The Way - Day 013 (Luke 13)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
Luke 13:1-9
In Luke 13:1-9 Jesus further discusses the necessity of repentance and reconciliation in order to avoid judgment. It appears that many people in Jesus' day believed that judgment and unexpected death only befell those who were guilty of some serious transgression (13:1-2, 4); however, Jesus reminded them that "unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (13:3, 5). Judgment was certain for all who did not repent of sin. To illustrate coming judgment as well as God's patience, Jesus tells a story about a man who planted a fig tree in his vineyard, but it did not bear fruit for three years so he told the keeper of the vineyard to cut it down (13:6-7). Instead of cutting the fig tree down, the keeper asked the owner of the vineyard to be patient for one more year so he could "fertilize it" (13:8). After that year if the fig tree did not bear fruit, the owner could cut it down (13:9). The owner of the vineyard is God, the keeper of the vineyard is Jesus, and the fig tree represents all people. God has been patient with sinners and is awaiting them to repent so that He can free them from coming judgment. The choice seems obvious. Jesus has done everything necessary to reconcile sinners to God through His sacrificial death and resurrection. He now waits for you to repent of sin and believe in Him as the only way for salvation.

Luke 13:10-35
Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath and within the crowd was a woman who had been disabled for eighteen years (13:10-11). It appears that her disability had been caused by an evil spirit (13:11b) and Jesus later points out that Satan was ultimately responsible for this woman's ailment (13:16). "When Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, 'Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.' And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God" (13:12-13). Instead of rejoicing in this woman being healed, the ruler of the synagogue became angry that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath so he said to those who were gathered, "There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day" (13:14). Jesus responded to this man saying, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound--think of it--for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?" (13:15-16). Jesus' question forced this man to examine what was most important - keeping man-made tradition or seeing someone set free from spiritual bondage. Many of the religious leaders of Jesus' day placed a higher value on taking care of their animals than they did on seeing people released from infirmity. After Jesus had said these words, those who opposed Him were "put to shame" and the multitude who was gathered in the synagogue rejoiced for all that had been done by Jesus (13:17).

Jesus then took the opportunity to teach two parables which described the kingdom of God. Both the parable of the mustard seed (13:18-19) and the parable of the leaven (13:20-21) teach that although God's kingdom starts small, its influence will continue growing. After He had taught these things, Jesus began to go throughout many cities and villages teaching while He was on His way to Jerusalem (13:22). On His journey a man asked Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" (13:23). This man's inquiry was probably based in the fact that Jesus taught that not everyone would enter into God's kingdom; in fact, Jesus often taught that few would enter into the kingdom of God (Matthew 7:14-15). Throughout Jesus' ministry He had attracted many who were interested in His miracles and what He could do for them; however, many were not committed to follow Him (13:24). There are many who think they know Jesus, but have never really believed in the truth and their failure to follow God's ways proves this. Jesus tells a story about a man who was giving a feast, but closed the door and many were left outside knocking and saying, "Lord, Lord, open for us.... We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets" (13:25a, 26). The man holding the feast will respond to those outside saying, "I do not know you, where you are from.... I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity" (13:25b, 27). Jesus' story illustrates many who will one day stand before God in judgment and will ultimately be cast into hell because they never truly had a relationship with God (13:28). Those who profess to know Christ will not necessarily enter the kingdom of God, but only those who repent of sin, believe in Jesus as their source of righteousness, and demonstrate the genuineness of their faith through good works. Many Jews considered themselves to be righteous because of their nationality and adherence to man-made traditions, but Jesus taught that many Gentiles, who many considered to be least, would be first in the kingdom (13:29-30). Jesus mourned the fact that many Jews had rejected Him, even though He had done everything necessary to reveal to them the truth. Speaking of Israel He said, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!" (13:34). Because they had rejected Him as the promised Messiah, Jesus warned of future judgment when their house would be left "desolate" (13:35). Even though the Jews had rejected Jesus, He promised that one day He would return and they would finally see Him as the Messiah (13:35).

Dear God, You have been patiently awaiting many to believe the truth, but I know Your longsuffering will not last forever. Open the eyes of many so that they will be able to see the truth.