Luke 13:10-14:35

We have talked about the truth of the story

Historical, logical, evidence based

we talked about how luke was written

We have talked about Jesus birth and childhood

We have talked about the beginning of Jesus ministry

We have talked about the calling of the disciples

We have seen how he began to do his ministry, traveling from place to place teaching, healing, and doing other miracles.

We have begun to see some dissonance. Jesus is claiming to be God. He is doing things only God could do BUT he is not coming in the way that the people expected. His teaching is not “You guys are good, i am here to save you from the bad guys” His teaching is Luke 5:32 “32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.””

And Luke 13:5 “5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.””

surprise surprise, he is not getting unanimous praise

In the middle section of Luke, Luke focuses in on the teaching of Jesus about the kingdom of God . Matt Calvin and I have all touched on it and we are going to continue in that focus today.

I. The Kingdom is Here (Like it or not)

 A. The Lord announces the kingdom of God with a miracle (Luke 13:10–17)

Luke 13:10–17 (ESV)

10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself.

We do not know the nature of her disability but Jesus knew her physical issue to be caused by spiritual forces. (This is possible)

It does not say she was possessed or controlled by a demon(s)

12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” 13 And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.

Jesus identifies her and calls her.

Her immediate response is to see it as the work of God.

14 But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.”

Instead of celebrating what happened, he has this quasi-sarcastic judgemental response. (He probably felt inferior and jealous of the peoples response to Jesus.

15 Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” 17 As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

The kingdom of God brings restoration, not status quo

The Kingdom of God brings freedom not bondage

The kingdom of God see’s the lowly and lifts them up, it does not create systems to subjugate them

Luke goes on to record for us a couple object lessons or parables that illustrate how the kingdom of God will come.

B. The Lord announces the kingdom of God with two parables

Luke 13:18–21 ESV

18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” 20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”

The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed - something small that grows and expands outward

The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast - something small that grows and transforms from the inside

We want to be a part of something big and important because we want to feel big and important.

The ministry in the Kingdom of God is often small, and seemingly insignificant.

C. The kingdom of God is not always recognized or accepted.

In the account before this Pastor Calvin walked us through a parable Jesus told about a fruitless fig tree. He was equating the jewish leaders as fruitless trees.

I have a fruitless pear tree. I like pears, I have a tree that SHOULD produce pears but it NEVER produces a single pear. It scratches my head when i mow around it. Its a worthless tree.

A fruit tree without fruit is a worthless tree

A person who claims to be a part of God’s kingdom but does not bring forth kingdom fruit is WORTHLESS (and maybe/probably/definitely harmful.)

The fruit of truly being a part of the the kingdom is growing compassion, mercy, kindness, peace, love, humility, real joy, patience, sacrifice.

A tree does not get to decide if it is bearing fruit. My pear tree could say “Hey! I made a lot of nice leaves and scratchy sticks this year, here you go! Enjoy!”

I DONT WANT SCRATCHY STICKS I WANT A DELICIOUS PEAR

In the example of Jesus at sandusky life church we are focused more on the fruit and less on the fluff.

II. You need to enter the kingdom (like it or not)

Luke 13:22–30 (ESV)

22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door.

YOU strive to enter.

does not mean do not be concerned with others eternal state, he means first, you need to worry about YOU

Airplane oxygen masks

For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

Why are they not able? They are not trying to enter through the narrow door. What is the narrow door?

Example: Me trying to walk through a wall in a video game

25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’

27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 In that place 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 but you yourselves cast out.

29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Time is limited:

Example: my family are the ones in my house at night when I lock the doors

You need to know the real God on the real God’s terms

III. This is kingdom ministry (like it or not)

Luke 13:31–35 (ESV)

31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. 33 Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’

Kingdom ministry is BOLD

34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

Kingdom ministry requires a broken heart.

Bold kingdom workers often lack compassion

Compassionate kingdom workers often lack boldness

One of those likely comes easier to you. Both of those can be supernaturally gifted to you

Acts 4:29 “29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,”

Phil 1:9 “9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,”

So What?

1. If you claim citizenship in God’s Kingdom, how does your fruit crop look this year?

2. Do you know for sure that you are in the Kingdom?

3. If you are doing Kingdom ministry, check your heart. Are you like Jesus?