Luke Reading (#36)

Take a few minutes to catch up and pray that God would bless you through the reading of His word.

Read Luke 13:1-17

[13:1] There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. [2] And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? [3] No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. [4] Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? [5] No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
[6] And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. [7] And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ [8] And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. [9] Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
[10] Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. [11] And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. [12] When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” [13] And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. [14] But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” [15] Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? [16] And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” [17] As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

Observation

• What event did people tell Jesus about (v. 1)?
  • What questions did Jesus ask as a result (v. 2 and 4)?
  • What answer did he give (v. 3 and 5)?
• Look at the parable that Jesus told in v. 6-9:
  • What did the man find when he went to look at his fig tree (v. 6)?
  • For how long had he been waiting for fruit (v. 7)?
    • What did he want to do with it?
    • Why?
  • What did the man who took care of the vineyard say (v. 8-9)?
• Where was Jesus teaching (v. 10)? When?
  • What was wrong with the woman there (v. 10)?
  • How long had she been that way (v. 10)?
  • What was the cause of her ailment (v. 10)?
  • What did Jesus say and do (v. 12-13)?
  • How did the woman respond (v. 13)?
  • Why was the synagogue leader indignant (v. 14)?
  • What did Jesus point out in order to demonstrate his hypocrisy (v. 15)?
    • What reason did he give for healing the woman (v. 16)?
    • What was the result (v. 17)?

Interpretation

• How does the parable in v. 6-9 illustrate the principle in v. 3 and 5?
  • In that parable, the tree has a year to bear fruit before it is cut down. Are we similarly facing a day where we will be evaluated for our fruit?
  • What does Jesus mean when he tells us to repent?
  • What does it mean to perish?
• As a follower of Jesus, how should we hear the call to repent in light of coming judgment?
  • Do we need to fear that judgment?
  • Is it important to “bear fruit” like the fig tree in the parable? What does that look like?
  • What does the absence of fruit in our lives indicate?
• What did the synagogue leader value most (v. 14)? Did God’s law forbid healing on the Sabbath?
  • What did Jesus value most (v. 16)?
  • Why do you think the synagogue leader can’t see that what Jesus is doing and loving is far better?
  • Compare the heart attitudes of Jesus, the woman, and the synagogue leader. Which of them were actually fulfilling the purpose of the Sabbath?

Application

• Do you see spiritual fruit in your life? Are there places where you need to heed Jesus’ call to repent?
• How are you tempted to place man-made religious rules above love for others?

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