CHAPTER 13
. THE LESSON,
"REPENT OR PERISH,"
SUGGESTED BY TWO
RECENT INCIDENTS,
AND ILLUSTRATED BY THE
PARABLE OF THE BARREN
FIG TREE.
1-3. Galileans—possibly the
followers of Judas of Galilee, who, some twenty years before this,
taught that Jews should not pay tribute to the Romans, and of whom we
learn, from Acts 5:37, that he
drew after him a multitude of followers, who on his being slain were
all dispersed. About this time that party would be at its height, and
if Pilate caused this detachment of them to be waylaid and put to
death as they were offering their sacrifices at one of the festivals,
that would be "mingling their blood with their sacrifices"
[GROTIUS, WEBSTER
and WILKINSON, but doubted
by DE WETTE,
MEYER, ALFORD,
c.]. News of this being brought to our Lord, to draw out His views of
such, and whether it was not a judgment of Heaven, He simply points
them to the practical view of the matter: "These men are not
signal examples of divine vengeance, as ye suppose but every
impenitent sinner—ye yourselves, except ye repent—shall be
like monuments of the judgment of Heaven, and in a more awful sense."
The reference here to the impending destruction of Jerusalem is far
from exhausting our Lord's weighty words; they manifestly point to a
"perdition" of a more awful kind—future, personal,
remediless.
4, 5. tower in Siloam—probably
one of the towers of the city wall, near the pool of Siloam. Of its
fall nothing is known.
6-9. fig tree—Israel, as the
visible witness of God in the world, but generally all within the
pale of the visible Church of God; a familiar figure (compare Isaiah 5:1-7;
John 15:1-8, c.).
vineyard—a spot
selected for its fertility, separated from the surrounding fields,
and cultivated with special care, with a view solely to fruit.
came and sought fruit—a
heart turned to God the fruits of righteousness; compare Matthew 21:33;
Matthew 21:34; Isaiah 5:2,
"He looked that it should bring forth fruit"; He has
a right to it, and will require it.
7. three years—a long enough
trial for a fig tree, and so denoting probably just a sufficient
period of culture for spiritual fruit. The supposed allusion to the
duration of our Lord's ministry is precarious.
cut it down—indignant
language.
cumbereth—not only
doing no good, but wasting ground.
8. he answering, c.—Christ, as
Intercessor, loath to see it cut down so long as there was any hope
(see Luke 13:34).
dig, &c.—loosen the
earth about it and enrich it with manure pointing to changes of
method in the divine treatment of the impenitent, in order to freshen
spiritual culture.
9. if . . . fruit, well
—Genuine repentance, however late, avails to save (Luke 23:42;
Luke 23:43).
after that, c.—The
final perdition of such as, after the utmost limits of reasonable
forbearance, are found fruitless, will be pre-eminently and
confessedly just (Proverbs 1:24-31
Ezekiel 24:13).
Ezekiel 24:13. WOMAN OF
EIGHTEEN YEAR'S
INFIRMITY HEALED
ON THE SABBATH.
11. spirit of infirmity—Compare
Luke 13:17, "whom Satan
hath bound." From this it is probable, though not certain, that
her protracted infirmity was the effect of some milder form of
possession; yet she was "a daughter of Abraham," in
the same gracious sense, no doubt, as Zaccheus, after his conversion,
was "a son of Abraham" (Luke 13:17).
12, 13. said . . . Woman . . . and
laid—both at once.
14. with indignation—not so
much at the sabbath violation as at the glorification of Christ.
(Compare Matthew 21:15) [TRENCH].
said to the people—"Not
daring directly to find fault with the Lord, he seeks circuitously to
reach Him through the people, who were more under his influence, and
whom he feared less" [TRENCH].
15. the Lord—(See on ).
hypocrite!—How "the
faithful and true Witness" tears off the masks which men wear!
his ox, c.—(See on and Luke 6:9).
16. ought not, &c.—How
gloriously the Lord vindicates the superior claims of this woman, in
consideration of the sadness and long duration of her suffering, and
of her dignity notwithstanding, as an heir of the promise!
. MISCELLANEOUS
TEACHINGS.
18-21. mustard seed . . .
leaven—(See on ).
The parable of "the Leaven" sets forth, perhaps, rather the
inward growth of the kingdom, while "the Mustard Seed"
seems to point chiefly to the outward. It being a woman's work
to knead, it seems a refinement to say that "the woman"
here represents the Church, as the instrument of depositing
the leaven. Nor does it yield much satisfaction to understand the
"three measures of meal" of that threefold division of our
nature into "spirit, soul, and body," (alluded to in ) or of the threefold partition of the world among the three
sons of Noah (Genesis 10:32), as
some do. It yields more real satisfaction to see in this brief
parable just the all-penetrating and assimilating
quality of the Gospel, by virtue of which it will yet mould all
institutions and tribes of men, and exhibit over the whole earth one
"Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ." (See on Genesis 10:32).
23. Lord, c.—one of those
curious questions by talking of which some flatter themselves they
are religious.
said unto them—the
multitude taking no notice of the man or his question, save as
furnishing the occasion of a solemn warning not to trifle with so
momentous a matter as "salvation."
24. Strive—The word signifies
to "contend" as for the mastery, to "struggle,"
expressive of the difficulty of being saved, as if one would
have to force his way in.
strait gate—another
figure of the same. (See on ).
for many . . . will
seek—"desire," that is, with a mere wish or slothful
endeavor.
and shall not be able—because
it must be made a life-and-death struggle.
25. master of the house is risen up
and hath shut to the door—awfully sublime and vivid picture! At
present he is represented as in a sitting posture, as if
calmly looking on to see who will "strive," while entrance
is practicable, and who will merely "seek" to enter in. But
this is to have an end, by the great Master of the house Himself
rising and shutting the door, after which there will be no
admittance.
Lord, Lord—emphatic
reduplication, expressive of the earnestness now felt, but too
late. (See on ).
26, 27. See on the similar
passage (Matthew 7:22; Matthew 7:23).
eaten and drunk, &c.—We
have sat with Thee at the same table. (See on Matthew 7:23).
taught in our streets—Do
we not remember listening in our own streets to Thy teaching? Surely
we are not to be denied admittance?
27. But he shall say, &c.—(See
on ). No nearness of
external communion with Christ will avail at the great day, in place
of that holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. Observe
the style which Christ intimates that He will then assume,
that of absolute Disposer of men's eternal destinies, and contrast it
with His "despised and rejected" condition at that time.
31. and depart hence—and "go
forward," push on. He was on His way out of Perea, east
of Jordan, and in Herod's dominions, "journeying towards
Jerusalem" (Luke 13:22).
Haunted by guilty fears, probably, Herod wanted to get rid of Him
(see on Luke 13:22), and seems, from
our Lord's answer, to have sent these Pharisees, under pretense of a
friendly hint, to persuade Him that the sooner He got beyond Herod's
jurisdiction the better it would be for His own safety. Our Lord saw
through both of them, and sends the cunning ruler a message couched
in dignified and befitting irony.
32. that fox—that crafty,
cruel enemy of God's innocent servants.
Behold, I cast out devils and
I do cures—that is, "Plot on and ply thy wiles; I also
have My plans; My works of mercy are nearing completion, but some yet
remain; I have work for to-day and to-morrow too, and the third day;
by that time I shall be where his jurisdiction reaches not; the guilt
of My blood shall not lie at his door; that dark deed is reserved for
others." He does not say, I preach the Gospel—that would have
made little impression upon Herod—in the light of the merciful
character of Christ's actions the malice of Herod's
snares is laid bare [BENGEL].
to-day, to-morrow, the third
day—remarkable language expressive of successive steps
of His work yet remaining, the calm deliberateness with which
He meant to go through with them, one after another, to the last,
unmoved by Herod's threat, yet the rapid march with which they
were now hastening to completion. (Compare ).
I shall be perfected—I
finish my course, I attain completion.
33. it cannot be that a prophet,
&c.—"It would never do that," &c.—awful
severity of satire this upon "the bloody city!" "He
seeks to kill me, does he? Ah! I must be out of Herod's jurisdiction
for that. Go tell him I neither fly from him nor fear him, but
Jerusalem is the prophets' slaughter-house."
34, 35. O Jerusalem, c.—(See
on ).
CHAPTER 13
. THE LESSON, "REPENT OR PERISH," SUGGESTED BY TWO RECENT INCIDENTS, AND ILLUSTRATED BY THE PARABLE OF THE BARREN FIG TREE.
1-3. Galileans—possibly the followers of Judas of Galilee, who, some twenty years before this, taught that Jews should not pay tribute to the Romans, and of whom we learn, from Acts 5:37, that he drew after him a multitude of followers, who on his being slain were all dispersed. About this time that party would be at its height, and if Pilate caused this detachment of them to be waylaid and put to death as they were offering their sacrifices at one of the festivals, that would be "mingling their blood with their sacrifices" [GROTIUS, WEBSTER and WILKINSON, but doubted by DE WETTE, MEYER, ALFORD, c.]. News of this being brought to our Lord, to draw out His views of such, and whether it was not a judgment of Heaven, He simply points them to the practical view of the matter: "These men are not signal examples of divine vengeance, as ye suppose but every impenitent sinner—ye yourselves, except ye repent—shall be like monuments of the judgment of Heaven, and in a more awful sense." The reference here to the impending destruction of Jerusalem is far from exhausting our Lord's weighty words; they manifestly point to a "perdition" of a more awful kind—future, personal, remediless.
4, 5. tower in Siloam—probably one of the towers of the city wall, near the pool of Siloam. Of its fall nothing is known.
6-9. fig tree—Israel, as the visible witness of God in the world, but generally all within the pale of the visible Church of God; a familiar figure (compare Isaiah 5:1-7; John 15:1-8, c.).
vineyard—a spot selected for its fertility, separated from the surrounding fields, and cultivated with special care, with a view solely to fruit.
came and sought fruit—a heart turned to God the fruits of righteousness; compare Matthew 21:33; Matthew 21:34; Isaiah 5:2, "He looked that it should bring forth fruit"; He has a right to it, and will require it.
7. three years—a long enough trial for a fig tree, and so denoting probably just a sufficient period of culture for spiritual fruit. The supposed allusion to the duration of our Lord's ministry is precarious.
cut it down—indignant language.
cumbereth—not only doing no good, but wasting ground.
8. he answering, c.—Christ, as Intercessor, loath to see it cut down so long as there was any hope (see Luke 13:34).
dig, &c.—loosen the earth about it and enrich it with manure pointing to changes of method in the divine treatment of the impenitent, in order to freshen spiritual culture.
9. if . . . fruit, well —Genuine repentance, however late, avails to save (Luke 23:42; Luke 23:43).
after that, c.—The final perdition of such as, after the utmost limits of reasonable forbearance, are found fruitless, will be pre-eminently and confessedly just (Proverbs 1:24-31 Ezekiel 24:13).
Ezekiel 24:13. WOMAN OF EIGHTEEN YEAR'S INFIRMITY HEALED ON THE SABBATH.
11. spirit of infirmity—Compare Luke 13:17, "whom Satan hath bound." From this it is probable, though not certain, that her protracted infirmity was the effect of some milder form of possession; yet she was "a daughter of Abraham," in the same gracious sense, no doubt, as Zaccheus, after his conversion, was "a son of Abraham" (Luke 13:17).
12, 13. said . . . Woman . . . and laid—both at once.
14. with indignation—not so much at the sabbath violation as at the glorification of Christ. (Compare Matthew 21:15) [TRENCH].
said to the people—"Not daring directly to find fault with the Lord, he seeks circuitously to reach Him through the people, who were more under his influence, and whom he feared less" [TRENCH].
15. the Lord—(See on ).
hypocrite!—How "the faithful and true Witness" tears off the masks which men wear!
his ox, c.—(See on and Luke 6:9).
16. ought not, &c.—How gloriously the Lord vindicates the superior claims of this woman, in consideration of the sadness and long duration of her suffering, and of her dignity notwithstanding, as an heir of the promise!
. MISCELLANEOUS TEACHINGS.
18-21. mustard seed . . . leaven—(See on ). The parable of "the Leaven" sets forth, perhaps, rather the inward growth of the kingdom, while "the Mustard Seed" seems to point chiefly to the outward. It being a woman's work to knead, it seems a refinement to say that "the woman" here represents the Church, as the instrument of depositing the leaven. Nor does it yield much satisfaction to understand the "three measures of meal" of that threefold division of our nature into "spirit, soul, and body," (alluded to in ) or of the threefold partition of the world among the three sons of Noah (Genesis 10:32), as some do. It yields more real satisfaction to see in this brief parable just the all-penetrating and assimilating quality of the Gospel, by virtue of which it will yet mould all institutions and tribes of men, and exhibit over the whole earth one "Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ." (See on Genesis 10:32).
23. Lord, c.—one of those curious questions by talking of which some flatter themselves they are religious.
said unto them—the multitude taking no notice of the man or his question, save as furnishing the occasion of a solemn warning not to trifle with so momentous a matter as "salvation."
24. Strive—The word signifies to "contend" as for the mastery, to "struggle," expressive of the difficulty of being saved, as if one would have to force his way in.
strait gate—another figure of the same. (See on ).
for many . . . will seek—"desire," that is, with a mere wish or slothful endeavor.
and shall not be able—because it must be made a life-and-death struggle.
25. master of the house is risen up and hath shut to the door—awfully sublime and vivid picture! At present he is represented as in a sitting posture, as if calmly looking on to see who will "strive," while entrance is practicable, and who will merely "seek" to enter in. But this is to have an end, by the great Master of the house Himself rising and shutting the door, after which there will be no admittance.
Lord, Lord—emphatic reduplication, expressive of the earnestness now felt, but too late. (See on ).
26, 27. See on the similar passage (Matthew 7:22; Matthew 7:23).
eaten and drunk, &c.—We have sat with Thee at the same table. (See on Matthew 7:23).
taught in our streets—Do we not remember listening in our own streets to Thy teaching? Surely we are not to be denied admittance?
27. But he shall say, &c.—(See on ). No nearness of external communion with Christ will avail at the great day, in place of that holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. Observe the style which Christ intimates that He will then assume, that of absolute Disposer of men's eternal destinies, and contrast it with His "despised and rejected" condition at that time.
28, 29. (See Matthew 8:11; Matthew 8:12). Also see on Matthew 8:12.
Matthew 8:12. MESSAGE TO HEROD.
31. and depart hence—and "go forward," push on. He was on His way out of Perea, east of Jordan, and in Herod's dominions, "journeying towards Jerusalem" (Luke 13:22). Haunted by guilty fears, probably, Herod wanted to get rid of Him (see on Luke 13:22), and seems, from our Lord's answer, to have sent these Pharisees, under pretense of a friendly hint, to persuade Him that the sooner He got beyond Herod's jurisdiction the better it would be for His own safety. Our Lord saw through both of them, and sends the cunning ruler a message couched in dignified and befitting irony.
32. that fox—that crafty, cruel enemy of God's innocent servants.
Behold, I cast out devils and I do cures—that is, "Plot on and ply thy wiles; I also have My plans; My works of mercy are nearing completion, but some yet remain; I have work for to-day and to-morrow too, and the third day; by that time I shall be where his jurisdiction reaches not; the guilt of My blood shall not lie at his door; that dark deed is reserved for others." He does not say, I preach the Gospel—that would have made little impression upon Herod—in the light of the merciful character of Christ's actions the malice of Herod's snares is laid bare [BENGEL].
to-day, to-morrow, the third day—remarkable language expressive of successive steps of His work yet remaining, the calm deliberateness with which He meant to go through with them, one after another, to the last, unmoved by Herod's threat, yet the rapid march with which they were now hastening to completion. (Compare ).
I shall be perfected—I finish my course, I attain completion.
33. it cannot be that a prophet, &c.—"It would never do that," &c.—awful severity of satire this upon "the bloody city!" "He seeks to kill me, does he? Ah! I must be out of Herod's jurisdiction for that. Go tell him I neither fly from him nor fear him, but Jerusalem is the prophets' slaughter-house."
34, 35. O Jerusalem, c.—(See on ).