Luke 12-13:21

Introduction and Chapter 12

On his journey to Jerusalem, Jesus has just taught on prayer in 11:1-13 and confrontation with Pharisees (11:14-54)

In front of a crowd of thousands and the disciples:

Jesus warns them of the leaven of the pharisees-hypocrisy with teaching about:

Secret vs. public life (vv. 2-3)

Fearing men over God (vv. 4-5)

Security of possessions over trusting the provision of God (vv. 13-21)

hypocrisy in leadership with the unfaithful steward (vv. 45-46)

Jesus also teaches about discipleship under pressure including public confession and denial of Him (vv. 8-12)

this includes the the issue of blasphemy against the Spirit, a sin that cannot be forgiven in contrast to a word spoken against Jesus

the unpardonable sin has caused debate since the 3rd and 4th centuries; including Tertullian, Origen, and Augustine so another one we’ll not settle this morning

my view is Jesus is not so much talking about a moment we take God’s name in vain, or even moments of doubting the Gospel and our salvation. He’s teaching more about a lifetime rejection of the Spirit’s testimony about Jesus

I think the point Luke is making is that to fear God means to choose Jesus. To reject him is to reject the Spirit who testifies constantly to him.

You will be under God’s wrath for eternity if you die rejecting the Spirit’s testimony to Jesus

(vv. 13-21) — Guard against covetousness because life isn't found in possessions with The Parable of the Rich Fool

(vv. 22-34) — Don't be anxious about material needs because your Father knows and provides with the ravens and the lilies

(vv. 35-48) — Stay watchful and faithful because the Master will return unexpectedly with The Faithful and Unfaithful Stewards

(vv. 49-59) — Recognize the urgency of the hour because Jesus brings division and judgment is coming with the division within households (father against son, mother against daughter)

Luke 12:49–53 “49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! 51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”

Jesus is telling them things aren’t gonna be peachy from that point on. No middle ground. Jesus forces choices about what God is doing, and family members will choose differently

Luke 12:54–56 “54 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. 55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. 56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?”

Anybody paying attention can see what time it is and what’s going on and that God is doing something huge. And this is that decisive point in history!

Luke 12:57–59 “57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? 58 When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. 59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.”

Most important, the disciples had better settle their spiritual debts with God. A failure to pay up will mean one will pay every last penny with interest

That last point begs the question of what that looks like; every one of us are spiritual debtors to God who owe him everything. Bringing us to chapter 13...

Chapter 13

Luke 13:1-9 Repentance

People who perished

Luke 13:1–5 KJV

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.

Those asking were picking up what Jesus was putting down and were really asking if that meant those that were killed were greater sinners than they were

to give you an idea what they were asking: between 2015 and 2022 I found 4 widely reported examples in the US alone where attendees were killed during worship

Jesus also gives an example of a “natural disaster”; it’s not just the sinfulness of Pilate or men but living in a sin cursed world under the sovereignty of God Himself

Jesus answers emphatically: “No, I tell you!”. He’s telling them not only “no, suffering doesn’t necessarily equal sinfulness, you haven’t suffered and you’re sinners in need of repentance and if you don’t you will likewise perish”

The man seeking fruit

Luke 13:6–9 KJV

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.

Jesus gives a parable using the fig tree. This would have immediately brought to their mind the nation of Israel as a whole

Jesus extends the warning to the nation of Israel as a whole, as well as individuals

Unless repentance comes to the nation, the nation will be judged. But God’s willingness to hold off shows his patience

Healing a bent woman

Luke 13:10–17 KJV

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.

Jesus sees a woman not able to stand up straight and heals her

the synagogue leader gets bent out of shape claiming Jesus had violated the sabbath by doing so

Jesus shows the hypocrisy by pointing out they all “work” by untying their ox and watering it; this covenant, daughter of Israel is more worthy of being unbound than the ox; proving the point he made in 13:1-9 about the need for individual and national repentance.

if animals can receive basic care on the sabbath, how much more human beings, especially a woman of promise, a child of Abraham! Jesus says, what better day to release her than the sabbath? What better day to show that Satan’s powerless against Jesus?

the crowd rejoices and the rulers of Israel are shamed; again You can’t be neutral! You are on the side of Jesus or the side of the rulers and Satan!

Luke 13:18-30 The Kingdom of God

Jesus then gives two little parables describing the The Kingdom of God and how it spreads after the defeat of Satan

The mustard seed

Luke 13:18–19 KJV

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.

If this hinge for the nations and humanity is here then why does it look so small?

Jesus answer describes the growing of a small seed into a great tree giving protection to the birds.

The leaven

Luke 13:20–21 KJV

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.

Other places leaven represents sin spreading but here Jesus uses the example to show His righteousness spreading invisibly but wholly. (Some can see the birds as sin creeping into the trees rather than my take of the birds in Ezekiel 17:22-24 and Daniel 4:10-12)

Three measures was the quantity in Genesis 18:6 where Sarah prepares the same amount for the Lord's visitors; about fifty pounds.

Not a little but a lot of abundance and hospitality—the kingdom's influence is not a snack size but feast-level transformation.

Both parables show that, even in the worlds eyes, through the death of an executed Galilean rabbi, and the writings of a handful of disciples the world and humanity was changed forever!

And the change that Jesus brings with His birth, life, and death is both external to the world and internal to individuals

Not only that, but by grace, through faith in Jesus and the work of the Spirit, that change is complete and irreversible

Conclusion

The three and a half years of Jesus ministry were the middle point of history and the cross was the hinge

All mankind since the fall has been in need of repentance because we are ALL born in sin

Romans 5:12 “12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

And that sin must be judged

2 Corinthians 5:10 “10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

God has been patient with all of us

2 Peter 3:9 “9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

But His patience will come to an end

Proverbs 29:1 “1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

Mark 1:15 “15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

Romans 5:8–9 “8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”