Gospel of Luke Chapter 13 Summary: Jesus encourages His disciples to be courageous under persecution (12:2-9). He warns against greed (12:13-15) and gives the parable of the rich fool (12:16-21). Jesus will be a cause of division (12:49-53). Disciples must be dependent upon God (12:22-34), vigilant and faithful (12:35-48), recognize the signs of the times (12:54-56), and settle with opponents (12:57-59). Call to Repentance (only in Luke) • Told Him: Jesus is interrupted again; they tell Him about two disasters (murder & accident) • Blood mingled: Jesus again uses the interruption as a teaching moment (urgency to repent) o Key: Jesus uses current events to teach about spiritual truths (Mitch, 47) (homily) o Key: Jesus does not answer why it happened or where they are now, but what to do Parable of the Fig Tree Scripture Meaning Person God/Jesus Fig tree in vineyard Israel (Is. 5:1-7) Three years Length of Jesus’ ministry Fertilizer Grace/mercy of God Cut it down Day of Judgment Cure of Crippled Woman on the Sabbath • Teaching: Heavy emphasis on Jesus’ teaching in the travel narrative (9:51-19:44) • Eighteen: Reminiscent of eighteen people who died; woman has suffered a long time! • Woman/Hands: See twofold action of “Word” and “action” (laying hands) – sacrament • Straight/glorify: Greek is literally “she was made straight;” first face she saw was Christ’s! o Spiritually: Woman represents humanity; original sin (curved in); grace (look up) o Augustine: Lord’s critics are bent over in spirit, unable to see the truth (Thigpen, 161) • Untie ox: Lesser to greater – if untie animals for water, can “unbind” woman from infirmity o Spiritually: Six days - Genesis (new creation); bondage – (new exodus) (Gadenz, 253) o Key: Sabbath’s deepest significance is a day of rest/refreshment; woman is relieved Parables of Mustard Seed & Yeast • Mustard Seed: Extremely small seed measuring 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter • Birds: Ezekiel speaks of winged birds that shelter in shade of branches of cedar (17:23). He then speaks about bringing low the high tree, lifting high the lowly tree (17:24). (Magnificat) o Historically: God’s kingdom begins with a small band of disciples to entire world o Individually: Faith often begins small and grows gradually (times of great growth) • Yeast: Hidden at first, but in time has an all-pervading effect and manifested (Gadenz, 256) • St. Cyril: Word of God comes into our hearts, it spreads throughout the soul (Thigpen, 162) 1 Narrow Door – Salvation and Rejection • Towns and villages: Luke reminds readers that Jesus is traveling to Jerusalem • Few people: Question is about numbers or percentages entering eternal life (cf 18:26) • Strive: (Gk agōnizomai) Athletic competition (1 Cor. 9:25), training intensely (1 Tim. 4:10) Luke 7:24 Matthew 7:13 Strive to enter through the narrow door, Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter and the road broad that leads to destruction, and but will not be strong enough. those who enter through it are many. Many try to enter narrow door (attempt) Go through wide gate, travel broad road (no attempt) Problem: Lack strength (effort, exertion) Problem: Wrong path (blindness, wrong goal) • Note: Person asks about salvation percentages. Jesus’ response: Will you be saved? (focus!) • Locked: Matthew has same concept in parable of foolish virgins (5 foolish) (Mt 25:1-13) • Not know: Not necessarily intellectual, but rather no relationship exists (or communion) • Ate and drank: Jesus has been eating and drinking in their presence (11:37; 13:22) • Depart: Psalm 6 (Penitential Psalm) – “Away from me, all who do evil!” (Ps. 6:9) o Key: Expresses repentance, sorrow, trust; petitions remove evildoers (suffering) • Wailing and grinding: A biblical idiom for mourning, rage, despair (Mt 8:12) (Martin, 387) • Abraham, Isaac, Jacob: Patriarchs of Israel through whom God promised to bless the world • East, West, North, South: All parts of the world; John’s vision in Revelation 7:9 • Banquet: A common metaphor for heaven (Mt 22:1-14; Luke 14:15-24; Rev. 7:9) • Last/First: The reversal of fortunes is a common theme in Luke (1:46; 14:7-14, 14:15-24) o Key: St. Therese’s “little way” of humility, confidence, trust (little to enter door!) Herod’s Desire to Kill Jesus • Herod: Governed Galilee and Perea east of the Jordan; Herod killed John the Baptist (9:9) • Fox: Later Jewish writings characterize fox as a sly, crafty animal (Martin, 390). o Fox (Hb shu’al) sounds like Saul (sha’ul). As Saul tried to kill David, so Herod tries to kill Jesus, the Son of David who inherits David’s throne (Gadenz, 262) Lament of Jerusalem • Many times: God’s will to gather His children (divine willing vs. human unwilling) o St. Therese: Mother Agnes found her weeping. Pointed to hen with its chickens. She wept with gratitude and joy because God sheltered her as hen protected chicks. • House abandoned: Refers to destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD. • Blessed is he: Looks forward to Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem with disciples chanting o Luke 19:38: Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord (Ps. 118:26) • Luke 14: Focuses on parables and events involving meals teaching about God’s Kingdom and the reversal of fortunes from this life to the next (first-last). Disciples must be prepared! 2 .