Jesus uniquely combines immediate judgment warnings ("unless you repent, you will all likewise perish") with extended mercy imagery (the gardener's three-year patience), creating theological tension between urgency and grace.
Luke 13
Repentance and the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
1Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
2Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things?
3I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.
4Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem?
5I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.”
6He spoke this parable. “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.
7He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down! Why does it waste the soil?’
8He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.
9If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.’”
The Healing of a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath
10He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day.
11Behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years. She was bent over and could in no way straighten herself up.
12When Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.”
13He laid his hands on her, and immediately she stood up straight and glorified God.
14The ruler of the synagogue, being indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the multitude, “There are six days in which men ought to work. Therefore come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day!”
15Therefore the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each one of you free his ox or his donkey from the stall on the Sabbath and lead him away to water?
16Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham whom Satan had bound eighteen long years, be freed from this bondage on the Sabbath day?”
17As he said these things, all his adversaries were disappointed; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven
18He said, “What is God’s Kingdom like? To what shall I compare it?
19It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and put in his own garden. It grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the sky live in its branches.”
20Again he said, “To what shall I compare God’s Kingdom?
21It is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”
The Narrow Door
22He went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and traveling on to Jerusalem.
23One said to him, “Lord, are they few who are saved?” He said to them,
24“Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in and will not be able.
25When once the master of the house has risen up and has shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ then he will answer and tell you, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
26Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’
27He will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.’
28There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s Kingdom, and yourselves being thrown outside.
29They will come from the east, west, north, and south, and will sit down in God’s Kingdom.
30Behold, there are some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last.”
The Lament over Jerusalem
31On that same day, some Pharisees came, saying to him, “Get out of here and go away, for Herod wants to kill you.”
32He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I complete my mission.
33Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, for it can’t be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.’
34“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused!
35Behold, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
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Theme
Jesus addresses urgent questions about suffering, salvation, and the kingdom of God through teaching and action. He challenges assumptions about divine judgment, demonstrates God's compassion by healing on the Sabbath, and uses parables to illustrate both the kingdom's transformative power and the narrow path to salvation. The chapter culminates with Jesus' prophetic lament over Jerusalem's rejection, revealing his deep sorrow over Israel's resistance to his mission.
Context
This chapter continues Jesus' journey toward Jerusalem (begun in 9:51), intensifying themes of judgment and salvation as he approaches his final confrontation with religious authorities.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-9 Call to Repentance and the Barren Fig Tree Jesus uses recent tragedies to warn that all must repent, illustrated by a parable of divine patience with an unfruitful tree
- 10-17 Healing the Crippled Woman on the Sabbath Jesus heals a woman bound by infirmity for eighteen years, defending the act against religious leaders who prioritize Sabbath rules over human compassion
- 18-21 Parables of the Mustard Seed and Leaven Two brief parables illustrate how God's kingdom grows from small beginnings to transform everything it touches
- 22-30 The Narrow Door to Salvation Jesus warns that entrance to God's kingdom requires urgent effort, as many who assume they belong will find themselves excluded
- 31-35 Lament over Jerusalem Despite warnings about Herod, Jesus expresses profound grief over Jerusalem's rejection of God's messengers throughout history
Repentance and the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
13:1–13:9 gospel parable-telling warning
Jesus responds to news of tragic deaths by calling all to repentance, warning that suffering doesn't indicate greater sinfulness. He tells the parable of the barren fig tree to illustrate God's patience but ultimate expectation of fruitfulness.
person_contrast
Jesus uniquely combines immediate judgment warnings ("unless you repent, you will all likewise perish") with extended mercy imagery (the gardener's three-year patience), creating theological tension between urgency and grace.
The Healing of a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath
13:10–13:17 gospel narration triumphant
Jesus heals a woman crippled for eighteen years on the Sabbath, defending his action against religious leaders' criticism. He argues that showing mercy on the Sabbath is more important than rigid rule-keeping.
person_contrast
Jesus's defense uses the Hebrew legal principle of *qal wahomer* (light to heavy), arguing that if animals receive Sabbath care, how much more should this "daughter of Abraham" receive healing.
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven
13:18–13:21 gospel parable-telling hopeful
Jesus teaches two brief parables comparing God's kingdom to a mustard seed and leaven, emphasizing how small beginnings can produce great growth and transformation.
person_contrast
Jesus shifts from his typical authoritative pronouncements to intimate domestic imagery—gardens and kitchens—making the kingdom's transformative power accessible through everyday experiences rather than religious discourse.
The Narrow Door
13:22–13:30 gospel instruction warning
Jesus teaches about the narrow door to salvation, warning that many who expect to enter God's kingdom will be excluded while others from all nations will be welcomed.
person_contrast
Jesus reverses traditional Jewish expectations by placing Gentiles "from east and west and north and south" at Abraham's table while excluding those who assumed their ethnic heritage guaranteed salvation.
The Lament over Jerusalem
13:31–13:35 gospel speech mournful
Jesus responds to warnings about Herod's threats and laments over Jerusalem's rejection of the prophets, prophesying the city's desolation.
person_contrast
Jesus uniquely combines maternal imagery ("as a hen gathers her brood") with prophetic judgment language, creating the Bible's most tender expression of divine lament over national rejection.
Insights
Jesus's defense uses the Hebrew legal principle of *qal wahomer* (light to heavy), arguing that if animals receive Sabbath care, how much more should this "daughter of Abraham" receive healing.
Jesus shifts from his typical authoritative pronouncements to intimate domestic imagery—gardens and kitchens—making the kingdom's transformative power accessible through everyday experiences rather than religious discourse.
Jesus reverses traditional Jewish expectations by placing Gentiles "from east and west and north and south" at Abraham's table while excluding those who assumed their ethnic heritage guaranteed salvation.
Jesus uniquely combines maternal imagery ("as a hen gathers her brood") with prophetic judgment language, creating the Bible's most tender expression of divine lament over national rejection.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Luke 13:3 2 references
Luke 13:4 3 references
Lexicals 3
Revelation 2:13 Lexical
“I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. You hold firmly to my name, and didn’t deny my faith in…
Acts 1:19 Lexical
It became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem that in their language that field was called ‘Akeldama,’ that is, ‘Th…
Revelation 11:13 Lexical
In that day there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthqu…
Luke 13:5 1 reference
Luke 13:6 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 20:9 Lexical
He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and rented it out to some farmers, and went into ano…
Matthew 21:33 Lexical
“Hear another parable. There was a man who was a master of a household who planted a vineyard, set a hedge about it, dug…
Mark 12:1 Lexical
He began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the wine press, b…
Matthew 21:19 Lexical
Seeing a fig tree by the road, he came to it and found nothing on it but leaves. He said to it, “Let there be no fruit f…
1 Corinthians 9:7 Lexical
What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn’t eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock,…
Luke 13:7 3 references
Lexicals 3
Matthew 21:19 Lexical
Seeing a fig tree by the road, he came to it and found nothing on it but leaves. He said to it, “Let there be no fruit f…
Luke 4:25 Lexical
But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years and s…
James 5:7 Lexical
Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ear…
Luke 13:8 3 references
Lexicals 3
Matthew 5:25 Lexical
Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judg…
Acts 24:10 Lexical
When the governor had beckoned to him to speak, Paul answered, “Because I know that you have been a judge of this nation…
John 9:18 Lexical
The Jews therefore didn’t believe concerning him, that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called t…
Luke 13:10 3 references
Lexicals 3
Luke 6:6 Lexical
It also happened on another Sabbath that he entered into the synagogue and taught. There was a man there, and his right…
Mark 6:2 Lexical
When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, “Where did…
Mark 1:21 Lexical
They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.
Luke 13:11 2 references
Luke 13:14 2 references
Luke 13:15 3 references
Lexicals 3
Luke 14:5 Lexical
He answered them, “Which of you, if your son or an ox fell into a well, wouldn’t immediately pull him out on a Sabbath d…
Matthew 25:37 Lexical
“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a d…
Matthew 21:2 Lexical
saying to them, “Go into the village that is opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with…
Luke 13:16 5 references
Lexicals 5
Revelation 20:7 Lexical
And after the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison
Revelation 20:2 Lexical
He seized the dragon, the old serpent, who is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him…
Revelation 20:3 Lexical
and cast him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more until the th…
Luke 2:36 Lexical
There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived w…
Revelation 2:10 Lexical
Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison…
Luke 13:18 2 references
Luke 13:19 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 13:32 Lexical
which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that t…
Matthew 13:31 Lexical
He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took, and…
Mark 4:32 Lexical
yet when it is sown, grows up and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of…
Matthew 21:8 Lexical
A very great multitude spread their clothes on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
Luke 17:6 Lexical
The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted and be pl…
Luke 13:21 3 references
Lexicals 3
Matthew 13:33 Lexical
He spoke another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures of m…
Galatians 5:9 Lexical
A little yeast grows through the whole lump.
1 Corinthians 5:6 Lexical
Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?
Luke 13:22 2 references
Luke 13:24 1 reference
Luke 13:25 5 references
Lexicals 5
Revelation 3:20 Lexical
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him and will…
John 18:16 Lexical
but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke…
Acts 5:23 Lexical
“We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one…
Revelation 3:8 Lexical
“I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, an…
John 9:30 Lexical
The man answered them, “How amazing! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.
Luke 13:28 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 8:12 Lexical
but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.…
Matthew 22:13 Lexical
Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That…
Matthew 25:30 Lexical
Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matthew 13:42 Lexical
and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 24:51 Lexical
and will cut him in pieces and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth…
Luke 13:29 3 references
Lexicals 3
Matthew 8:11 Lexical
I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingd…
Revelation 21:13 Lexical
On the east were three gates, and on the north three gates, and on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.
Matthew 24:27 Lexical
For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Luke 13:31 1 reference
Luke 13:34 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 23:37 Lexical
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your…
Matthew 23:34 Lexical
Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of th…
Luke 11:49 Lexical
Therefore also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles; and some of them they will kill and p…
Luke 23:28 Lexical
But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your child…
Matthew 14:5 Lexical
When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
Luke 13:35 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 23:39 Lexical
For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
Matthew 23:38 Lexical
Behold, your house is left to you desolate.
Luke 8:41 Lexical
Behold, a man named Jairus came. He was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come int…
Luke 12:39 Lexical
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched and no…
Matthew 11:8 Lexical
But what did you go out to see? A man in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
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Lemma
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Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
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