Matthew Henry Commentary Luke 13
Matthew Henry Commentary
Luke 13
Matthew Henry Commentary
Luke 13
"Now there were some present at that very season who told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered and said unto them, Think ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they have suffered these things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, think ye that they were offenders above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." — Luke 13:1-5 (ASV)
Christ was informed about the death of some Galileans. This tragic story is briefly recounted here and is not mentioned by historians. In Christ's reply, He spoke of another event that, similarly, provided an instance of people taken away by sudden death.
Towers, built for safety, often prove to be people's destruction. He cautioned His hearers not to blame those who suffer greatly, as if they were therefore to be considered great sinners.
Since no place or employment can protect us from the stroke of death, we should consider the sudden deaths of others as warnings to ourselves. For these reasons, Christ established His call to repentance. The same Jesus who urges us to repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, urges us to repent, for otherwise we shall perish.
"And he spake this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found none. And he said unto the vinedresser, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why doth it also cumber the ground? And he answering saith unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: and if it bear fruit thenceforth, [well]; but if not, thou shalt cut it down." — Luke 13:6-9 (ASV)
This parable of the barren fig tree is intended to enforce the warning given just before: the barren tree, unless it brings forth fruit, will be cut down. This parable in the first place refers to the nation and people of the Jews. Yet it is, without doubt, for awakening all who enjoy the means of grace, and the privileges of the visible church. When God has long endured, we may hope that He will bear with us yet a little longer, but we cannot expect that He will bear always.
"And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath day. And behold, a woman that had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years; and she was bowed together, and could in no wise lift herself up. And when Jesus saw her, he called her, and said to her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands upon her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. And the ruler of the synagogue, being moved with indignation because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, answered and said to the multitude, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the day of the sabbath. But the Lord answered him, and said, Ye hypocrites, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound, lo, [these] eighteen years, to have been loosed from this bond on the day of the sabbath? And as he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame: and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him." — Luke 13:10-17 (ASV)
Our Lord Jesus attended public worship on the Sabbaths. Even bodily infirmities, unless very grievous, should not keep us from public worship on Sabbath days. This woman came to Christ to be taught, and to receive good for her soul, and then He relieved her bodily infirmity. This cure represents the work of Christ's grace upon the soul. And when crooked souls are made straight, they will show it by glorifying God.
Christ knew that this ruler had a real enmity toward Him and His gospel. The ruler only cloaked this enmity with a pretended zeal for the Sabbath day; indeed, he really did not want them to be healed on any day. But if Jesus speaks the word, and puts forth His healing power, sinners are set free. This deliverance is often accomplished on the Lord's Day; and whatever labour tends to enable people to receive the blessing, agrees with the design of that day.
"He said therefore, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I liken it? It is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his own garden; and it grew, and became a tree; and the birds of the heaven lodged in the branches thereof. And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened. And he went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and journeying on unto Jerusalem." — Luke 13:18-22 (ASV)
Here is the progress of the gospel foretold in two parables, as in Matthew 13. The kingdom of the Messiah is the kingdom of God. May grace grow in our hearts; may our faith and love grow exceedingly, so as to give undoubted evidence of their reality. May the example of God's saints be blessed to those among whom they live; and may his grace flow from heart to heart, until the little one becomes a thousand.
"And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that are saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 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, open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not whence ye are; then shall ye begin to say, We did eat and drink in thy presence, and thou didst teach in our streets; and he shall say, I tell you, I know not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and yourselves cast forth without. And they shall come from the east and west, and from the north and south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And behold, there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last." — Luke 13:23-30 (ASV)
Our Saviour came to guide people's consciences, not to gratify their curiosity. Do not ask, "How many will be saved?" but rather, "Will I be one of them?" Do not ask, "What will become of such and such?" but rather, "What should I do, and what will become of me?"
Strive to enter in at the strait gate. This is directed to each of us; it is: "Strive!"
All who will be saved must enter in at the strait gate and must undergo a change of the whole person. Those who desire to enter must strive to do so.
Here are awakening considerations to reinforce this exhortation. Oh, may we all be awakened by them! These considerations address the question, "Are there few who will be saved?"
But let no one despond, either for themselves or for others, because there are last who shall be first, and first who shall be last. If we reach heaven, we will meet many there whom we little expected to meet, and miss many whom we expected to find.
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