeting together as believers? The religious leaders were jealous and angry. They pretended to be more religious than Jesus.
Luke 13:14 And 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.
Jesus is Lord of the sabbath, but they did not know Jesus as who he is. How religious they were. They cared not that this person was healed. They moved in the shadows when the light of God stood in their midst. Praise God for his glorious light given through His Son Jesus.
Luke 13:15 The 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?
Yes, they all did this. We are to do good every day.
Luke 13:16 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?
Think about this? This woman, being a daughter of Abraham under his covenant promises had been bound eighteen years by a spirit from satan, should she not be loosed? Of all days, should not the sabbath be a day of healing and glory to God where he moves in miracles, signs and wonders? This was the fulfillment of prophecy.
Isa 61:1 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Luke 13:17 And 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.
The woman was bound by satan having not yet received the Lord Jesus as her savior. He had not yet gone to the cross for our sins. A Christian filled by God's Holy Spirit belongs to God. Demons may cause problems by lies given and believed, but the person is the possession of God. The Holy Spirit within is the gatekeeper, the porter, the one who keeps out the bad spirits.
John 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. We must learn who we are as God's children. He is our loving Lord and master. He is our healer who provides for us.
Corrupted kingdom
Luke 13:18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
The Spiritual kingdom of God is where God is with His Spirit. Remember what Jesus said earlier:
Luke 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
Jesus was being accused by the religious leaders of doing miracles by the power of the devil and also healing on the sabbath. These were the rulers of the Jewish houses of worship. With this in mind Jesus gives these parables about the earthly places that claimed to represent the kingdom of God.
Luke 13:19 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.
First, a man planted a seed and it grew. Mustard is a bush, not a tree, but this mustard grew abnormally large. It had become something abnormal, perhaps in reference to huge churches. And, the fowls of the air lodged in it. The parable of the sower, described fowls as eating up the word, this was the devil or his demonic presence from the air in these earthly places representing God's kingdom. The devil has been described as the prince of the power of the air. False teaching and false doctrine in these big religious places.
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Luke 13:20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
Luke 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Again in reference to that which represents the kingdom on earth, the synagoge or church that is full of leaven. Leaven is the representation of sin.
Mat 16:6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Three measures of grain, was the grain offering. This was an offering as worship. Their worship, our worship, is corrupted by sin.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The strait way
Luke 13:22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
Jesus was headed towards Jerusalem, his final days and then the cross. He is our example of the urgency to be about His Father's business while the day is here. We are to be busy doing the work of the Lord, sharing his word and witnessing to the lost, with signs following until our time in this life is up.
Luke 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
Many thought that by being a Jew, a child of Abraham, that they would be in heaven. Some of these opposed Jesus.
John 8:39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
John 8:40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
John 8:41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
John 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
John 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Strive, agonizomai, strive, labor with passion, the word agonize comes from this word. We are to seek to enter the strait and narrow gate with all of our heart. Jesus is the gate. It requires more than a casual knowledge of him. More than attending (or not attending) a synagogue or church out of religious duty to rituals and types and shadows of the kingdom of God. We must be born again of God's Holy Spirit through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The kingdom is a Spiritual kingdom and few enter because of obstacles to overcome.
2 Tim 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world,...
The love of this world, the pride of life and the lusts of the flesh keep us from going spiritually through the narrow gate that is Jesus. False worship will keep you out. Many claim to worship God, but do not go through the gate that is Jesus. We must overcome the obstacles of the world, the devil, flesh and false worship. Jesus is the narrow way.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The door is shut
Luke 13:25 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:
When God shuts the door, then it is too late to accept salvation, it is over. When the people of Noah's day mocked him and his message, when God shut the door of the ark, it was over for them.
Gen 7:16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.
Jesus is the door to God. When death comes to you and if you have not received Jesus by faith, the door is shut for you. When the rapture comes, his church will go up, if you have not received Jesus, the door is shut for you. When antichrist comes and people are required to receive the mark of the beast, if you do so, the door is shut for you.
Luke 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
Luke 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
You may have been a church attendee, you may have given to the poor, but you only did it to be seen by others. You never knew Jesus, and he never knew you as his friend. At the judgment he will not know you. The door is shut.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Luke 13:28 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.
If you were not included and ended up in hell, the door was shut.
Luke 13:29 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.
It is the time of his second coming. You who have trusted in him, the angels will gather you to be with him. Decide now to be one who will be with Jesus in the kingdom and forever more. Be close to him, receive him as your Lord, your savior and your friend.
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
We who have trusted Jesus are his sheep and he is our shepherd. We may enter through his door.
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. We are his beloved children. All good things are open to us, only believe.
Last shall be first
Luke 13:30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
Let's look at birth order. Cain was before Able.
Gen 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
Gen 4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Gen 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Gen 4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
The Lord honored Able above Cain. Cain was a murderer and a liar.
Two more brothers born of Isaac, Esau and Jacob. Jacob tricked Esau out of his birthright. Esau despised his birthright, selling it for a bowl of stew.
In spiritual terms, their is a natural birth and a spiritual birth. Jesus explains this.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Paul, under the inspiration of God explains this in regard to flesh body and spiritual body. The natural body of flesh is first, the spiritual body is last.
1 Cor 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
Two Adams
1 Cor 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1 Cor 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1 Cor 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1 Cor 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Consider John the baptist.
Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
How can this be? Those in the kingdom of heaven are spiritual, John had not yet seen the salvation of the cross which had not yet occurred.
In conclusion, the flesh man comes first, but the spiritual man is greater in the kingdom of God. In context, not everyone who does religious things shall be first, even if they are high up in their organization. The least who is redeemed by Jesus is first. Although they may be despised by other religions.
That fox
Luke 13:31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
Jesus was not afraid of Herod. He would not run as did Elijah, from the threats of queen Jezebel. Elijah was a man, the Spirit departed and he ran in fear. Jesus was man and God, with the fulness of the Holy Spirit. He would give his life up, at the appointed time.
John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Luke 13:32 And 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.
He called Herod a fox. A fox is a small animal, clever and skillful. Sometimes satan comes as a sly fox, speaking half truths trying to bring fear and failure to our lives. No one would fear a fox, but a clever and evil spirit can be as dangerous as a roaring lion.
Go tell that fox about the power of the kingdom that is within me, Jesus. Tell the devil that he casts out devils and he heals...today and tomorrow, he takes our infirmities upon himself. Every drop of blood that he shed, was for our healing.
to day and to morrow,
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
and the third day I shall be perfected...
perfected, teleioo, to carry through completely, to accomplish, finish, bring to an end. To the cross and on the third day, risen from the grave. On the cross he spoke "it is finished," teleo, to perform, execute, complete, fulfill, (so that the thing done corresponds to what has been said, the order, command etc.) He had finished the Father's will in shedding blood for our sins. On the third day, the gospel of salvation was complete. He proved that he was the way of life, he conquered, satan, death and the grave. He overcame the flesh by the Spirit of God, proving that he is able to save completely those who trust in him.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem
Luke 13:33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is the place of the law, the religious court and the temple. Often they have ruled against their prophets. They even accused Jesus, their Messiah, of being a false prophet.
Luke 13:34 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!
They kill the men that God sends to them. No man can come to Jesus unless God opens their heart to him. Then they must will to come to him. God's Spirit first and then our will is required to receive Jesus as Lord. If we will it, but God has not shown us who Jesus is, it is no salvation. Also God may be urging you to receive him, but you will not. The Holy Spirit will not force you to receive salvation. Jesus speaks of this refusal with a heart of love, "how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!" It is not God's fault, but the stubborn will of those who refuse to come to Jesus.
John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
God saves, but we must receive Jesus. Jesus died for all, but all do not receive him, even with the prompting of the Holy Spirit, some like the Pharisees still rejected him. The first shall be last.
Luke 13:35 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.
A house without the presence of God is an empty and a desolate house. A house without the hope of resurrection through Jesus. The temple itself would be destroyed and the people scattered. They rejected Jesus and the destroyer would come.
Superragman@aol.com
Luke Chapters
Luke 14
Luke 1 Table of Contents
Eaglewings New Testament Studies
Eaglewings Ministries