November 7, 2021
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Reading along with us in Luke? Here’s today’s reading:
Luke 13 (NIV)
Repent or Perish
1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?.......Continue Reading
Pilate had killed probably some zealots for opposing Rome. Jesus points out. Everybody dies, what’s important is where they end up after they die! Verse 6. Figtree not bearing fruit. Christian not bearing fruit. On thin ice!! Verse 10-17. So glad Jesus puts Pharisees in their place. Heals a woman in torment for 18 years and they have a problem. Sabbath. So weak! You untie and feed your cattle and feed that on the sabbath!! End of discussion. Kingdom of God like a mustard seed. Or a little yeast. Well it started off small. But it has crossed the world now!! It’s going to be a shock to see who enters through the narrow gate. The world measures by money, status and power. Gods measures by our connection to Jesus. Verse 31. Don’t think the Pharisees cared where Jesus was going except not to go influence those in Jerusalem. So they act like they care. Herod is trying to kill you. As if Jesus was concerned. He is in tune with His own timetable. Nothing man ever did or said changed that
Jesus is constantly reminding the Pharisees about the motivation and where your heart is in relation to works. Their respect for the law comes before their reason for the law instead of good works being done because of a reverent appreciation of all God does for us they are done out of duty or obligation.
To enter a narrow gate requires work on our part, requires repentance and obedience but what a wonderful thing waiting on the other side of that gate! Our Father is waiting !
It would be very common for the Jews to think if evil befell someone, then it was a sign of God’s disfavor and if it didn’t than you were ok. Jesus makes the point here that it is not circumstances and events that matters, but repentance. We can assume that Jesus means repentance in terms of having a change of mind about who He is (recognizing Him as God’s Son and Messiah of Israel and then later believe in the work of salvation on the cross), but the fact that He follows this up with a parable of a fig tree, there is an indication that this repentance is about being a fruit bearer, bearing the righteousness of God.
And how ludicrous to call Jesus out on healing on the Sabbath. It is good that the people at least go the point that somethings just can’t wait to be done, and so to justify one thing over another doesn’t make sense. And what good pictures of the Kingdom of God given here. It starts out small and grows to something big and permeates what it comes in contact with, especially with the help of some kneeding it in. And yet it is a narrow door by which we enter it. And that door is Jesus and all praise to Him for giving His life so that we could have access!
And what appears to be a move to protect Jesus from Herod is a means to get Him to leave Jerusalem. Well Jesus shows He is not afraid of Herod, nor will anyone else determine HIs time frames. But in getting Him to leave, they are acting in the ways that Jerusalem always has in relation to prophets, rejecting their message. So Jesus makes clear that He is certainly not going to come where He is not welcome. So for Him to return, they must recognize who He is.
I believe much of this chapter is a rebuke to the Jewish leaders because of their hypocrisy. Gentiles will enter the Kingdom of God before them.
“But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. 29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”