Lessons Into Luke: Lesson 12

FACTS AND THOUGHTS

LESSON TWELVE - WARNINGS

Luke Chapters Thirteen and Fourteen


"Consider Him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against Himself." (Hebrews 12:3).


Jesus, the Son of God, existing from Eternity Past, had assumed (by His incarnation) the role of The Ideal Human Being. He acknowledged this by His continually referring to Himself as "The Son of Man." He came to live the perfect human life which Adam had failed to do.


Consider His feelings when all the sons of Adam among whom He was living both failed to recognize Who He really was, were continually criticizing His deeds and words, were refusing to heed His lessons, warnings, and instructions, and were increasingly setting themselves up in opposition to Himself. Imagine yourself in His place, and think of the frustration which must have been His. Observe the sorrow and disappointment welling up within Him, as He cried out, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her own brood under her wings, and ye would not!"


In Chapters Thirteen and Fourteen of Luke's recital, we seem to see Jesus ceasing to instruct His disciples, and turn in frustration to remonstrate with the unbelieving multitudes, hypocritical synagogue rulers, and proud Pharisees. And all this while He was becoming increasingly aware that the Cross was looming up before him!


"YE SHALL ALL LIKEWISE PERISH." (13:1-9.)


As Jesus was finishing His lectures of Chapter Twelve, there were some who came to tell about a terrible tragedy which had just occurred down in Jerusalem. It seems that there were some people, even from Galilee where Jesus was teaching, who had created a disturbance in Jerusalem. Pilate, in retribution, had ordered his Roman soldiers to kill the Galileans. This they proceeded to do, slaughtering them even while they were offering sacrifices in the temple. Thus their own blood was spattered upon the sacrificial offerings on the altar.


The insult of the Romans, who were thus desecrating the holy altar of the Jewish worship; the brutal savagery of Pilate's retribution, and the anger of the Jews in the holy city, all combined to make this episode the "topic of the day" in all the Land. At the same time, there was the question in the minds of many that perhaps the Galileans were so exceedingly guilty that they deserved their fate. Yet it was so typical of the heavy handedness of Rome that it did not merit so much as a footnote in the annals of secular history. But it was brought to the attention of Jesus.


What will Jesus do or say about this atrocity? Will He speak out against the high-handedness of Pilate and the Romans? Will He add His condemnation of the slain Galileans? What will be His reaction?


Notice that He does none of the above. Instead, He uses the episode as a warning to His hearers to avoid a like fate by their repentance. Repentance from what? Repentance means a change of mind, of heart, of way of life. Jesus had been teaching about the kingdom of heaven, and the righteousness which characterized it. They must cease from their hypocritical ways, or judgment will come upon them.


And as though to enforce His warning, He spoke of another catastrophe (which had probably occurred some little time earlier), wherein a certain high building had collapsed killing eighteen persons. Again was the warning, "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."


Then He told a parable of a barren fig tree. The owner had ordered it cut down, for it had produced no fruit for three years, and was taking up good soil which might otherwise be better cultivated. It was the conclusion of the whole episode.


Many commentaries see the fig tree as representative of Israel in those days; the owner as God the Father, and the vinedresser as Jesus. They regard the three years of barrenness as representative of the entire rebellious history of Israel, and the extra year granted as symbolically representative of the forty years which eventually culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman army under Titus. And perhaps even the "three years" may have represented the three years of public ministry by Jesus, which time was rapidly drawing to a close. In any case, it was a hurry-up call by Jesus, using the current event as a means of warning the people.


HEALING THE STOOPED-OVER WOMAN (13:10-21.)


In the midst of (talked of) judgment, there was mercy. A woman, bent over and afflicted for eighteen years. She did not ask for any help. (Perhaps she had lived too long with her affliction to entertain any hope of relief.) Note that according to the words of Jesus Satan was involved. Jesus called her, pronounced her released, laid His hands upon her, and thus healed her.


But it occurred on she Sabbath. So the synagogue ruler became upset. Not daring to confront Jesus directly, he instructed the crowd to come for healing on days other than the sabbath. But Jesus, calling the man and those like him hypocrites, pointed out that even a law-keeper rescues his own animal on a sabbath, so why should He not heal on the sabbath? Then He pointed out that the kingdom, of which He had been speaking, expands as a mustard seed to become a tree "of life," and like leaven covers each detail of life.


Hypocrites again: more frustration for The Son of Man.


And the Cross was looming up! (13:22.)


NOT STATISTICS, BUT YOU (13:22-30.)


Back in Chapter Ten of Luke (which we considered in Lesson Nine of this series) we were told that Jesus had sent forth seventy of his disciples to witness to the kingdom of God. He told them to go "into every city and place, whither He Himself was about to come." (10:1.) Now (in 13:22) we see Jesus Himself going "through cities and villages." It would seem that His work in Galilee is now coming to an end, and He will give them one final word, before "journeying on unto Jerusalem."


This is so casually mentioned by Luke. But all these places were being given their last chance to turn in repentance to Jesus. How many will respond? And for how many of us is coming our last opportunity to change our lives in true dedication and service to Him? Our time is always "today" and not "tomorrow."


Like the Galileans slain by Pilate, and the victims of the fallen tower of Siloam, the hearers of Jesus were told by Him to repent lest they all perish. Now came the inevitable question, how many will thus perish and how many will be saved?


For answer Jesus replied, in essence: "Never mind about the crowds around you, but you (and each of you," turning to the crowd), "go on striving, 'agonizing,' to enter in. Be doing it now, while there is time. Soon the door will be shut, and you will be refused admission."


And Jesus drew a verbal picture of a banquet inside an house, with the master shutting the door on latecomers. As they peer in the windows, and see the guests enjoying the festivities, the latecomers will be outside crying and grinding their teeth in anguish. So, says Jesus, you have the chance first to enter (if you strive for it); otherwise you will see many from all over the world being admitted, and you who could be first will be both last and refused admission.


TIME AND DESTINY (13:31-35)


Some Pharisees tried to scare Jesus by telling of Herod's murderous thoughts toward Him and recommending that He flee. Jesus knew that the scheme had been concocted by Herod, and He sent wordback: "you will meet Me in Jerusalem certain days hence. This kingdom is being proclaimed to the Jews, and Jerusalem is the capital city. That is where the issue is to be decided. 'It cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.'"


Thus Jesus was predicting His own coming death; but that He would be in control, determining the time and place of His sacrifice.


And then we see the mournful words and thoughts of Jesus, as He contemplated the rejection of Himself by the city and the people. He wanted to receive them, to nourish them, and to protect them, even as a mother-chicken would gather the little chicks beneath her, but they were refusing. "And because you are rejecting Me, I am leaving you to your fate."


He will repeat these thoughts as He enters Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. (Luke 19:41-44.) Oh, the warnings involved in the call to repentance! "Now is the day of salvation."


BANQUETS VARIOUS (14:1-24.)


Again Jesus went to a local synagogue on the sabbath. And when one of the synagogue rulers, a Pharisee, invited Him to dinner, He accepted. Upon entering the house, He met a man suffering from "dropsy."


(Dropsy is apparently a word not much used in modern health books. It would seem to be edema, in which excess fluid gathers in various body parts, and may have several causes: cirrhosis of the liver, kidney problems, heart problems, etc.)


Why was the sick man there? Was this a "put-up job" by the Pharisees? Was he "planted there"? The fact that it says "they were watching Him" would seem to suggest such.


Here was a real trap. Is Jesus on the horns of a dilemma? Shall he pass the man by, thus keeping the sabbath, but at the same time not showing mercy; or shall He heal the man and thus break the sabbath? Some crises, planted by an enemy, require divine wisdom. Jesus Himself had once taught that although we are to be as "harmless as doves," at the same time we need be "wise as serpents."


Notice the tactic of Jesus. He asked them a question, according to their training, their profession, their responsibility. Is it lawful? He asked. They were Pharisees, they were "experts" in the Law. And when they did not (or would not) answer, He healed the man then challenged them on their treatment of an animal.


Remember: when you are tempted (tested), be the one to ask the questions. The one asking, and not the one answering, is the one who controls the situation.


Next, Jesus observed the pride of many, who chose for themselves the most prominent, the "chief" places. In an ad hominem observation, He spoke of the folly of such choices. Another may be "greater" than you. God hates human pride. He will see to it that the one "exalting himself will be humbled."


Then Jesus challenged His host, by suggesting that in the future he invite, not friends nor rich, but the poor and the handicapped, to be his guests.

This latter choice will merit divine blessing, especially in the life to come.

Now these mundane and very practical criticisms were getting to be just too much! So one of the guests tried to change the conversation to a more "spiritual" level. He remarked, "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God." This is a more lofty subject to be considered, and surely Jesus will agree.


This called forth another story by Jesus: another parable. A great banquet; a great hall; a great invitation; a great guest-list. But the refusals! A newly purchased property to be inspected. (Why the rush to see it today?) Ten oxen, already bought, to be tested. (Can't the testing wait another day?) A newlywed. (Why could he not bring his bride with him?) So in anger the host sent his servant, first to the streets of the city, then to the highways of the countryside, to fill the banquet-hall with guests. And the offer to the original guests was forever revoked.


Again the challenge: repent now. Respond today. You are to be at all times striving to enter.


SINGLEMINDEDNESS (14:25-35.)


But it is not enough to "strive." There must be such devotion and dedication to Jesus that all other relationships, which may involve parents, wife, children, and even oneself, are to be abandoned when Jesus calls. Love for them, as compared with devotion to Jesus, is to be seen as hate. You may think you are following Jesus (vs. 25), but without singleminded devotion to Jesus you will be ineligible and unable to learn from Him. (vss. 26, 27.)


How committed are you to Jesus? How ready are you to be His disciple? How much can we, you and I, review and apply to ourselves, and seek to follow His standards?


Does the blood of the Galilaeans challenge us to repentance? Are we on the lookout for people needing help which we can provide? Are we at all times "striving" to enter while the invitation is still open? Or are we "putting off" such commitment of ourselves?


And how do we conduct ourselves in the company of those whom we regard as not being "one of us"? Are we wise in the presence of those who would ensnare us? Are we choosing to entertain those too poor and needy to reciprocate our invitations? And when Jesus invites us, are we ready to accept, to respond to Him and to His invitation?


Yes, the cost of discipleship with Jesus is expensive, it is dear. How ready and willing are we to enroll in His course of study?


QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW, STUDY, AND DISCUSSION


1. Review of preceding text: As you were reading the previous lesson assignment, in what way(s) did it challenge you?


The following questions are based on Luke 15:1-16:18:

2. Jesus told three parables: the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son. Notice some details: (a) What was the attitude of "publicans and sinners"? (b) What was the attitude of the Pharisees and scribes? (c) Sheep; coin; son: what do you see about three categories among items "lost"?


3. Is one sheep worth more than 99 sheep? If so, explain. If not, explain the rejoicing, not only by the shepherd, but in heaven as well.


4. In the case of the lost coin, each coin, a drachma, was equivalent to a day's pay for a laborer. Jesus compared it to the repentance of one sinner. Would you sacrifice the equivalent of a day's pay if it might mean the conversion of one person to faith in Jesus?


5. When the prodigal, hungry and without food, remembered the ample pay of his father's servants, and resolved to return, do you think it was a genuine conversion? Why, or why not? Discuss.


6. Which was the better son: the prodigal who returned (for whatever reason), or the elder son who never left home? Why?


7. Why do you think (1) the supposed "wisdom" of the unrighteous steward merited the commendation of the rich man? (16:8): (2) why this parable was directed to the disciples (16:1)?


8. Try to memorize 16:13.







--- Norman L. MacLeod Jr.

INDEX