Read the Passage: Luke 13:1–35

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: Luke 13:1–35

Repenting of Sins (13:1–9)

Luke 13:1–5 is one of Jesus’ most specific teachings on the problem of evil and suffering. While these brief verses are not comprehensive in scope, they do give a clear and helpful perspective on evil and suffering. First, in Luke 13:1–3, Christ addresses suffering on account of personal evil, as He is asked about some Galileans whom Pilate killed, likely while they were worshiping in the Temple. Here Jesus teaches that these men were not worse than other sinners (as many would have likely assumed), but that these deaths can serve as a warning about the need for all men to repent. Second, in Luke 13:4–5, Christ addresses suffering on account of natural evil, as He mentions eighteen men on whom a tower collapsed, killing them. Jesus teaches that these men were not worse sinners than other men, but that their deaths ought to serve as a reminder to all people about the need to repent of their sins.

When mankind witnesses evil and suffering, especially on a large scale, his natural reaction is to look outward, pitying others and charging God with injustice. In Luke 13:1–5 Jesus teaches that when mankind witness evil and suffering, his reaction ought to be to look inward, to connect evil and suffering with sin, and then to repent. This is not to say that every instance of evil and suffering is causally connected to the specific sins of the individuals affected; rather, it is to recognize that: (1) all sin results in grief, and (2) all men are sinners who need to repent. In Luke 13:6–9 Christ gives a parable to teach that a failure to repent is a failure to discern the external signs of the times and the internal sins of the heart. Specifically, in this parable Jesus uses the illustration of a fruitless fig tree to call attention to Israel’s spiritual barrenness (cf. Hos. 9:10; Matt. 21:18–22).

Healing from Infirmity (13:10–17)

Luke 13:10–17 records Jesus’ healing of a crippled woman on the Sabbath. Observe that this account is very similar to the earlier narrative of Christ’s healing of a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, which was recorded in Luke 6:6–11. Further, note that in a later passage Jesus will heal another man on the Sabbath (cf. Luke 14:1–6). Indeed, it seems that Christ was intentional about healing individuals on the Sabbath. In the present passage, Luke reports that the afflicted woman “had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years” (Luke 13:11). This indicates that her physical ailment is unique in that it was caused by an unclean spirit—that is, a demon (cf. Luke 13:16). A surprising detail in this passage is not that Jesus healed the infirm woman, as this could have been anticipated. Rather, it is that the ruler of the synagogue was offended by the healing. Understandably, Christ rebuked the hypocritical ruler, for Scripture does not forbid healing on the Sabbath.

Teaching about the Kingdom (13:18–35)

In Luke 13:18–21 Jesus gives two brief parables to explain certain aspects of the Kingdom of God. In the first parable Christ teaches that the Kingdom of God is like the growth of a mustard tree, which starts out as a small seed, but grows into a large tree—tall enough for birds to dwell in. Jesus’ point here seems to be the rapid, unexpected growth of the Kingdom of God, as well as the inclusion of Gentiles in the Kingdom, who are depicted here and elsewhere as birds (cf. Ezek. 17:23; Dan. 4:12). Note that Palestinian mustard plants can grow to be fifteen feet high. In the second parable Christ teaches that the Kingdom of God is like yeast that works in an unseen manner within bread dough, as it quietly multiplies, permeating all of the dough. Jesus’ point in telling these two parables is that the nature of the Kingdom of God differs from what was assumed by many of the Jews.

Luke 13:22–35 narrates several of Jesus’ teachings about salvation as He journeyed toward Jerusalem. In Luke 13:22–30 Christ addresses the question that was asked of him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” (Luke 13:23). In His response, Jesus teaches that mankind ought to strive for salvation, yet relatively few will actually be saved. This is not because salvation is unavailable, but because the striving called for here entails dying to self, admitting one’s need, and accepting Christ’s offer. Yet, rather than embrace the humility needed to be saved, Jesus indicates that most people would rather deceive themselves into thinking they are already saved (cf. Luke 13:25) or trust in their own works and religion (cf. Luke 13:26). Note that Jesus’ teaching that people will enter the Kingdom from all points of the compass forecasts the salvation of the Gentiles.

Application Questions:

1. Why does the topic of the Kingdom of God continually reappear in Jesus’ teachings? What is the Kingdom of God?
2. In this passage, what is the connection between the evil and suffering described, and Jesus’ exhortation to repent?
3. While the parable of the fig tree seems to be directed toward Israel, how does it relate to the church?
4. Why does Jesus seem to have an agenda of purposefully and repeatedly healing individuals on the Sabbath?
5. Is the Kingdom of God a present or a future reality? What is it about the gospel that is offensive to the lost world?