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Luke 13

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, 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 hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?

It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will 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, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

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.

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.

And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.

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.

Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

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!

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.

What does Luke 13:26 mean?

Explanation

Luke 13:26 captures a scene of eschatological (end-times) judgment where individuals are making a plea for inclusion in the Kingdom of God based on their association with Jesus. They claim to have eaten and drunk in Jesus' presence and listened to his teaching.

This verse suggests a group of people who assumed that mere familiarity with Jesus or superficial participation in religious activities guaranteed them a place in God's kingdom. Jesus' response, which continues in the following verses, indicates that such assumptions are misguided.

The verse challenges notions of entitlement and emphasizes the need for a genuine and transformative relationship with Jesus Christ, rather than a mere outward appearance of religiosity.

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Historical Context

Luke 13:26 is part of a series of teachings by Jesus that address the importance of repentance and the urgency of responding to the offer of God's kingdom.

The historical context of first-century Judaism comes with expectations of the Messiah and a lack of understanding among many regarding the nature of his mission.

Jesus' teachings often confronted the religious leaders and the people with parables and direct challenges to their beliefs, particularly about what it meant to be part of God's kingdom.

The context suggests a warning to those who rely on their Jewish heritage or their external association with Jesus for salvation, without the necessary change of heart.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse raises questions about the nature of salvation and the criteria for entry into the Kingdom of God. Different interpretations offer insights:

Evangelical Perspective: Stresses the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the acceptance of his atoning sacrifice, not merely religious rituals or associations.
Catholic Perspective: Emphasizes the role of faith and works, alongside grace, in salvation, including participation in the sacraments and the life of the Church.
Reformed Perspective: Focuses on the sovereignty of God in election and the trust in God's grace alone for salvation, as opposed to self-righteousness or works.

Despite the differing views, there is agreement that genuine faith must be demonstrated by the transformation of one's life and not just outward signs of religiosity or association with Jesus.

Practical Applications

Practically, this verse serves as a caution against complacency in one's spiritual life and challenges believers to examine the authenticity of their faith.

Some practical applications include:

Self-Examination: Regularly assessing one's spiritual condition, motivations, and actions to ensure alignment with genuine discipleship.
Community Engagement: Engaging with the faith community not just as a social club but as a place for growth, accountability, and service.
Genuine Relationships: Fostering a real and personal relationship with Jesus through prayer, study of the Scriptures, and obedience to his teachings.

Cross-References

Matthew 7:21-23: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven..."
Matthew 25:11-12: "Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us."
Luke 6:46: "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

These verses underline the same concept that mere verbal profession or association does not guarantee entrance into the kingdom of God.

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek language of this verse include:

ἐφάγομεν (ephagomen): "we have eaten" – Aorist tense indicating a past action, a claim of previous communion.
ἐπίομεν (epiomen): "we have drunk" – Similar to eating, this implies partaking in fellowship.
ἐνώπιόν (enopion): "in your presence" – Literally, "in your face," implying direct interaction.
διδάξας (didaxas): "you taught" – Refers to Jesus' role as a teacher.

Analyzing the original language clarifies that the statement is a past-tense claim of intimacy and relational encounters with Jesus.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This verse can be compared with cultural and religious practices where participation in certain rites or being part of a religious community is viewed as a guarantee of divine favor.

Ancient societies often believed that performing the correct rituals or sacrifices secured a place with the gods.

This parallels the misconceptions addressed by Jesus regarding the Kingdom of God, which is not about external adherence to religious practices but about a transformed heart and life.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse itself does not directly intersect with scientific understandings, as it deals with theological concepts of salvation and relationship with the divine.

However, one could explore the psychology of religious identity and the cognitive biases that might lead people to assume that formal association with a religion or leader guarantees their standing before God.

Commentaries

Commentaries offer insight into the interpretation of Luke 13:26:

Matthew Henry's Commentary: Views this passage as a warning against resting on external privileges or performances without true heart religion.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible: Notes that many who expected to be saved will be excluded because they did not have a genuine relationship with Christ.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges: Suggests that this verse is part of Jesus' warning about the narrowness of the door to life and the need for earnestness in seeking to enter.

These commentaries generally agree that the outward signs of religiosity are not sufficient for salvation; a true, inward change is necessary.

Luke 13

Luke 13

What does Luke 13:26 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 13:26 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?