1.
There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2.
And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3.
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4.
Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5.
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
6.
He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7.
Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8.
And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9.
And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
10.
And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
11.
And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
12.
And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
13.
And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
14.
And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
Answered here signifies no more than, he spake, as in a multitude of other places in the Gospels. The Jews were both very superstitious and very uneven as to the sanctification of the sabbaths: superstitious, because they would not do many things which by God’s law they might do, such as applying means to heal the sick, defending themselves against enemies, &c. Uneven, because they would do divers things of equal bodily labour with those things which they pretend to scruple, one of which we shall hear our Saviour by and by instancing in. This ruler studied to defame him before the people. His pretence was, this was a work, and such a work as might be done in the six days. Let us hear how our Saviour defends himself.
15.
The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
16.
And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
17.
And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
It is one thing to be ashamed, another thing to be convinced, so as to confess an error; they were ashamed that they were so put to silence before the people, but we read of no confession of their error and mistake, and begging Christ’s pardon.
The people rejoiced and gave thanks to God
for all the glorious things that were done by our Saviour.
18.
Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
19.
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
20.
And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
21.
It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
22.
And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
Still wherever we find our blessed Lord, we find him teaching, and that not by an exemplary life only, but by word of mouth. There are different opinions whether our Saviour was now journeying towards Jerusalem with respect to the passover, or some other great festival of the Jews.
23.
Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
24.
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
25.
When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
26.
Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
27.
But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
28.
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
29.
And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
30.
And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
This is a sentence which our Saviour often made use of, and not always to the same purpose. See Poole on "Matthew 19:30". See Poole on "Matthew 20:16". See Poole on "Mark 10:31". As to the sense of them here, it is plain. Our Saviour here foretells the conversion of the Gentiles; but yet I do not take the Gentiles to be all who are intended under the notion of the last, but divers others also. Men who, both in their opinion of themselves, and in reality with respect to privilege, are the first, whether in respect of gifts, or office, or the means of grace, or profession, will many of them be the last, that is, furthest off from the kingdom of God; and many who are the last, upon these accounts will in the day of judgment be first, that is, appear so, as having more of the favour of God, and be so, taken to heaven, when the others shall be cast to hell, Matthew 11:20-24.
31.
The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
32.
And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
33.
Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
34.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
35.
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.