CHAPTER 13

1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Jesus gives a case for daily prayers of thanksgiving.
The question about the "Galilaeans" is not dealt with in history. No historian records such an incident that I can find.

However, we see the problem: a tragic death.
Also, in the story of the "tower" (vs 4): a tragic death.

There are those who suffer much at the hands of the world.
One cannot conclude they are due the terrible circumstances because they are awful sinners.

Instead, their tragedy should remind us of the grace of God.
It should also remind us that similar things could happen to ourselves! At any time a government could wisk us away to a gruesome death! At any time a "tower" (or even a tree) could fall on us and bring tragic death!

Let us continually give thanks to God for this day which we have!
And, those who do not "repent" and turn to Jesus will also see a tragic ETERNAL death!

6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

The parable also tells of the grace of God to sinners.
The sinner who bears no fruit to the glory of Christ, is like the dead tree.
Soon, the "Husbandman" (Owner of the land) must CUT DOWN the unfruitful tree!

But God is gracious to all! He is "longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2Peter 3:9)

So, God sends a messenger.
God sends a Savior.
God sends more messengers.

The message is that God is gracious; but He will only provide just so much space for repentance!

10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.
11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.
15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?
17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

The woman was bent over, and could not straighten up.
She had been that way 18 years!
Jesus healed her.

All men are "bent" with sin, and cannot (of themselves) straighten up!
But Jesus came to show that God CARES for sinners, and will HEAL them!!

The tragedy was that the "ruler of the synagogue" thought that healing on the Sabbath was WORK - and it shouldn't be done!
Some people are so legally bound they can produce no genuine care and concern! He was so caught up in legality that he didn't see God had provided salvation through COMPASSION!

Jesus called the "ruler" a "hypocrite!" Two-faced! One who CLAIMED to be something he was NOT!

How can one house the love of God in him, and not show compassion?
The same man knew that the law of God made it legal for him to "loose" his ox or ass from being in a bog on the Sabbath day.

Jesus explained a PERSON is MUCH more valuable than an animal!!

Those who are bent over with the weight of sin Jesus can HEAL!
Let us offer them His healing on ANY day; espcially on Sunday!

18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? And whereunto shall I resemble it?
19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

Two parables are given here which demonstrate the SPREADING of the gospel by those who receive Christ.

The "kingdom of God" here is described as those who have the genuine affiliation with God, and have taken on His genuine CARE for the lost.

The "mustard seed" is one of the SMALLEST seeds in the world!
But when grown, the seed turns into a tall bush which produces MANY seeds!
Not only does the bush produce seeds, but it provides rest to dirty old fowls!

And so is the Christian!
And so is the church!

First, let us GROW!
Then, let us be FRUITFUL!
And, let us be rest to foul sinners!

20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

"Leaven" - yeast, is used sometimes in the Bible to refer to sin. It SPREADS!

But here, Jesus uses the example to refer to the spread of the gospel.
When a person receives Christ, that person becomes like yeast!
He begins to tell others of the wonderful salvation he's experienced.

23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

Jesus had said in Matthew 7:14 "...strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Perhaps the questioner had heard that statement.
The FOCUS of that statement is that Jesus is the ONLY "gate" and the ONLY "way!"

"Gate" reflects the opening to something.
"Way" reflects the ROAD.
With those terms in mind, one can readily see that Jesus is putting salvation and life after salvation on a personal level!

First, to receive salvtion we must "Enter YE in at the straight gate..." That gate is narrow, like the opening to a sheep fold. And Jesus said HE is the "door" of entry for sheep (people) who want to have eternal life (See John 10:9).

That indeed is a NARROW gate! If one would be saved, he/she MUST surrender to Jesus as Lord!
There is NO OTHER gate!! (See John 14:6).

Second, once we enter the Gate, we must walk the WAY. The WAY (road) of destruction is an easy road. All we have to do is just let ourselves go. There are a billion ways to hell.

But there is only ONE "way" to heaven; that is to walk WITH Christ. And that road is both unpopular and uphill! It is unpopular because it is morally right and we, along with all other humans, are morally wrong. It is uphill because it means constant striving to improve our moral character.

There may be "few" saved compared to the number of people in the total population of the world.
But there will be "MANY" who come to "sit in the kingdom of God!"
They will come from all corners of the earth!

Let us not be overcome with consideration of how many!
Let us be participants in sharing the good news with MANY!

31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

Jesus had no concern for how many days He should live.
His concern was that He live EACH day according to His purpose!
That purpose is the same for all Christians: to provide God's gracious salvation through the Gospel of Jesus to ALL who will hear!

Jesus said "Go ye, and tell that fox (King Herod)..."
"Yes. Go ahead and tell him. And tell him what I'm doing."
Jesus knew that by living EACH day according to His purpose, when the day of "death" came, He would be "perfected." In other words, He will have accomplished His purpose!

Christians, this should be OUR manner of living!
Live EACH day to the glory of Christ, telling others of Him.
If death comes today, then our purpose will be fulfilled!

34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

This was a cry of pain!
It pains our Lord when those to whom He calls do not turn to Him!
Oh! And "how often" He has called!

The REASON for the pain in our Lord's heart is because He knows the END!
WITHOUT Him, men are "desolate!" FORSAKEN! LOST!

In that day when Christ shall come for eternal judgment, ALL will know that He is the One who "cometh in the name of the LORD!"
Believers will know and rejoice to see Him.
Unbelievers will know and remorse such as they have never known will enter their soul!

KNOW Him today!!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.