In The Word
Read: Luke 13:1-17
Call to Repent
13 Now on that very occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus responded and said to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans just because they have suffered this fate? 3 No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or do you think that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse offenders than all the other people who live in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
6 And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. 7 And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Look! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, leave it alone for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer;9 and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”
Healing on the Sabbath
10 Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.11 And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent over double, and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your sickness.” 13 And He laid His hands on her; and immediately she stood up straight again, and began glorifying God. 14 But the synagogue leader, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, “There are six days during which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites, does each of you on the Sabbath not untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it away to water it? 16 And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this restraint on the Sabbath day?” 17 And as He said this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
The people had brought to Jesus’ attention some tragic events in that day where people had perished. Jesus used this as an opportunity to teach on what is really the most horrible death, which is a life that has not repented and made Christ their Lord. He made a very important statement in verse 5, “But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
He then taught a parable about a fig tree. This tree was in the right environment, with other plants around it, in a vineyard. However, this fig tree had been observed for three years and it wasn’t bearing any fruit. So the master ordered it to be cut, but the vine keeper made an appeal to dig around it, apply fertilizer, and give it just one more year to bear fruit.
The Lord is so patient with us, but He does expect us to bear fruit. Matthew 3:8 talks about the fruit of repentance. Without repentance in our lives, there can be no forgiveness of our sins. If we aren’t in right relationship with Him through repentance, then we can’t truly be connected to the source of life, and we will die. When we are saved and are in a church that is teaching the Word and is there to disciple us, then we are in the right environment. It’s up to us to make sure we continue to apply all God has given us that we may grow and be conformed to His image.