Welcome to Tuesday’s Bible Study at afaithtalk.com. We’re continuing our study of Luke’s gospel, this week chapter 13. I know the last few have been very long. You might notice this one is about twenty verses shorter. I’m so glad you’ve come to study with me. Before we begin, let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, thank You for this book, these words, these stories, this explanation of so much, the revelation You’re planning to give us as You lead, Lord. Help us follow. All to bring You glory.
Please read Luke 13:1-5
Call to Repent
1 Just at that time some people came who told Jesus about the [a]Galileans whose blood Pilate [the governor] had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus replied to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans because they have suffered in this way? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways and live changed lives], you will all likewise perish. 4 Or do you assume that [b]those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed were worse sinners than all the others who live in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways and live changed lives], you will all likewise perish.”
Change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways and live changed lives. That is repentance, what turning from your sinful ways looks like. You must be mindful of what you think. Ask Him to transform your thoughts and make all of them obedient to Him. Every day. Maybe many times in one day. Moment by moment. Your focus matters. Trust Him.
Please read Luke 13:6-9
Parable of the Fig Tree
6 Then He began telling them this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree that had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it, but did not find any; 7 so he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and have found none. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground [depleting the soil and blocking the sunlight]?’ 8 But he replied to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, [just] one more year until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; 9 and if it bears fruit after this, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”
A life of faith bears fruit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, that is the most recognizable fruit of faith, because it is the fruit of the Spirit.
Please read Luke 13:10-13
Healing on the Sabbath
10 Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had an illness caused by a spirit (demon). She was bent double, and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are released from your illness.” 13 Then He laid His hands on her; and immediately she stood erect again and she began glorifying and praising God.
The response to Him should always be glory and praise, with lots and lots of thanksgiving. Can you imagine His compassion to not let her suffer anymore? Glorify and praise Him for what He did for her. Yes, you can do that too. Thank You, Lord, for healing this woman. Thank You for your kindness and your compassion and most of all for the strength of spirit You are going to display against those who don’t worship You for this.
Please read Luke 13:14-17
14 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, “There are six days in which work ought to be done; so come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 But the Lord replied to him, “You hypocrites (play-actors, pretenders)! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead it away to water it? 16 And this woman, a daughter (descendant) of Abraham whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?” 17 As He was saying this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things that were being done by Him.
Humiliation verses Rejoicing. Which side would you rather be on? Look at His explanation, she’s been bound for eighteen years by Satan, why should He not free her on the Sabbath day? His work is always good. He’s here for you too. Believe.
Please read Luke 13:18-21
Parables of Mustard Seed and Leaven
18 So this led Him to say, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a [c]mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his own garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky found shelter and nested in its branches.”
20 And again He said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three peck measures of flour until it was all leavened.”
A peck is 8 quarts. 3 x 8 is 24 measures. Abundance. That is the point. The Kingdom of God is always growing. Whenever someone believes, it grows. If you have faith, you are in the Kingdom. That’s the reason to think and act like He tells us to.
Please read Luke 13:22-30
Teaching in the Villages
22 Jesus journeyed on through cities and villages, teaching and making His way toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone asked Him, “Lord, will only a few be saved [from the penalties of the last judgment]?” And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door [force aside unbelief and the attractions of sin]; for many, I tell you, will try to enter [by their own works] and will not be able. 25 Once the head of the house gets up and closes the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door [again and again], saying, ‘Lord, open to us!’ then He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you are from [for you are not of My household].’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; 27 but He will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers!’ 28 In that place there will be weeping [in sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [in distress and anger] when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out and driven away. 29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and they will sit down [and feast at the table] in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
Force aside unbelief and the attractions of sin. Walk a life of faith and be obedient and you will find the narrow door.
Please read Luke 13:31-35
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came up and said to Him, “Leave and go away from here, because Herod [Antipas] wants to kill You.” 32 And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox [that sly, cowardly man], ‘Listen carefully: I cast out demons and perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I reach My goal.’ 33 Nevertheless I must travel on today and tomorrow and the day after that—for it cannot be that a prophet would die outside of Jerusalem. 34 [d]O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones [to death] those [messengers] who are sent to her [by God]! How often I have wanted to gather your children together [around Me], just as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you were not willing! 35 Listen carefully: your house is left to you desolate [abandoned by God and destitute of His protection]; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed [to be celebrated with praise] is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed and a Blessing and so worthy of all our honor and praise.
As I write this Palm Sunday is upon us. When it goes live, it will be Holy Week. Easter will come before the next chapter goes live. So focus. Praise Him. Spend these last few days before Easter drawing close to Him and growing your faith.
Footnotes
Luke 13:1 These evidently were Jews who had come to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the temple. They probably were identified, rightly or wrongly, as rebels whose goal it was to overthrow Roman domination. The graphic description suggests that they were executed outside the temple complex after they had offered their sacrifices.
Luke 13:4 No further details regarding this tragedy are recorded.
Luke 13:19 In ancient Israel the mustard seed was the smallest known seed, and in rabbinic teaching the mustard seed was used as an example of something very small (in the Talmud).
Luke 13:34 The nation of Israel personified.