Author: Bill Hall

As he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath,

Luke 10:13

We often forget that although Jesus did indeed teach the Jews the true meaning of the Sabbath, Jesus did not break with all of the Jewish practices. He didn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. He taught, in the synagogue, on the Sabbath. He didn’t have a problem with cooperating with the general practices of the Jewish people. Where he drew the line was with their misinterpretation, and misunderstanding, of the Scriptures. He resisted the man-made traditions that contradicted the literal interpretation of God’s Word.

Heavenly Father, thank You for this day. Help us always to be true to Your Word, it is wonderful! Thank You for Your Word, and its impact upon our lives. Thank You for the fact that we may know Christ, and by Him, eternal life. Thank You for Your holiness, Your love, and Your faithfulness to us. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Perhaps it will produce fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.

Luke 13:9

There it is, one of the mysteries of the wisdom of God. People ‘might’ do, and ‘perhaps’ will do all sorts of things. But God knows exactly what we will do.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your wisdom! It is a constant blessing to us. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

But he replied to him, ‘Sir, leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.’

Luke 13:8

We could use some spiritual fertilizer in our day. So often we are weak and unable to bear the fruit that should be expected. We tend to see people working to tear each other down, rather than to dig about and fertilize. Encouragement within the body of Christ can bring back a tree, a person, from near death.

Heavenly father, thank you for your pity upon us! You are just, and holy, and pure. But you work with compassion upon your people. You have worked in our hearts by the power of the sacrifice of your Son. We will never cease to wonder at your amazing plan for our Redemption! Thank you! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it even waste the soil? ‘ (Lk. 13:7 CSB)

Luke 13:7

The fig tree took up room in a space otherwise meant for grapes. Figs are sometimes grown with grapes because the birds will eat the figs before they eat the grapes. But, if this tree had no fruit, it was just using up needed ground.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your interactions with us. You are glorious, marvelous, wondrous, and holy. As we face the darkness of this present world, we know Your light is powerful beyond all that we might imagine. You use Your people to show a lost world the tenderness of Your care. Thank You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

And He told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none.’

Luke 13:6

Jesus here gives this parable about the nation of Israel. Jesus came looking for fruit. Though there were many in Israel who listened to Christ, there were many, many more who would not.

Leviticus 19:23-25 is the law concerning fruit trees. The fig tree would not bear fruit for the first three years. The fruit of the fourth year would belong to the Lord, and the fruit of the fifth year would belong to the owner. The owner in the parable was ignorant of the details, and Jewish law. The owner came on the fourth year, having checked ‘for three years’ already. The next year would legally be the first year that the owner could expect fruit.

The vineyard worker, understanding these things, buys some time because he knows it could take five years to get a good crop. Possibly Jewish vineyard keepers had learned to intentionally let the tree grow weak so that an appreciable crop wouldn’t come until the fifth year, when the fruit would legally belong to the owner.

This is meant to parallel the nation of Israel. Being spiritually weak, they had not produced during the fourth year, when the Lord would expect fruit. And, being dishonest, they had taken advantage of their Gentile overlords. Upon seeing no fruit the fifth year, the Romans put an end to the fig tree in AD 70.

Heavenly Father, thank You for using humans in spite of ourselves. You brought the world Your truth by the Jews, and you are using the Gentiles to reach the world with the gospel. Your ways are best. We will look to You for wisdom. Our ways and thoughts are so limited! You lead us in the right way for our lives. Thank You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well.

Luke 13:5

Though mercy is offered, God is not mocked. Judgement is not postponed forever. And God doesn’t play favorites.

Heavenly Father, You are glorious, powerful, just, and righteous! Your judgement is perfect. We cannot fault You. All that You have determined You will do. Thank You for Your faithfulness! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Or those eighteen that the tower in Siloam fell on and killed—do you think they were more sinful than all the other people who live in Jerusalem?

Luke 13:4

Jesus brings up yet another example of instant death. Why does He emphasize His point in this way? In hopes that His hearers would take the situation seriously.

He knew the nation of Israel would reject Him. So why try to warn them? Why hope that they might listen if He knew they wouldn’t? Because it is consistent with His character. He offers mercy, regardless of the response.

Heavenly Father, thank You for mercy, grace, and truth in the Person of Christ. Your character is abundantly clear. And, Your judgement is just. Thank You for giving us Your Word! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well!

Luke 13:3

This isn’t one of the things we like to hear from Jesus. But Jesus tells the truth. The message He is giving them here is a national one. The Jewish nation was preparing to reject their Messiah.

The awful events of the near future were as yet unknown to everyone but the Lord Jesus. As a result, His words were meant as a merciful warning.

Heavenly Father, I have learned to be so thankful for Christ’s honesty. Life would be so much worse without the truth. I don’t have life to waste. You are so merciful to even make Yourself known to us. Your way, over and over, proves Your glory, holiness, power, and love. I want to do what I do out of love for You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

And He responded to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all Galileans because they suffered these things?

Luke 13:2

The questions Jesus asked present to us a fascinating study. The question He asks here is quite a revealing one. This may have been a subject that He and His disciples discussed on other occasions. The Jewish elites seemed to be very interested in establishing who was guilty of sin, so as to make themselves look better.

Heavenly Father, thank You for making our lives so much more than what they would otherwise be. We are often content with beggarly things in our minds and hearts while wanting riches in our hands. But you are the One Who has the riches for the inner man. We will look to You for all that we need. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

At that time, some people came and reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

Luke 13:1

Though I do not know of this particular event being recorded elsewhere, it is entirely consistent with the tenor of Pilate’s ‘relationship’ with the Jews, and Herod.

Of course, those who reported this probably wanted Jesus to respond with force. Though we often fail to see it, Jesus was surely asked to use violence against the Romans on more than one occasion. His peaceful message frustrated some, confused others, and helped many more.

Heavenly Father, Your ways don’t always make sense to us. But we always end up seeing that Your ways are for the best. We don’t always understand what You are doing at the moment. But we stand in awe of Your plan and purpose for the ages. You are truly glorious! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.