Luke 13 – Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Luke 13:1-9: Parable of the fruitless figtree  

A. Find Out:    

1. What did they tell Jesus about? v.1
   • Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
2. What did Jesus ask and then tell them? v.2,3
   • Jesus answered, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
3. What then did he ask and tell them? v.4,5
   • Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.’
4. What was Jesus’ parable about? v.6
   • Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig-tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.
5. What did the man in the parable expect and then do? v.7
   • So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, “For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig-tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?”
6. What did the vineyard keeper suggest? v.8,9
   • ‘“Sir,” the man replied, “leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig round it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.”’

B. Think:

1. Why do you think they told Jesus about Pilate?
2. What point was Jesus making in verses 2 to 5?
3. What point is he making in verses 6 to 9?

C. Comment:

In the previous chapter Jesus had just been challenging the people to be alert to the times and make sure their lives were right before God. Perhaps to take the focus off themselves, some that were there told Jesus about an incident where Pilate, the Roman governor, had acted heavy-handedly and had executed some Galilean Jews while they were offering sacrifices. The point of this could be twofold: either pointing out how awful the Romans were by comparison (so we aren’t that bad!), or wondering about how bad those Jews had been to warrant that sort of judgement. Jesus doesn’t let us duck the truth!

Look, he says, they weren’t any worse than any other Galileans, because (implied) everyone is a sinner and needs to repent – you too! Then he cites another incident that had happened, of a tower collapsing and killing the people below. Were they any more guilty? No! The truth is that everyone is the same. Everyone has the need to repent!

Then he tells a short story about a vineyard owner who had a fig tree that wouldn’t bear fruit. After three years he wants to cut it down. The man who tends the vineyard for him suggests they give it one more year, doing all they can to help the plant. The implication is that this fig tree is Israel.  Jesus is simply saying, you need to bear good fruit as God’s people otherwise you may no longer be here!

D. Application:

1. Wrong Judgement: Bad things happen. They aren’t a measure of our badness! Do we immediately start judging people when things go wrong for them?
2. Fruitful? God expects good fruit from his people.  Am I bearing good fruit in my life (e.g. Gal 5:22,23)?

Passage: Luke 13:10-17: The woman with an infirmity 

A. Find Out:

1. Who did Jesus encounter, where? v.10,11
   •  On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.
2. What did he do and what happened? v.12,13
   • When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, ‘Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.’ 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
3. Who was indignant about what? v.14
   • Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, ‘There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.’
4. What contrary illustration did Jesus give? v.15
   • The Lord answered him, ‘You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?
5. How did he apply it? v.16
   •  Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?’
6. What responses did that evoke? v.17
   • When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

B. Think:

1. 1What did the woman’s state say about Judaism of the day?
2. What do these verses reveal about Jesus?
3. What more do they reveal about the religion of the day?

C. Comment:

Religion does not come out of this account very well! Religion in the form of Judaism could hold meetings in the local synagogue but it was clear from the story that their presence was limited to words. It took the Son of God to bring change to this woman’s life. She had been a hunched up cripple for eighteen years and no one had been able to help her previously. Jesus walks in, sees the need and addresses it – and she’s healed! What a glorious thing! How wonderful that she is set free after all this time! An opportunity for rejoicing!

Perhaps not! At least not in the eyes of the religious leader of the place! That really is the only way to describe him – a religious leader – not a spiritual leader! Instead of rejoicing at the wonderful thing that has just happened, he’s upset that his usual routine of Sabbath worship is interrupted – and what’s more, he sees this healing as work! How terrible when we downgrade the activity of God and call it work! Anyway Jesus plays them on their own playing field. Really, he says, you’re upset because this is work on the Sabbath? Think again, don’t your man-made rules of the Sabbath allow for looking after your animals? If that is so, how much more important is it that we look after people! The synagogue leaders are upset, but the people think it is wonderful – and so it was, both the healing and the rebuke!

D. Application:

1. Religion or Relationship? Do we have a religion or a power-packed relationship? Do we long to see God move in our services, or would we be fearful and upset if our usual ‘programme’ was upset?
2. Ritual or Relationship? Do we rejoice in life or are we locked into ritual? Do we know the joy of sinful lives being transformed, or are we more concerned to perform our religious practices?

Passage: Luke 13:18-21: Parable of the Mustard Seed

A. Find Out:

1. What question did Jesus next ask? v.18
   • Then Jesus asked, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to?
2. To what does Jesus first compare it? v.19a
   •  It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden.
3. Into what did it grow? v.19b
   • It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.’
4. What next does he ask? v.20
   • Again he asked, ‘What shall I compare the kingdom of God to?
5. So what illustration does he give? v.21
   •  It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about thirty kilograms of flour until it worked all through the dough.’

B. Think:

1. What do you think is the point of the first illustration?
2. What do you think it the point of the second one?

C. Comment:

Jesus now asks about the kingdom of God. Why? How does that fit with what has just happened? References to the kingdom of God are about the reign or rule of God on earth. How does He rule? In and through people, and by sovereign acts! These chapters have all been about the values of Christians, of those living under God’s rule. Jesus has just broken a woman free from Satan’s hold (v.16) – the rule of God has come and delivered her.  So then he gives two illustrations, very simple but very vivid, that speak about this.

First he likens God’s rule on earth to a mustard seed being planted. Such a seed grows into a big tree. Surely Jesus is saying that his activities are like the mustard seed – activities of one person that will grow and multiply greatly. If that is so, then he is saying that the rule of God as seen through men and women is going to be visibly seen to increase and increase. Just as we see God ruling through Jesus, so He wants to be seen through us.

Then he uses the analogy of yeast in flour. A woman preparing bread starts off with a lot of flour and a small amount of yeast, but by the time she’s finished preparing the mix, the yeast will have multiplied and spread right the way throughout the flour. The message is clear: the work of God through Jesus may start out small, in one small geographical location, but it will spread throughout the world by the time the Lord has finished His work!

D. Application:

1. An expression of Jesus? Do we see our lives as the continuation of Jesus’ activity? Am I an expression of Jesus to the people around me?
2. Faith for increase? God’s desire is that Jesus’ activity increases through us. Is Jesus more fully expressed through me today than when I first knew him? Am I in faith for increase through my life?

Passage: Luke 13:22-30: Entering the kingdom

A. Find Out:

1. What was Jesus doing and what was asked of him? v.22,23
   •  Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, ‘Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?’
2. What did he say to do and why? v.24
   • He said to them, 24 ‘Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.
3. What does he warn will happen? v.25
   • Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, “Sir, open the door for us.” But he will answer, “I don’t know you or where you come from.”
4. What will be their plea but with what answer? v.26,27
   • ‘Then you will say, “We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.” 27 ‘But he will reply, “I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!”
5. Who will come in, but who will be left out? v.28,29
   • ‘There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.
6. What principle does he state? v.30
   •  Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.’

B. Think:

1. What inadequacy in verse 26 means exclusion?
2. How is verse 24 the key verse to this passage?
3. So what is Jesus’ emphasis in this passage?

C. Comment:

As Jesus now travels around teaching, someone asks him about who will be saved. The motivation behind the question is not clear but Jesus reply, as always, says, “You make sure YOU get saved!”

The key to salvation is shown in verse 24 which is a shortened version of that shown in Mt 7:13,14. The key words are “make every effort” and “narrow door”. This is not to say work for your salvation but seek God earnestly and come through the door of repentance and righteousness. But these aren’t the emphasis of what Jesus is saying in this passage. Most of the passage is taken up with warning about failure to enter the kingdom.

His first warning is that many will expect to enter (the Jews of his day) but find they can’t (v.24).

 The second warning is that the time for entry will be limited because the Owner (God) will eventually shut the door (v.25).

The third warning is not to assume that because they had Jesus in their towns that that was sufficient (v.26). It isn’t.

The fourth warning is that it is only men of faith who will enter, those who had a relationship with God and who were obedient to Him (v.28).

The fifth warning is that people from other nations will come and the Jews’ privileged status will count for nothing (v.29).

His final warning is that those who only recently heard will be before those who heard long back (v.30).

D. Application:

1. A Seeker? Salvation comes to those who seek God when He calls them. Do I receive all I can from the Lord as I seek Him?
2. Jesus is central: Salvation comes through Jesus alone. Do I put reliance in ‘things’ or only in the Son of God?

Passage: Luke 13:31-35: Jesus refuses a warning   

A. Find Out:

1. Who told Jesus to do what, and why? v.31
   • At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, ‘Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.’
2. What did Jesus say he was going to do? v.32
   • He replied, ‘Go and tell that fox, “I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.”
3. How did he qualify that? v.33
   • In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day – for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!
4. What did he then say about Jerusalem? v.34
   •  ‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.
5. What condemnation did he make? v.35
   •  Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”’

B. Think:

1. Where was Jesus going? See v.16
2. What did Jesus say had been his past hopes for Jerusalem?
3. Yet what does he say about its future?

C. Comment:

Jesus is making his way towards Jerusalem. As he draws near, the Pharisees from there are included in his audience and they try to turn him away with scare tactics – saying that Herod wants to kill him. But they don’t know who they are dealing with and what his plans are. Jesus knows the future, knows what will happen and knows why it will happen, so the thought of death does not put him off.

He simply declares his intention to continue his ministry and then arrive at Jerusalem – where he will die (implied in v.33).  Jerusalem is clearly his destination and so then he speaks about the city in what can only be described as a prophetic utterance.

He describes Jerusalem as a place that killed God’s messengers.   He speaks (as from God?) of having wanted to gather and look after the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the same way that a mother hen does her chicks, but they had never wanted that. Indeed, he goes on to say, your house – the Temple perhaps, or at least the city itself – is left desolate.

Now what does he mean by that? In the light of all that has gone before, it must mean that if you look at the state of Jerusalem, it is overrun by the Romans, it is spiritually dead and God is not in the Temple and nothing will change or improve until he, Jesus, returns. Possibly there is also prophecy here about the destruction of Jerusalem that would come in AD70 and its desolate state for the following centuries.

D. Application:

1. Undisturbed? Jesus has set goals in life for us as well as himself.  Will we ensure we are not put off or distracted by the enemy?
2. Called by God! Are we aware of His calling on our lives? Am I aware that I am what I am because the Lord has called me to follow Him and has given me new life?