College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Luke 13 - Introduction
Butler's Comments
Chapter Thirteen
THE SON OF MAN CALLING FOR REPENTANCE
IDEAS TO INVESTIGATE:
1.
If the Galileans were not worse sinners than others, why did God allow Pilate to mingle their blood with the sacrifices (Luke 13:1-5)?
2.
What is repentance (Luke 13:1-5)?
3.
Is Satan the cause of all our diseases (Luke 13:16)?
4.
How many will be saved (Luke 13:23-24)?
5.
Wouldn-'t it be easier to believe in Jesus if we could eat and drink in His presence (Luke 13:26)?
6.
Why did Jesus call Herod a fox; isn-'t it wrong to call people names (Luke 13:32)?
7.
How could Jerusalem be forsakenisn-'t it still a city today (Luke 13:35)?
Applebury's Comments
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Outline
A.
Luke continued the account of Jesus-' ministry of teaching and healing (Luke 13:1-21).
1.
The lesson on repentance (Luke 13:1-9).
a)
It was based on two tragic incidents (Luke 13:1-5).
(1)
The Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices (Luke 13:1-3).
(a)
The question: Were they sinners more than all Galileans?
(b)
The answer: No, but unless you repent you will likewise perish.
(2)
The eighteen on whom the tower of Siloam fell (Luke 13:4-5).
(a)
The question: Were they offenders more than all others who dwelt in Jerusalem?
(b)
The answer: No, but unless you repent you will likewise perish.
b)
It was illustrated by the parable of the Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9).
(1)
Time to repent: A man came seeking fruit for three years; finding none, he ordered it cut down.
(2)
The limit to God's longsuffering: The vinedresser said, Give it special care for one more year; then if it doesn-'t bear fruit, cut it down.
2.
Healing the woman with a spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:10-17).
a)
The circumstances (Luke 13:10-13).
(1)
She had had it for eighteen years.
(2)
Jesus said, Woman you are freed from your weakness.
(3)
Jesus laid His hands on her and immediately she was able to stand up straight and praise God.
b)
The reaction of the ruler of the synagogue (Luke 13:14).
(1)
He complained that the miracle had been performed on the sabbath.
(2)
The indignant ruler said, There are six days in which work is to be done; on those days come and be healed, but not on the sabbath.
c)
The Lord's answer to the complaint (Luke 13:15-16).
(1)
He called attention to their hypocritical actions, for they led their animals to water on the sabbath.
(2)
He pointed out that this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan had bound eighteen years, should be set free on the sabbath day.
d)
The effect of His remarks (Luke 13:17).
(1)
The adversaries were put to shame.
(2)
The people rejoiced for the glorious things that were done by Jesus.
3.
A question about the kingdom: What is it like? (Luke 13:18-21).
a)
It is like a grain of mustard see that grew into a tree large enough for birds to build nests in.
b)
It is like leaven which was hid in the meal until all of it was leavened.
B.
Luke continued the account of Jesus-' journeys that led Him to Jerusalem (Luke 13:22-35).
1.
The question: Are there few that are saved? (Luke 13:22-30).
a)
The circumstances (Luke 13:22-23).
(1)
Jesus was teaching as He went through the cities and villages on His way to Jerusalem.
(2)
Someone asked, Lord, are they few that are saved?
b)
The answer (Luke 13:24-25).
(1)
Strive to enter by the narrow door.
(2)
But many would try to enter after the door was shut.
c)
The tragic state of those who were too later to enter (Luke 13:26-29).
(1)
Their pitiful plea: We ate and drank in your presence; we taught in your streets.
(2)
The just sentence: Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.
(3)
The tragic state of the lost: Weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(4)
The glorious state of the saved: Many from the east and west, from the north and the south sitting at the heavenly banquet in the kingdom of God.
d)
The lesson summarized: Jesus said, There are those who are last that will be first; and first that will be last.
2.
The Pharisees-' warning; Herod would like to kill you. (Luke 13:31-35).
a)
They urged Him to leave the area because of Herod's threat.
b)
Jesus-' answer, Take this message to that fox: I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I am finished with my work.
c)
It was His intention to go to Jerusalem, for no prophet perishes outside of Jerusalem.
d)
Jesus mourned over the city as He thought how they were guilty of killing the prophets; their house would be left desolate, but some would say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.
Summary
Things were happening fast in the busy ministry of Jesus. He was meeting the opposition, teaching the disciples and the crowds, and healing the sick. He was hurrying to Jerusalem, for no prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.
He taught a lesson on repentance. It was based on two tragic events, the death of the Galileans and of those on whom the tower of Siloam fell, But these were not worse sinners than all other, for all will perish who do not repent. The lesson of the fig tree showed that time was running out; the warning was: Repent or perish.
Jesus clashed again with the ruler of the synagogue when He healed a woman on the sabbath. Ridiculously, the ruler held that there were six days for work to be done but not on the sabbath; he called the healing work. Jesus-' answer drew a sharp contrast between their attitude toward the ox or the ass and the woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom He had loosed from Satan's bonds. The people were with Him, for they glorified God for what they had seen that day.
The growth of the kingdom was presented in two parables. Like the mustard seed, it would grow to great proportions; like the leaven, the gospel of the kingdom would transform those who hide that Word in their hearts.
As He was going on the way to Jerusalem, someone asked Him, Lord, are there few that are saved? The answer seemed to say, Yes, but all should strive to enter the kingdom and be one of them.
Word came about Herod's threat to kill Him. Jesus said to tell that fox that nothing could interfere with His program. But as He thought of Jerusalem where He was to die, He mourned over the city that was rejecting her King.
Questions
1.
How does Luke indicate the continuity between the events reported in this chapter and those of the previous Chapter s?
2.
Why was the question raised about those whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices?
3.
What lesson did Jesus teach from it?
4.
Why mention those on whom the tower of Siloam fell?
5.
What lesson did Jesus teach from this incident?
6.
What is repentance?
7.
What are the forces that lead to repentance?
8.
What will happen to those who do not repent of their sins?
9.
Does accidental death suggest that God is punishing the one involved?
10.
What do the Scriptures teach about the longsuffering of God?
11.
What lesson did Jesus teach from the parable of the Fig Tree?
12.
What is represented by the three years mentioned in the parable?
13.
What is represented by the year of special care given the tree?
14.
What was the purpose of healing the woman in the synagogue?
15.
What was her difficulty? How long standing?
16.
Why did Jesus say, You are loosed from your infirmity?
17.
Why is it called a spirit of infirmity?
18.
Why did Jesus lay His hands on the healed woman?
19.
What did the ruler of the synagogue say about the miracle?
20.
What is the point of the contrast between what Jesus had done and the custom of the Jews?
21.
Why did Jesus refer to the woman as a daughter of Abraham?
22.
What effect did Jesus-' answer have on the adversaries?
23.
What was the reaction of the people?
24.
Why did Jesus speak of the growth of the kingdom at this point?
25.
How does the parable of the Mustard Seed illustrate the nature of the growth of the kingdom?
26.
What do the Scriptures say about the ultimate growth of the kingdom?
27.
What lesson does the parable of the Leaven teach about the growth of the kingdom?
28.
What must be done with the Word in order for it to transform the life of an individual?
29.
Why did they ask if the saved are few?
30.
What did Jesus-' answer imply?
31.
What do the Scriptures say about the limit God places on the Day of Salvation?
32.
Why is the door to salvation called narrow?
33.
What will happen to the workers of iniquity who come too late?
34.
Why weeping and gnashing of teeth?
35.
What do the Scriptures teach about recognition of persons in heaven?
36.
What does being on the outside and looking in on the heavenly banquet suggest as to the nature of punishment of the wicked?
37.
Why did Jesus speak of those coming from east, west, north, and south?
38.
How are all these to be invited?
39.
What is meant by saying that the last shall be first?
40.
Why did Jesus refer to Herod as a fox?
41.
Was this a real threat or were the Pharisees trying to frighten Jesus?
42.
What was Jesus-' answer to the reported threat?
43.
What did Jesus mean by reference to the third day?
44.
Why was He going to Jerusalem?
45.
Why did He mourn over Jerusalem?
46.
What was to happen to their house? Why?
47.
Where is the quotation about the coming of the Lord found?
48.
To what does it refer?