Bible in one year 1/26/2022 Luke 13-14 By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Bible in one year 1/26/2022 Luke 13-14

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; pastoral ministry & counseling

 

Chapter 13  Teaching concerning Repentance13:1-9

 

Now there were some present at the time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on the them – do you think they were more guilty them all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke13:1-5)

Then he told this parable: ? A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 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? “ Sir, the man replied, “leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not then cut it down.” (vv.13:6-9)

 Theological interpretation & implication

            Though there is no other record of this incident, apparently some Galileans were slain by Pilate’s soldiers while offering sacrifices at the Temple, so that their blood and the blood of the sacrifices were mixed. The point Christ makes is that this did not happen to them because were worse sinners than other Galileans, but that all need to repent. A fig tree. The fruitless fig tree was symbolic of the Jewish people. God’s judgment is sure, and His patience is great. The Lord used the two incidents in vv.1-5 to remind the Jews that now was the time for them to repent and that if they did not, they would all perish like the victims of those two incidents.

This parable indicates that God the owner came in the Son to seek fruit from the Jewish people, who were likened to a fig tree planted in God’s Promised Land, the vineyard. He had been seeking fruit for three years, but had not found any. He wanted to cut the Jews down, but God the Son as the vinedresser prayed for them, asking God the Father to tolerate them until the Son died for them (dug the ground around the fig tree) and gave them fertilizer (threw on manure), at which point, He hoped, they would repent and produce fruit. Otherwise, they would be cut down.

 

Jesus teaching concerning hypocrisy and healed a bent –double woman on the Sabbath13:10-17

On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 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. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your

infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. ((Luke13:10-13)

Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” (v.14) The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox and donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set from on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” (vv.15-16)  

When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. (v.17)

 Theological interpretation & implication

            A woman was bent over (v.11) signifies a person’s being oppressed by a demon to an extreme, so that the person is bent toward the satanic world only and is unable to stand erect to look into the heavens. Satan used not only the evil spirit to possess the woman but also the religious ruler to oppose her being released by the Lord. Religion is much used by the usurper to keep God’s chosen people under his oppression. The Sabbath was ordained by God so that man could rest (Gen.2:3) not so that man would remain under bondage. Be set free. (v.16). Her healing was obligatory, especially since animals could be watered on the Sabbath. (v.15).

 

Jesus’ teaching concerning the entrance into the kingdom of God (Luke 13:18-35)

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.” (Luke13:18-19)

 

Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.” (vv.20-21)Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”(v.23) He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 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.” Then you will say, “We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.” But He will reply, “I do not know you or where you come from, away from me, all you evildoers.” (vv.24-27)

 

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. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first and first who will be last. (vv.28-30)

 

At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go tell that fox, “I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal. In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem! “O 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, but you were not willing! 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.” (vv.31-35).

 

Theological interpretation & implication

 

           Mustard seed.(v.19) From the smallest of seeds the Palestinian mustard plant grows in one season to a shrub the size of a small tree. Narrow door.(v.24) Christ Himself, apart from whom there is no other way to heaven (John14:6). That fox (v.32) Herod Antipas is described as a fox, known for its use of cunning deceit to achieve its aims. Your house is left to you desolate. This was fulfilled when the Temple was destroyed in A.D. 70 and the Jews were expelled under Hadrian in A.D.135. Blessed is he who comes. (Ps.118:26) This will be fulfilled at the second coming of Christ.

The Jews asked about salvation (v.23).But the Lord answered concerning participation in the kingdom of God in the millennium which will be the most enjoyable part of God’s full salvation before the enjoyment of the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and new earth (rev.21:1-3a,5-7;22:1-5). Verse 30 last who will be first, referring to the saved Gentiles, who will receive the Savior before some of the saved Jews and will participate in the kingdom of God in the millennium (v.29). First who will be last (v.30) referring to the Jews who will believe in the Lord after the Gentiles believe (Rom.11:25-26). The word in this verse is applied in another sense in Matt.19:30;20:16 and Mark10:31.

In verse 32 Today and tomorrow and on the third day. This indicates that the Lord had a set schedule to carry out His ministry, to end His course, and to reach His goal through His death and resurrection, and that no one, not even Herod, could prevent Him from accomplishing it. Verse 33 I must journey. The threat (v.31) did not prevent the Lord from journeying to Jerusalem to accomplish His redemptive death. Rather, He was bold to proceed there (Mark10:33) to reach the goal of His entire ministry. In verse 35 Your house is left to you desolate. The house (singular in Greek) was God’s house; God’s temple. Because the Jews rejected the Lord, that is, God ‘s coming in the Son, the Lord rejected the temple, considering it the house of the Jews themselves and leaving it to them that it might suffer the coming destruction and become desolate.

 

Chapter 14 Jesus’ teaching concerning the acceptance of God’s invitation (Luke 14:15-24)

           

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” Jesus replied, “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many quests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, “Come, for everything is now ready.” But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, “I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it .Please excuse me.” Another said, “I have just bought five yoke of oxen and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.”  “Still another said, “I just got married so I can’t come.” (Luke14:15-20).

 

The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his Servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” “Sir, the servant said, “What you ordered has been done, but there is still room.” “Then the master told his servant, “Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.” (Luke14:21-24)

 Theological interpretation & implication

           Luke 14:16-24 express the open, compelling invitation to come to Christ for salvation. Verse 16 great banquet. This great dinner is different from the wedding feast in Matt.22:2-14, which was for the reward of the kingdom. This great dinner is for God’s full salvation. God, as the “certain man,” prepared His full salvation as a great dinner and sent the first apostles as His slaves to invite the Jews (vv.16-17). But because they were occupied by their riches, such as land, cattle, or a wife, they refused His invitation (vv.18-20).Then God sent the apostles to invite the people on the streets- the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. Because of their poverty and misery, they accepted God’s invitation (vv.21-22a). Yet God’s salvation still had room for more; so He sent His slave to go out farther, to the Gentile world. Signified by the roads and hedges, to compel the Gentiles to come in and fill up the house of His salvation. (vv.22b-23;Acts13:46-48;Rom.11:25).

 

Jesus’ teaching how to follow the cost of following Him (Luke14:25-35)

 

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said, “ If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children his brothers and sisters –yes, even his own life- he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (vv.25-27).

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.”(vv.28-30).

Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he had cannot be my disciple. (vv.31-33).

Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He, who has ears to hear, let him hear.(vv.34-35).

Theological interpretation & implication

         Verses 25-33 express the cautions His followers to consider carefully the cost of full commitment to Christ in a life of service. Hate (v.26) doesn’t justify malice or ill will toward one’s family, but it means that devotion to family must take second place to one’s devotion to Christ.

The Lord unveiled to the crowds who went along with Him, the cost of following Him. To receive salvation is to be saved; to follow the Lord is to enjoy Him as the blessing of God’s salvation. This require us to renounce all, even our life, and to carry our own cross.(vv.26-27,33). The aim of the cross is not suffering but the termination of the person. The believers in Christ have been crucified (terminated) with Him (Gal.2:20); Rom.6:6). After bring organically united with Him through faith, they should remain on the cross, keeping their old man under the termination of the cross (Rom.6:3; Col.2:20-21). This is to carry their own cross. Christ first carried the cross and then was crucified (John19:17-18). But the believers in Him are first crucified and then carry the cross that they may remain in the termination of their old man. Thus experiencing and enjoying Christ as their life and life supply. 

In verse 28 and verse 31 The Lord’s word indicate that to make a career of following the Lord, we must give to it all we have and all we can do; otherwise, we will be a failure, becoming the tasteless salt and being thrown out of the glorious realm into a sphere of shame. (vv.34-35). 

Verse 34 indicates that the believers in Christ are the salt of the earth used by God to kill and eliminate the earth’s corruption. Their taste depends on their renouncing (or rejecting) of earthly things. The more they renounce the things of earth, the more powerful will be their taste. They will lose their taste by not being willing to renounce all the things of the present life. If this happens, they will be fit neither for the land, signifying the church as God’s farm (1Cor.3:9), which issues in the coming kingdom (Rev.11:15), nor for the manure pile, signifying hell, the filthy place in the universe (Rev.21:822:15) They will be thrown out from the kingdom of God, especially from the glory of the kingdom in the millennium. They are saved from eternal perdition, but because they have failed to renounce the earthly things, they lose their function in the kingdom of God, thus being unfit for the coming kingdom and needing to be put aside for discipline.

 

 

Bibliography,

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.