Luke 13
World English Bible
WEB1Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way. 4Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.” 6He spoke this parable. “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down! Why does it waste the soil?’ 8He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.’” 10He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day. 11Behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years. She was bent over and could in no way straighten herself up. 12When Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” 13He laid his hands on her, and immediately she stood up straight and glorified God. 14The ruler of the synagogue, being indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the multitude, “There are six days in which men ought to work. Therefore come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day!” 15Therefore the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each one of you free his ox or his donkey from the stall on the Sabbath and lead him away to water? 16Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham whom Satan had bound eighteen long years, be freed from this bondage on the Sabbath day?” 17As he said these things, all his adversaries were disappointed; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him. 18He said, “What is God’s Kingdom like? To what shall I compare it? 19It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and put in his own garden. It grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the sky live in its branches.” 20Again he said, “To what shall I compare God’s Kingdom? 21It is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.” 22He went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and traveling on to Jerusalem. 23One said to him, “Lord, are they few who are saved?” He said to them, 24“Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in and will not be able. 25When once the master of the house has risen up and has shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ then he will answer and tell you, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27He will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s Kingdom, and yourselves being thrown outside. 29They will come from the east, west, north, and south, and will sit down in God’s Kingdom. 30Behold, there are some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last.” 31On that same day, some Pharisees came, saying to him, “Get out of here and go away, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I complete my mission. 33Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, for it can’t be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.’ 34“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused! 35Behold, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org
Overview
Luke Chapter 13 presents a series of teachings and parables from Jesus that emphasize repentance, the nature of the Kingdom of God, and the urgency of responding to God's call. The chapter begins with a report of some Galileans whose blood Pilate mixed with their sacrifices, prompting Jesus to challenge the crowd's understanding of sin and suffering. He asserts that those who suffer are not necessarily worse sinners, urging all to repent lest they perish (Luke 13:1-5). This call to repentance is a central theme, reminding us that God's grace is available, but it requires a response from us.
The chapter continues with the parable of the barren fig tree (Luke 13:6-9), where a landowner seeks fruit from a tree that has not produced for three years. The gardener pleads for one more year to cultivate it, symbolizing God's patience and desire for us to bear fruit in our lives. This parable illustrates the importance of spiritual productivity and the grace period we are given to turn our lives around.
Jesus also heals a woman who had been crippled for eighteen years, demonstrating His compassion and authority over physical ailments (Luke 13:10-17). This act of healing on the Sabbath provokes criticism from the synagogue leader, but Jesus rebukes him, highlighting the hypocrisy of prioritizing rules over mercy. The chapter concludes with Jesus teaching about the Kingdom of God, comparing it to a mustard seed and yeast, which grow and spread in ways that may seem small but have a significant impact (Luke 13:18-21). Through these teachings, Jesus emphasizes that the Kingdom is accessible to all who seek it, and it grows through the transformative power of God.
Referenced by
- Matthew 7:13-14v24Matthew 7:13-14 speaks of the narrow gate leading to life, while Luke 13:24 urges striving to enter through the narrow door, emphasizing the difficulty and importance of the path to salvation.
- Matthew 13:33v20Matthew 13:33 shares the Parable of the Leaven, which is also found in Luke 13:20-21, illustrating the transformative power of the Kingdom of Heaven.
- Matthew 23:37v34Matthew 23:37 expresses Jesus' lament over Jerusalem, a sentiment also recorded in Luke 13:34, highlighting His desire to gather and protect His people.
Topics in this chapter
- Repentance
- Kingdom of God
- Growth
- Compassion
- Fruitfulness
- Healing
- Sabbath
- Salvation
- Judgment
- Narrow Door
- Parables
- Transformation
- Commitment
- Faith
- Jerusalem
- Mercy
- Parables
- Patience
- Urgency
- Discipleship
- Evangelism
- Grace
- Inclusivity
- Influence
- Rejection
- Abyss
- Authenticity
- Authority
- Authority of Jesus
- Christian Journey
- Deliverance
- Divine Patience
- Fig Tree
- Freedom
- Galilee
- Healing on the Sabbath
- Heart for the Lost
- Herod Antipas
- Holiness
- Jesus
- Jesus Lament
- Kingdom Influence
- Lament
- Law
- Lent
- Metanoia
- Ministry
- Mustard Seed
- Narrow Path
- Necessity of Repentance
- Parable of the Fig Tree
- Prophecy
- Prophet
- Restoration
- Social Justice
- Spiritual Growth
- Synagogue Ruler
- Teacher
- Temple
- Tetrarch
- The Vine
- Unity
- Yeast
Related chapters
- Matthew 13Kingdom InfluenceYeastMustard Seed
- Mark 4Mustard SeedParablesParables
- Matthew 7Narrow PathAuthenticityGalilee
- Matthew 23AuthenticityTeacherRejection
- Matthew 12Authority of JesusSabbathFruitfulness
- Matthew 21Fig TreeAuthenticityParables
- Matthew 4LentGalileeMinistry
- Mark 3Healing on the SabbathAuthority of JesusSabbath
- John 5Authority of JesusSabbathEvangelism
- Luke 14ParablesParablesSabbath
- Mark 11Fig TreeAuthenticityFruitfulness
- Acts 17MetanoiaRejectionEvangelism
Your study
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