TIME. We have no further information as to the time of the massacre mentioned in Luke 13:1, tidings of which seem to have just arrived. Views: 1. The time was immediately after the discourse of chap. 12, and the place, Galilee, since Luke 13:3 seems to point out those addressed as Galileans. (So Rob... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:1. AT THAT VERY SEASON. Probably, but not necessarily, at that very time. SOME THAT TOLD HIM. Apparently they spoke, because exasperated by the intelligence, not in consequence of the preceding discourse. THE GALILEANS. Luke speaks of the matter as well-known, but we have no other inform... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS division of the Gospel of Luke, embracing nearly one third of the whole, contains for the most part matter peculiar to this Evangelist. A number of the incidents probably belong to an earlier period of the history. A few of these are mentioned by Matthew and Mark, though the greater number even... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:2. SUPPOSE YE? Our Lord perceives their reasoning, and first corrects the mistake they made, adding an appropriate warning. WERE SINNERS. Our Lord does not deny that they were sinners; but only that their fate proved them to be especially great sinners. Job's friends made the same mistake.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:3. UNLESS YE REPENT. It does not follow that those addressed were Galileans. If John 11:47-54 refers to a time preceding this incident, then this intelligence may have been brought to our Lord to warn Him against the danger awaiting Him and His disciples at Jerusalem. He warns His hearers of... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:4. THOSE EIGHTEEN. An allusion to an occurrence then well known, but about which we have no further information. THE TOWER IN SILOAM. Probably a tower of the city wall near the pool of Siloam, or in that district, which may have been called by the name of the pool (see on John 9:7). The vi... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:5. ALL LIKEWISE PERISH. The threatened destruction came upon ‘all,' since during the siege the city was full of people from the provinces; multitudes perished in the ruin and rubbish of the city and its falling walls.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:6. A FIG TREE PLANTED IN HIS VINEYARD. This was not unusual, nor contrary to Deuteronomy 22:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:6-9. THE PARABLE OF THE BARREN FIG TREE. Peculiar to Luke. Two interpretations are given below. The connection is obvious: This judgment will speedily come, for God has been long patient, is still patient, but the last respite has come.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:7. VINE-DRESSER. The cultivator of the vineyard. THESE THREE YEARS. The planted tree would ordinarily bear within three years. Whatever be the special interpretation, this period indicates that fruit is not demanded too soon. ‘Three years are the time of a full trial, at the end of which t... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:8. THIS YEAR ALSO. A brief respite is asked for, and whatever intercessor may be here represented, there is never any certainty of more than a brief one. DIG ABOUT IT, and dung it. The digging was for the purpose of casting in the manure near the roots. Take additional pains with it, using... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:9. AND IF IT BEAR FRUIT AFTER THAT, WELL. ‘After that,' or ‘hereafter,' belongs to this part of the verse. This indefinite phrase in the request hints at still further patience. ‘Well' is properly supplied. ‘If,' here suggests that the vine dresser expected _this supposition_ to prove correc... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:10. IN ONE OF THE SYNAGOGUES. In Perea, as we suppose. ON THE SABBATH DAY. This is the main point, whenever and wherever the incident occurred.... [ Continue Reading ]
TIME. It is generally agreed that this incident belongs to the later period of our Lord's ministry, about the time of His visit to Perea (Matthew 19:1-2; Mark 10:1). The reasons for this are (1.) that Luke 13:22 tells of a journey to Jerusalem, which must be identified with the last one; (2.) that t... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:11. A SPIRIT OF INFIRMITY EIGHTEEN YEARS. This suggests a form of demoniacal possession; and Luke 13:16 shows that Satanic influence was present in her case. Our Lord, however, did not heal demoniacs by laying on of hands, but by a word of command. Yet in this case He both speaks (Luke 13:12... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:12. SAW HER. There is no evidence, that she asked for a cure. The action of our Lord and the language of the ruler of the synagogue, indicate that she hoped for one. THOU ART LOOSED FROM THINE INFIRMITY. Her muscles were released from the influence which bound them. This suggests (as also... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:13. WAS MADE STRAIGHT. The laying on of hands completed the cure, by giving the needed strength, after the word had set free from Satanic influence.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:14. BEING FILLED WITH INDIGNATION. The attitude of mind was hostile; but had been manifested hitherto on such occasions. The answer was not ‘with indignation.' The ruler was afraid to speak out so boldly, and he ‘covertly and cowardly' addresses himself, not to the Healer or to the healed, b... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:15. THE LORD. Perhaps with emphasis; as He had previously proclaimed Himself, ‘Lord even of the Sabbath' (chap. Luke 6:5). YE HYPOCRITES. Luke 13:17 shows that other antagonists were present. The plural agrees better with what follows. The hypocrisy is evident from the example our Lord quo... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:16. AND OUGHT NOT. They were ‘hypocrites,' because they perceived the necessity in the case of the beast, but heartlessly denied it in the case of the poor woman. The contrast is marked. In the one case a dumb animal, in the other a woman, who was moreover A DAUGHTER OF ABRAHAM, one of the c... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:17. ALL HIS ADVERSARIES. A number must have been present. ALL THE MULTITUDE REJOICED. This does not oppose the view that the miracle occurred in Perea, late in the ministry. Although Galilee had been abandoned by Him, and Jerusalem had been repeatedly hostile, we infer from Matthew 18:2, t... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:18-21. PARABLES OF THE MUSTARD SEED AND THE LEAVEN. See notes on Matthew 13:31-33. On the repetition of these parables, see note at the beginning of the section. There is an appropriate connection with what precedes. The miracle had shown Christ's power over Satan, the people were rejoicing... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:22. THROUGH CITIES AND VILLAGES. The journey was not direct. TEACHING AND JOURNEYING INTO JERUSALEM. In this and the succeeding Chapter s (14-18). Specimens of His teaching are given.... [ Continue Reading ]
TIME. We identify the journey here spoken of (Luke 13:22), with the last journey from Perea to Jerusalem, and accept the order of Luke in the following Chapter s as accurate. Some think that it is the journey from beyond Jordan (John 10:40) in order to raise Lazarus at Bethany (John 11), but we plac... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:23. AND ONE SAID. This _may_ have been a professed disciple, but scarcely an earnest follower, since the tone of our Lord's reply forbids this. It is still more probable that he was a Jew in the multitude. LORD ARE THEY FEW THAT BE SAVED. Final salvation is implied. The form of the questio... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:24. STRIVE. ‘Instead of such a question, remember that many will not obtain salvation, strive therefore to obtain it yourselves in the right way,' _i.e._, TO ENTER BY THE (NARROW) DOOR. To do this the greatest earnestness is required. See on Matthew 7:13, from which passage ‘gate' has been s... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:25. WHEN ONCE. The motive urged is, a time will come when it will be _altogether impossible to enter. _ THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE. The figure is that of an entertainment made by a householder for his family. SHUT THE DOOR. The feast is to begin, and the expected guests, the members of the... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:26. WE DID EAT AND DRINK IN THY PRESENCE. The plea is previous acquaintanceship. As applied to those then addressed, it refers to actual participation in ordinary meals with our Lord. More generally it refers to external connection with Christ, without actual communion with Him. Undoubtedly... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:27. ALL YE WORKERS OF INIQUITY. ‘Workers' means those in the employ of, and receiving the wages of unrighteousness. The terrible reality set forth is, that many ‘workers of iniquity' think they will be saved, and will find out their mistake _too late._ This is a motive to ‘strive' (Luke 13:2... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:28-29. See on Matthew 8:11-12. The connection here is different: the Jews are directly addressed, as those who shall be cast out, while their ancestors and the Gentiles shall enter in. THERE, _i.e.,_ in that place. The reference to a future state throughout seems obvious enough. CAST FORT... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:30. See on Matthew 19:30; Matthew 20:16. Here the saying seems to be applied to the ingathering of the guests, just spoken of; not simply to the Jews and Gentiles as such, but to individuals and churches and nations all through the ingathering. For example: the church at Jerusalem and her Ge... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:31. IN THAT VERY HOUR. This is the correct translation. CERTAIN PHARISEES. They may have been sent by Herod, and were the agents best adapted for his purpose, because their party was in opposition to him. Our Lord's reply intimates this. Herod may not have wished to kill Jesus, but the des... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:32. THAT FOX. A figure of cunning and mischief. Herod deserved the name. As the Greek word for ‘fox' is feminine, it is possible that the term points to Herod's loss of manliness through the influence of Herodias. But it is not certain that this was spoken in Greek. DO, or, ‘perform,' CURE... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:33. N EVERTHELESS I MUST GO ON MY JOURNEY. Although I will remain working in your territory for three days, I must still be journeying. The word here used is the same as that in the threat ‘depart,' (Luke 13:31). During these days of labor our Lord will be journeying, and He _must_ do so. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:34-35. See on Matthew 23:37-39, where a similar lamentation is found. But there is no reason for supposing that it was not repeated. There are variations in form, and the connection with what precedes is close. HOW OFTEN. Luke has not said a word of our Lord's being at Jerusalem, but this... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 13:35. The word translated ‘desolate' is omitted by the best authorities, but ‘forsaken' may be supplied to bring out the entire sense of the rest of the clause. AND I SAY, etc. Matthew: ‘for.' There the reason is given, since the Lord was then finally leaving the temple ; here the reference i... [ Continue Reading ]