1 G1161 There were present G3918 at G1722 that season G846 G2540 some G5100 that told G518 him G846 of G4012 the Galilaeans, G1057 whose G3739 blood G129 Pilate G4091 had mingled G3396 with G3326 their G846 sacrifices. G2378
2 And G2532 Jesus G2424 answering G611 said G2036 unto them, G846 Suppose ye G1380 that G3754 these G3778 Galilaeans G1057 were G1096 sinners G268 above G3844 all G3956 the Galilaeans, G1057 because G3754 they suffered G3958 such things? G5108
3 I tell G3004 you, G5213 Nay: G3780 but, G235 except G3362 ye repent, G3340 ye shall G622 all G3956 likewise G5615 perish. G622
4 Or G2228 those G1565 eighteen, G1176 G2532 G3638 upon G1909 whom G3739 the tower G4444 in G1722 Siloam G4611 fell, G4098 and G2532 slew G615 them, G846 think ye G1380 that G3754 they G3778 were G1096 sinners G3781 above G3844 all G3956 men G444 that dwelt G2730 in G1722 Jerusalem? G2419
5 I tell G3004 you, G5213 Nay: G3780 but, G235 except G3362 ye repent, G3340 ye shall G622 all G3956 likewise G3668 perish. G622
6 He spake G3004 also G1161 this G5026 parable; G3850 A certain G5100 man had G2192 a fig tree G4808 planted G5452 in G1722 his G846 vineyard; G290 and G2532 he came G2064 and sought G2212 fruit G2590 thereon, G1722 G846 and G2532 found G2147 none. G3756
7 Then G1161 said he G2036 unto G4314 the dresser of his vineyard, G289 Behold, G2400 these three G5140 years G2094 I come G2064 seeking G2212 fruit G2590 on G1722 this G5026 fig tree, G4808 and G2532 find G2147 none: G3756 cut G1581 it G846 down; G1581 why G2444 G2532 cumbereth G2673 it G846 the ground? G1093
8 And G1161 he answering G611 said G3004 unto him, G846 Lord, G2962 let G863 it G846 alone G863 this G5124 year G2094 also, G2532 till G2193 G3755 I shall dig G4626 about G4012 it, G846 and G2532 dung G906 G2874 it:
9 And if G2579 G3303 it bear G4160 fruit, G2590 well: and if not, G1490 then after that G1519 G3195 thou shalt cut G1581 it G846 down. G1581
10 And G1161 he was G2258 teaching G1321 in G1722 one G3391 of the synagogues G4864 on G1722 the sabbath. G4521
11 And, G2532 behold, G2400 there was G2258 a woman G1135 which had G2192 a spirit G4151 of infirmity G769 eighteen G1176 G2532 G3638 years, G2094 and G2532 was G2258 bowed together, G4794 and G2532 could G1410 in G1519 no G3361 wise G3838 lift up G352 herself.
12 And G1161 when Jesus G2424 saw G1492 her, G846 he called G4377 her to him, and G2532 said G2036 unto her, G846 Woman, G1135 thou art loosed G630 from thine G4675 infirmity. G769
13 And G2532 he laid G2007 his hands G5495 on G2007 her: G846 and G2532 immediately G3916 she was made straight, G461 and G2532 glorified G1392 God. G2316
14 And G1161 the ruler of the synagogue G752 answered G611 with indignation, G23 because G3754 that Jesus G2424 had healed G2323 on the sabbath G4521 day, and said G3004 unto the people, G3793 There are G1526 six G1803 days G2250 in G1722 which G3739 men ought G1163 to work: G2038 in G1722 them G5025 therefore G3767 come G2064 and be healed, G2323 and G2532 not G3361 on the sabbath G4521 day. G2250
15 The Lord G2962 then G3767 answered G611 him, G846 and G2532 said, G2036 Thou hypocrite, G5273 doth G3089 not G3756 each one G1538 of you G5216 on the sabbath G4521 loose G3089 his G846 ox G1016 or G2228 his ass G3688 from G575 the stall, G5336 and G2532 lead him away G520 to watering? G4222
16 And G1161 ought G1163 not G3756 this woman, G5026 being G5607 a daughter G2364 of Abraham, G11 whom G3739 Satan G4567 hath bound, G1210 lo, G2400 these eighteen G1176 G2532 G3638 years, G2094 be loosed G3089 from G575 this G5127 bond G1199 on the sabbath G4521 day? G2250
17 And G2532 when he G846 had said G3004 these things, G5023 all G3956 his G846 adversaries G480 were ashamed: G2617 and G2532 all G3956 the people G3793 rejoiced G5463 for G1909 all G3956 the glorious things G1741 that were done G1096 by G5259 him. G846
18 Then G1161 said he, G3004 Unto what G5101 is G2076 the kingdom G932 of God G2316 like? G3664 and G2532 whereunto G5101 shall I resemble G3666 it? G846
19 It is G2076 like G3664 a grain G2848 of mustard seed, G4615 which G3739 a man G444 took, G2983 and cast G906 into G1519 his G1438 garden; G2779 and G2532 it grew, G837 and G2532 waxed G1096 G1519 a great G3173 tree; G1186 and G2532 the fowls G4071 of the air G3772 lodged G2681 in G1722 the branches G2798 of it. G846
20 And G2532 again G3825 he said, G2036 Whereunto G5101 shall I liken G3666 the kingdom G932 of God? G2316
21 It is G2076 like G3664 leaven, G2219 which G3739 a woman G1135 took G2983 and hid G1470 in G1519 three G5140 measures G4568 of meal, G224 till G2193 G3757 the whole G3650 was leavened. G2220
22 And G2532 he went G1279 through G2596 the cities G4172 and G2532 villages, G2968 teaching, G1321 and G2532 journeying G4160 G4197 toward G1519 Jerusalem. G2419
23 Then G1161 said G2036 one G5100 unto G4314 him, G846 Lord, G2962 are there few G1487 G3641 that be saved? G4982 And G1161 he said G2036 unto them, G846
24 Strive G75 to enter in G1525 at G1223 the strait G4728 gate: G4439 for G3754 many, G4183 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 will seek G2212 to enter in, G1525 and G2532 shall G2480 not G3756 be able. G2480
25 When once G575 G3739 G302 the master of the house G3617 is risen up, G1453 and G2532 hath shut G608 to the door, G2374 and G2532 ye begin G756 to stand G2476 without, G1854 and G2532 to knock G2925 at the door, G2374 saying, G3004 Lord, G2962 Lord, G2962 open G455 unto us; G2254 and G2532 he shall answer G611 and say G2046 unto you, G5213 I know G1492 you G5209 not G3756 whence G4159 ye are: G2075
26 Then G5119 shall ye begin G756 to say, G3004 We have eaten G5315 and G2532 drunk G4095 in thy G4675 presence, G1799 and G2532 thou hast taught G1321 in G1722 our G2257 streets. G4113
27 But G2532 he shall say, G2046 I tell G3004 you, G5213 I know G1492 you G5209 not G3756 whence G4159 ye are; G2075 depart G868 from G575 me, G1700 all G3956 ye workers G2040 of iniquity. G93
28 There G1563 shall be G2071 weeping G2805 and G2532 gnashing G1030 of teeth, G3599 when G3752 ye shall see G3700 Abraham, G11 and G2532 Isaac, G2464 and G2532 Jacob, G2384 and G2532 all G3956 the prophets, G4396 in G1722 the kingdom G932 of God, G2316 and G1161 you G5209 yourselves thrust G1544 out. G1854
29 And G2532 they shall come G2240 from G575 the east, G395 and G2532 from the west, G1424 and G2532 from G575 the north, G1005 and G2532 from the south, G3558 and G2532 shall sit down G347 in G1722 the kingdom G932 of God. G2316
30 And, G2532 behold, G2400 there are G1526 last G2078 which G3739 shall be G2071 first, G4413 and G2532 there are G1526 first G4413 which G3739 shall be G2071 last. G2078
31 The same G1722 G846 day G2250 there came G4334 certain G5100 of the Pharisees, G5330 saying G3004 unto him, G846 Get thee out, G1831 and G2532 depart G4198 hence: G1782 for G3754 Herod G2264 will G2309 kill G615 thee. G4571
32 And G2532 he said G2036 unto them, G846 Go ye, G4198 and tell G2036 that G5026 fox, G258 Behold, G2400 I cast out G1544 devils, G1140 and G2532 I do G2005 cures G2392 to day G4594 and G2532 to morrow, G839 and G2532 the third G5154 day I shall be perfected. G5048
33 Nevertheless G4133 I G3165 must G1163 walk G4198 to day, G4594 and G2532 to morrow, G839 and G2532 the day following: G2192 for G3754 it cannot be G3756 G1735 that a prophet G4396 perish G622 out of G1854 Jerusalem. G2419
34 O Jerusalem, G2419 Jerusalem, G2419 which G3588 killest G615 the prophets, G4396 and G2532 stonest G3036 them that are sent G649 unto G4314 thee; G846 how often G4212 would G2309 I have gathered G1996 thy G4675 children G5043 together, G1996 as G3739 G5158 a hen G3733 doth gather her G1438 brood G3555 under G5259 her wings, G4420 and G2532 ye would G2309 not! G3756
35 Behold, G2400 your G5216 house G3624 is left G863 unto you G5213 desolate: G2048 and G1161 verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 G3754 Ye shall G1492 not G3364 see G1492 me, G3165 until G2193 G302 the time come G2240 when G3753 ye shall say, G2036 Blessed G2127 is he that cometh G2064 in G1722 the name G3686 of the Lord. G2962
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Luke 13
Commentary on Luke 13 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 13
Lu 13:1-9. The Lesson, "REPENT OR Perish," Suggested by Two Recent Incidents, and Illustrated by the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree.
1-3. Galileans—possibly the followers of Judas of Galilee, who, some twenty years before this, taught that Jews should not pay tribute to the Romans, and of whom we learn, from Ac 5:37, that he drew after him a multitude of followers, who on his being slain were all dispersed. About this time that party would be at its height, and if Pilate caused this detachment of them to be waylaid and put to death as they were offering their sacrifices at one of the festivals, that would be "mingling their blood with their sacrifices" [Grotius, Webster and Wilkinson, but doubted by De Wette, Meyer, Alford, &c.]. News of this being brought to our Lord, to draw out His views of such, and whether it was not a judgment of Heaven, He simply points them to the practical view of the matter: "These men are not signal examples of divine vengeance, as ye suppose; but every impenitent sinner—ye yourselves, except ye repent—shall be like monuments of the judgment of Heaven, and in a more awful sense." The reference here to the impending destruction of Jerusalem is far from exhausting our Lord's weighty words; they manifestly point to a "perdition" of a more awful kind—future, personal, remediless.
4, 5. tower in Siloam—probably one of the towers of the city wall, near the pool of Siloam. Of its fall nothing is known.
6-9. fig tree—Israel, as the visible witness of God in the world, but generally all within the pale of the visible Church of God; a familiar figure (compare Isa 5:1-7; Joh 15:1-8, &c.).
vineyard—a spot selected for its fertility, separated from the surrounding fields, and cultivated with special care, with a view solely to fruit.
came and sought fruit—a heart turned to God; the fruits of righteousness; compare Mt 21:33, 34, and Isa 5:2, "He looked that it should bring forth fruit"; He has a right to it, and will require it.
7. three years—a long enough trial for a fig tree, and so denoting probably just a sufficient period of culture for spiritual fruit. The supposed allusion to the duration of our Lord's ministry is precarious.
cut it down—indignant language.
cumbereth—not only doing no good, but wasting ground.
8. he answering, &c.—Christ, as Intercessor, loath to see it cut down so long as there was any hope (see Lu 13:34).
dig, &c.—loosen the earth about it and enrich it with manure; pointing to changes of method in the divine treatment of the impenitent, in order to freshen spiritual culture.
9. if … fruit, well—Genuine repentance, however late, avails to save (Lu 23:42, 43).
after that, &c.—The final perdition of such as, after the utmost limits of reasonable forbearance, are found fruitless, will be pre-eminently and confessedly just (Pr 1:24-31; Eze 24:13).
Lu 13:10-17. Woman of Eighteen Year's Infirmity Healed on the Sabbath.
11. spirit of infirmity—Compare Lu 13:17, "whom Satan hath bound." From this it is probable, though not certain, that her protracted infirmity was the effect of some milder form of possession; yet she was "a daughter of Abraham," in the same gracious sense, no doubt, as Zaccheus, after his conversion, was "a son of Abraham" (Lu 19:9).
12, 13. said … Woman … and laid—both at once.
14. with indignation—not so much at the sabbath violation as at the glorification of Christ. (Compare Mt 21:15) [Trench].
said to the people—"Not daring directly to find fault with the Lord, he seeks circuitously to reach Him through the people, who were more under his influence, and whom he feared less" [Trench].
15. the Lord—(See on Lu 10:1).
hypocrite!—How "the faithful and true Witness" tears off the masks which men wear!
his ox, &c.—(See on Mt 12:9-13; and Lu 6:9).
16. ought not, &c.—How gloriously the Lord vindicates the superior claims of this woman, in consideration of the sadness and long duration of her suffering, and of her dignity notwithstanding, as an heir of the promise!
Lu 13:18-30. Miscellaneous Teachings.
18-21. mustard seed … leaven—(See on Mr 4:30-32). The parable of "the Leaven" sets forth, perhaps, rather the inward growth of the kingdom, while "the Mustard Seed" seems to point chiefly to the outward. It being a woman's work to knead, it seems a refinement to say that "the woman" here represents the Church, as the instrument of depositing the leaven. Nor does it yield much satisfaction to understand the "three measures of meal" of that threefold division of our nature into "spirit, soul, and body," (alluded to in 1Th 5:23) or of the threefold partition of the world among the three sons of Noah (Ge 10:32), as some do. It yields more real satisfaction to see in this brief parable just the all-penetrating and assimilating quality of the Gospel, by virtue of which it will yet mould all institutions and tribes of men, and exhibit over the whole earth one "Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ." (See on Re 11:15).
23. Lord, &c.—one of those curious questions by talking of which some flatter themselves they are religious.
said unto them—the multitude; taking no notice of the man or his question, save as furnishing the occasion of a solemn warning not to trifle with so momentous a matter as "salvation."
24. Strive—The word signifies to "contend" as for the mastery, to "struggle," expressive of the difficulty of being saved, as if one would have to force his way in.
strait gate—another figure of the same. (See on Mt 7:13, 14).
for many … will seek—"desire," that is, with a mere wish or slothful endeavor.
and shall not be able—because it must be made a life-and-death struggle.
25. master of the house is risen up and hath shut to the door—awfully sublime and vivid picture! At present he is represented as in a sitting posture, as if calmly looking on to see who will "strive," while entrance is practicable, and who will merely "seek" to enter in. But this is to have an end, by the great Master of the house Himself rising and shutting the door, after which there will be no admittance.
Lord, Lord—emphatic reduplication, expressive of the earnestness now felt, but too late. (See on Mt 7:21, 22).
26, 27. See on the similar passage (Mt 7:22, 23).
eaten and drunk, &c.—We have sat with Thee at the same table. (See on Mt 7:22).
taught in our streets—Do we not remember listening in our own streets to Thy teaching? Surely we are not to be denied admittance?
27. But he shall say, &c.—(See on Mt 7:23). No nearness of external communion with Christ will avail at the great day, in place of that holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. Observe the style which Christ intimates that He will then assume, that of absolute Disposer of men's eternal destinies, and contrast it with His "despised and rejected" condition at that time.
28, 29. (See Mt 8:11, 12). Also see on Mt 13:42.
Lu 13:31-35. Message to Herod.
31. and depart hence—and "go forward," push on. He was on His way out of Perea, east of Jordan, and in Herod's dominions, "journeying towards Jerusalem" (Lu 13:22). Haunted by guilty fears, probably, Herod wanted to get rid of Him (see on Mr 6:14), and seems, from our Lord's answer, to have sent these Pharisees, under pretense of a friendly hint, to persuade Him that the sooner He got beyond Herod's jurisdiction the better it would be for His own safety. Our Lord saw through both of them, and sends the cunning ruler a message couched in dignified and befitting irony.
32. that fox—that crafty, cruel enemy of God's innocent servants.
Behold, I cast out devils and I do cures—that is, "Plot on and ply thy wiles; I also have My plans; My works of mercy are nearing completion, but some yet remain; I have work for to-day and to-morrow too, and the third day; by that time I shall be where his jurisdiction reaches not; the guilt of My blood shall not lie at his door; that dark deed is reserved for others." He does not say, I preach the Gospel—that would have made little impression upon Herod—in the light of the merciful character of Christ's actions the malice of Herod's snares is laid bare [Bengel].
to-day, to-morrow, the third day—remarkable language expressive of successive steps of His work yet remaining, the calm deliberateness with which He meant to go through with them, one after another, to the last, unmoved by Herod's threat, yet the rapid march with which they were now hastening to completion. (Compare Lu 22:37).
I shall be perfected—I finish my course, I attain completion.
33. it cannot be that a prophet, &c.—"It would never do that," &c.—awful severity of satire this upon "the bloody city!" "He seeks to kill me, does he? Ah! I must be out of Herod's jurisdiction for that. Go tell him I neither fly from him nor fear him, but Jerusalem is the prophets' slaughter-house."
34, 35. O Jerusalem, &c.—(See on Mt 23:37; Mt 23:39).