Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Luke
Book: Luke
Chapter: 13
Overview:
Christ exhorts to
Repentance from the case of the Galilaeans
and others.
(1-5) Parable of the
Barren Fig-tree.
(6-9) The
infirm
Woman strengthened.
(10-17) The parables of the
Mustard
seed, and
Leaven.
(18-22) Exhortation to enter at the strait
Gate.
(23-30) Christ's reproof to Herod, and to the people of
Jerusalem.
(31-35)
1-5 Mention was made to
Christ of the
Death of some Galilaeans.
This tragical story is briefly related here, and is not met with
in any historians. In
Christ's reply he spoke of another event,
which, like it, gave an instance of people taken away
By sudden
Death.
Towers, that are built for safety, often prove to be
men's
Destruction. He cautioned his hearers not to blame great
sufferers, as if they were therefore to be accounted great
sinners. As
No place or employment can secure from the stroke of
Death, we should consider the sudden removals of others as
warnings to ourselves.
On these accounts
Christ founded a
Call
to
Repentance. The same
Jesus that bids us repent, for the
kingdom of
Heaven is at
Hand, bids us repent, for otherwise we
shall perish.
6-9 This
Parable of the
Barren Fig-tree is intended to enforce
the warning given just before: the
Barren tree, except it brings
forth
Fruit, will be cut down. This
Parable in the first place
refers to the nation and people of the Jews. Yet it is, without
doubt, for awakening all that enjoy the
Means of Grace, and the
privileges of the visible
Church. When
God has borne long, we
may
Hope that he will
Bear with us yet a little longer, but we
cannot expect that he will
Bear always.
10-17 Our
Lord Jesus attended upon public
Worship On the
sabbaths. Even bodily infirmities, unless very grievous, should
not keep us from public
Worship On Sabbath days. This
Woman came
to
Christ to be taught, and to get good to her soul, and then he
relieved her bodily infirmity. This cure represents the work of
Christ's
Grace upon the soul. And when crooked souls are made
straight, they will show it
By glorifying
God.
Christ knew that
this ruler had a real
Enmity to him and to his
Gospel, and that
he did but
Cloak it with a pretended zeal for the
Sabbath Day;
he really would not have them be healed any
Day; but if
Jesus
speaks the
Word, and puts forth his healing power, sinners are
set free. This deliverance is often wrought
On the
Lord's Day;
and whatever labour tends to
Put men in the way of receiving the
blessing, agrees with the design of that
Day.
18-22 Here is the progress of the
Gospel foretold in two
parables, as in Mt 13. The kingdom of the
Messiah is the
Kingdom of God. May
Grace grow in our hearts; may our
Faith and
Love grow exceedingly,
So as to give undoubted evidence of their
reality. May the
Example of
God's saints be blessed to those
among whom they live; and may his
Grace flow from
Heart to
Heart, until the little one becomes a thousand.
23-30 Our
Saviour came to guide men's consciences, not to
gratify their curiosity. Ask not, How many shall be saved? But,
Shall I be one of them? Not, What shall become of such and such?
But, What shall I do, and what will become of me? Strive to
enter in at the strait
Gate. This is directed to each of us; it
is, Strive ye. All that will be saved, must enter in at the
strait
Gate, must undergo a change of the whole
Man. Those that
would enter in, must strive to enter. Here are awakening
considerations, to enforce this exhortation. Oh that we may be
all awakened
By them! They answer the question, Are there few
that shall be saved? But let none despond either as to
themselves or others, for there are last who shall be first, and
first who shall be last. If we reach
Heaven, we shall meet many
there whom we little thought to meet, and miss many whom we
expected to find.
31-35 Christ, in
Calling Herod a
Fox, gave him his true
character. The greatest of men were accountable to
God,
therefore it became him to
Call this proud
King By his own name;
but it is not an
Example for us. I know, said our
Lord, that I
must die very shortly; when I die, I shall be perfected, I shall
have completed my undertaking. It is good for us to look upon
the time we have before us as but little, that we may thereby be
quickened to do the work of the
Day in its
Day. The wickedness
of persons and places which more than others profess religion
and relation to
God, especially displeases and grieves the
Lord
Jesus. The
Judgment of the great
Day will convince unbelievers;
but let us learn thankfully to welcome, and to profit
By all who
come in the name of the
Lord, to
Call us to partake of his great
Salvation.