Luke 13:22-35
Notes
Transcript
Introduction and Review
Introduction and Review
We’re in Luke’s travel narrative (Luke 9:51–19:44) and Jesus determined move toward Jerusalem and the cross
Luke 9:51 “51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,”
Last week started Luke 13.
1-5 Jesus taught on repentance. He taught them not only does extraordinary suffering NOT indicate extraordinary sin, but they all were wicked and sinful and unless they repent they will perish as well.
Due to the fall and every one of being born under Adam, every one of us is born in rebellion to God and require His grace to save any of us
6-9 With the parable of the fig tree, Jesus teaches them and us that even though we are all worthy of judgement from birth, Almighty God is patient and gives them time and opportunity to repent
His immediate context was the nation of Israel but it applies just as much to us as America and individuals as well
10-17 Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of the pharisee by healing a bound woman on the Sabbath. Even the pharisees loose their livestock on the sabbath to water, now much more this “covenant, daughter of Abraham” from Satan’s bondage
18-21 Jesus gives two parables addressing the kingdom of God
Matthew focuses on the mustard seed’s size and growing into a great tree; Luke shows us how it starts from a seed and grows to provide shelter for many. It echoes the OT idea of kingdoms as trees.
Leaven is invisible but pervasive beginning as a little, working invisibly, and cannot be undone. Repentance and the kingdom are the same. The gospel is working persistently to change the world and it’s infectious spread cannot be stopped
Luke 13:22-35
Luke 13:22-35
Who are in the kingdom?
Who are in the kingdom?
22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
Jesus is on His was to His glory and he knew it:
Mark 10:33–34 “33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.”
And yet Jesus is still that gracious vinedresser, watering and fertilizing, interceding for one more year for them and us to become fruitful and not chopped down
23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
The idea for most then was that as the chosen people of God, the Jew would be saved by bloodline. If you were Jewish, you would be delivered by Yahweh, from the Romans then, but ultimately at the resurrection.
Now here’s Jesus that’s just told them in essence “ALL have fallen short of the glory of God, and stand under judgement”
I haven’t read the obituaries in a long time. My wife, when they could be read for free, on the other hand read them every day. I learned two things then:
First, I was clearly expected to have known every person that died
And second, that apparently, every person that died went to heaven, or at least every person with an obituary, because every one of them had “gone to be with the Lord”
I pray that’s so, but we ask Jesus the same question as this person “are there few that be saved?” And Jesus answers
24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
strive: (agōnizomai) suggests great labor and struggle getting through the door. Our word agony comes from it.
1 Corinthians 9:25 “25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” Paul uses it in the contexts of an athlete in training.
The high level athlete pushes past exhaustion and pushes past pain all the way to failure in practice so they don’t fail in the game.
Jesus point is for them to struggle hard themselves and not worry about how many others do and that opportunity won’t last forever
The world, the devil, our pride, and our natural love for sin all make it hard enough.
Culture today wants to tell everyone that any way you want, you can get in the kingdom. All you have to do is try.
But Jesus says the gate’s narrow. Only by Him and only Ephesians 2:8–9 “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
We strive against the world, the devil, our pride, and our love for sin not to earn our salvation, but because the grace and mercy of Jesus has bought our salvation
25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
A time’s coming when the householder will shut the door and stop letting anyone in
When that time comes, those on the outside knock, telling him to let them in. They expect to be let in.
2nd part of 25 suggests they expected to be let in because they were known by their lineage. This was Abraham’s seed, of course they get let in...
Verse 26 then is the fall back position. They expect to be let in because they had been there and ate and drank and learned from the master, from Jesus.
Jesus points out that neither are enough to get in once the door closes
Being near Jesus isn’t the same as being known by Jesus. Repentance and faith in Christ is a gift given by God to His sheep that hear his voice:
John 8:42–44 Jesus said if they were of the Father they would love Him. They have shown themselves to be of the house of the devil instead
John 10:25–28 “25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
When Jesus says “I know you not” He doesn’t mean “who they are” He means “whose they are”. They aren’t His!
28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
Jesus isn’t a universalist, one that believes all people get in no matter what because a “good God” won’t and can’t show wrath to those not under the blood of Jesus. To be a just judge He must!
There will be some that see the very fathers they thought genetically got them entry and they themselves thrown out!
Not only that but not only the covenant family of Abraham, but Jew and Gentile alike.
The kingdom of heaven works opposite of the world. Many who are the least of these will be chief in the kingdom of God
We who are saved tend to think all people that go to hell will regret. Here Jesus says they that shall be cast out will be
those that weep from the grief of missing the way and at the same time grinding and snarling in contempt and anger toward God for all eternity!
there will be no repentance in Hell. They will forever hold the same rebellious attitude toward God they hold now
Luke 13:31-35 Prophets perish in Jerusalem
Luke 13:31-35 Prophets perish in Jerusalem
That fox Herod
That fox Herod
31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. 32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. 33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
some of the Pharisees tell Jesus to leave, because Herod will kill him. No clue if these particular pharisees are trying to warn Jesus because of concern or threaten out of spite
but either way Jesus tells them to go tell that crafty, destroyer to stay in his hole. He’s going to keep on mission in the will of the Father today and tomorrow and the third day it will be finished
Jesus tells them don’t worry, he’s leaving alright. He has an appointment with the Cross in Jerusalem on the third day and by God’s sovereignty, He will get there at exactly the appointed time!
Jerusalem is the city prophets go to die! Jesus tells them it can’t be otherwise
Zechariah 12:10 “10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”
Zechariah prophesied Jerusalem would pierce their own God and Jesus isn’t walking away from that prophesy; He’s walking straight to it!
Lament over Jerusalem
Lament over Jerusalem
34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! 35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
The very city that holds the covenant house of God in the temple. That Yahweh had ordained to meet with His people at, will now be the place Jesus will hang on the cross as the final mediator between God the Father and humanity
The city that has stoned and killed the very prophets sent there to tell them the truth of God, will be the place the messiah is put to death
And yet He has done all that was needed for their children to be protected. Like a hen gathers her chicks beneath her wings.
Jesus has repeatedly sought to gather them every time the prophets warned them. Yet they would not! He doesn’t say could not, He says would not. They are held responsible for their choices.
Jesus no longer calls it “my Father’s house”; now it’s their house that will see destruction!
But even in judgement is mercy and hope. Jesus quotes from Psalm 118:26 “26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.”
Jesus laments and prophesies over the city that God’s presence will depart from it and leave it to it’s destruction until Jesus comes back the second time. And when He does, the true Israel will welcome him. And a new Jerusalem will be their and our home forever!
Conclusion
Conclusion
Jesus is speaking to them but the message is clear for everyone today that refuses to be joined to Christ. Without being joined with Christ you are judged by God!
Not because He’s cruel, but because He’s a just judge!
