< Luke 13 >

Catastrophes do occur in life, either accidentally or directly from the actions of wicked men, and the victims evoke our sympathy, but every one of us is in constant danger of death. However, if we repent of our sins, we need not perish.

It is essential, if we are to be raised to eternal life, to be fruitful to God. Israel failed to bring forth fruit and were like the unfruitful fig tree v.6Luke 13:6XWaiting for response but God, who is longsuffering and merciful, gave them further opportunity to bring forth the desired fruit. v.8Luke 13:8XWaiting for response Regrettably, they failed to respond to the labours of Jesus and his apostles to turn to righteousness, and so they were “cut down” v.9Luke 13:9XWaiting for response and ceased to be a nation in the Promised land. Instead of rejoicing at the teaching of Jesus, they found fault. For example, when Jesus cured a woman who had been laid low by infirmity for eighteen years vs.11-13Luke 13:11-13XWaiting for response they complained because she was healed on the sabbath day.v.14Luke 13:14XWaiting for response Such people, said Jesus, were hypocrites.v.15Luke 13:15XWaiting for response

Not many received the teaching of Jesus and when one asked him “Lord, are there few that be saved?” v.23Luke 13:23XWaiting for response he answered in the affirmative, and exhorted: “Strive to enter in at the strait [narrow] gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able”.v.24Luke 13:24XWaiting for response Popular religious teaching contradicts this, declaring that everyone will be saved! In fact, Jesus declared that these Jews would be “thrust out”. vs.28-29Luke 13:28-29XWaiting for response However, some Jews and Gentiles throughout the generations since have welcomed Jesus’ teaching and obeyed him, and they will come from the four quarters of the earth to live with Jesus in the kingdom of God.

The judgments of God came upon that generation of Jews in A.D.70 when the Roman legions destroyed Jerusalem, killed many Jews, and carried the rest away to be slaves. The prospect of this distressed Jesus because he knew it could have been so different. Although he wept over Jerusalem at that time, he also knew that in due course he would come again to the city and be received willingly by Israel, who will then say: “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord”.