Luke Reading (#37)

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

Read Luke 13:18-35

[13:18] He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? [19] It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” [20] And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? [21] It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”
[22] He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. [23] And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, [24] “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. [25] When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ [26] Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ [27] But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ [28] In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. [29] And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. [30] And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
[31] At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” [32] And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. [33] Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ [34] O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! [35] Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Observation

• Look at the two parables that Jesus tells in v. 10-21:
  • What reality is Jesus describing in these two parables (v. 18 and 20)?
  • What happens to the grain of mustard seed (v. 19)? What is the end result?
  • What happened to the leaven (v. 21)?
• Where did Jesus go next (v. 22)? What was he doing?
  • What question was he asked (v. 23)? Does Jesus answer it directly?
  • What does he tell them to do (v. 24)?
    • How many people will want to enter?
    • How many will be able to?
  • Look at the next analogy in v. 25-30:
    • What is Jesus illustrating (v. 28 and 29)?
    • What do those outside ask for (v. 25)?
      • What is the answer from the master (v. 25)?
      • How do they try to convince him (v. 26)?
      • How will he respond (v. 27)? What does he call them?
    • What happens outside (v. 28)?
      • Who will they see inside (v. 28)?
      • Who else will be there (v. 29)?
  • With what statement does Jesus conclude the section (v. 30)?    
• What did the Pharisees tell Jesus (v. 31)?
  • What did Jesus call Herod (v. 32)?
  • What did he want the Pharisees to tell him (v. 32)?
  • What must Jesus do (v. 33)? When? Why?
  • How does Jesus describe Jerusalem (v. 34)?
    • What did Jesus want to do (v. 34)? Were they willing?
    • What does Jesus say about the city in v. 35?
    • When will they see him next?

Interpretation

• What do the grain of mustard seed and leaven have in common? What principle do they illustrate about the kingdom of God?
• When Jesus says, “enter through the narrow gate”, what does he mean?
  • What are we entering?
  • What is meant by the “narrow gate”?
• What does the house represent (v. 25)?
  • Who is the master of the house?
  • What does the story tell us about who enters the kingdom of God and who doesn’t?
  • How does v. 30 illustrate the point of Jesus’ story?
• What does it mean that Jesus will “finish his course” on the third day (v. 32)?
  • Why must prophets perish in Jerusalem (v. 33)?
  • What is Jesus saying about his relationship with the people of the city in verse 34?
  • When is v. 35 fulfilled?

Application

• What does the mustard seed teach us about the way that God works? Is there a way that that truth connects to your life?
• Listening to Jesus’ teaching and spending time with his people is not enough to guarantee admission to the kingdom of God. Many people from “inside” (the Israelites) will miss out. How can you know that you will be received into “the house” on the last day?

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