BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 39

A Call to Repentance

Luke 13:1-20

In my life there are many thing for which I have asked forgiveness.  This lesson would be way to long for me to mention many of them.  The one example I would like to share happened fifty some years ago. There was a young Episcopal minister of whom I was very fond.  I have spoken of him before and the admiration I had for him.  A couple who did not attend our church said they saw him drinking and they did not feel that was right.  I agreed with them and probably said things that I should have left unsaid.  If he knew about what I had said he never spoke about it to my knowledge.  He would have had every right to condemn me for my conversation.  To me his behavior reflected the grace that Jesus extends to all of us. It certainly was not my place to judge him.  Even though just a teenager there were things I had done for which I was not proud.

Just before my mother, brother and I moved from North Carolina to Richmond he called me to his house.  I do not remember what was said but both of us were sorry to part ways.  Then he gave me a gift which I still have to this day.  It was the Celtic cross that he wore each Sunday on the outside of his vestments.

There are two regrets that I have. The first is that I did not the opportunity to ask his forgiveness.  The second is that I did not keep in touch with him after I moved away.  I guess that fifteen year old boys do not think to do that type of thing.  Over the years I have wondered where he might be.  Facebook and other tools have not brought me any success.  At this point all I can say is I will see him in heaven.  Thank you Mr. Smith for all the compassion and love you showed to a teenager who needed them.

One of the obvious characteristics of a church in need of repentance is its attitude toward guest who attend services.  There are many churches who have been studied over the years who have thought they were the friendliest one around.  They may give all appearance of being welcoming, when in reality they are only care about those who are already attending.  It is hard to break into that kind of body because they are quite satisfied with what they have.  Unless the church is willing to change and be accepting of others it will eventually dry up and die.  Christ welcomed all kinds of people into His kingdom.  He called each of them to repentance.  If we do not have the attitude of Christ we are in need of confessing how we have fallen short of living for Him.  No church is perfect, but everyone can be one full of forgiven people who want to show the way to forgiveness through repentance.

Luke 13:1

It was brought to the attention that Pilate’s had killed a number of Jews as they offered a sacrifice at the Temple. In light of the answer Jesus gave to those who shared the information that they possibly thought they deserved what they had gotten.  Quite often riots took place during feasts in Jerusalem.  The men killed may have been zealots who hated and were hated by the Romans.  The soldiers would use any reason to punish the Jews.  There is another factor that might have come into play.  The Judeans may have looked down on the Galileans as an inferior people who had been killed because they were evil men.

1. Why did the Jews bring the killing of the Galileans to the attention of Jesus?  (To justify their position as superior to the Galileans.)
2. Why would Pilate have the Roman soldiers attack the people? (He hated the Jews and would use every opportunity to punish them.)
3. Why would the Galileans protest against the Romans? (They hated the Romans as much as the Romans hated them.)
4. Why did those from Judea believe that the death of the men was justified?  (They believed God punished the wicked.)

Luke 13: 2-3

Jesus put His answer in the form of a question as He often did.  He wanted to know if those particular men were any worse than all others who lived in Galilee.  The Jews were included in His call to the people to repent.  Also included but unsaid was the fact that all men Jew or Gentile must repent or suffer eternal separation from God.

1. Why did He put his answer into the form of a question? (He wanted them to see clearly their own position before God.)
2. What did the Jews believe happened to one who sinned? (They might meet the fate of the Galileans.)
3. What did this say about the attitude of the Jews which was completely bogus? (They were not punished as those Galileans were because they were God’s chosen people.)
4. How can we get trapped into this same kind of mindset?
5. What did Jesus’ answer say about us? (We all stand in the need of repentance.)

Luke 13:4-5

The table was then turned on the Jews.  Jesus told of another episode that included the death of eighteen people when the tower of Siloam fell on them.  He wanted to hear from them if they thought those Jews who were killed were any worse that all of the others who not killed.  Again He included every man when He told them that the Jews needed to repent in order to keep from perishing.

1. Why did Jesus then speak of the event which included the death of some Jews?
2. Were they guilty of sin that brought about their death?
3. What would both events say about God if He had  purposely caused the death of those people in that way? (He was an arbitrary and capricious who discriminated against men at will.)
4. What do we know about God and His Son?

Luke 13:6-9

The parable of the fig tree was a picture of Israel and its history and future because it had refused to repent and obey God.  The comparisons are:

• The fig tree was Israel who God had chosen to be His people.  Their tasks were to obey God and to be His witnesses throughout the world.
• The fertile soil of course was the land of Israel itself. The people were planted in the Promised Land.  It was described as a land full of milk and honey. That depiction was verified when the spies reported back in the book of Number it was a fertile land.
• The lack of fruit pictures an apostate people who continually disobeyed God and were not fruitful.  Sadly, they often took up space in a land that was supposed to produce much.
• The three years represents the years that God tried to draw His people to Him by sending those prophets who called the people to repentance.
• The vineyard keeper is Jesus who came on the scene for a final call to the Jews to repent and turn back to the Father.
• To reject Him would bring about dire consequences as the history of the Jews proves.  It was less than forty years when the Romans came and destroyed the city in A.D. 70.  The Jews have yet to fully recover from those days.  Even today the nation is very secular in its thinking.  It will take the tribulation to awaken the people to the need to repent of their sins and turn to Christ.  Thankfully their greatest achievements still lay in the future when God will redeem His people.

   

1. What was the problem that Jesus was addressing in this parable? (The continual rebellion and apostasy of the people.)
2. How much are we like Israel today?
3. What is in our future if we continue down the path we are travelling?
4. How can it be turned around?
5. What is God calling us to be today?

Luke 13:10-13

At that point the popularity of Jesus was still great with the people.  Being a rabbi he had been invited to speak in one of the synagogues in Perea, which was beyond the Jordan.  As He was speaking He saw a woman in need of healing. The healing of the woman in the synagogue may not seem to have any connection to the judgments expressed in the previous chapters.  There is a definite tie in as will soon be seen. Once again Jesus violated the traditions of the Sabbath by healing the woman who had been doubled over for eighteen years.  He called to the woman to come to Him before all those in attendance and said, “Woman, you are freed from your sickness.” She began glorifying God for what He had done in her life.

1. Why was Jesus still popular with the people?  (They were not caught up in all of the controversies but were there to hear Jesus and receive healing?
2. Why did Jesus once again violate the traditions of the Jewish religious leaders? (Compassion for people was more important than rules and regulations.)
3. Why was Jesus able to heal the woman? (She was willing to come to Him in all humility and trust.)
4. From what have you been freed?
5. Why do you know that this has occurred?
6. How do you identify with the woman both in her coming to Him and glorifying of God?

Luke 13:14

As would be expected there was a totally different response from the synagogue leader.  There was no gratitude or compassion on his part for the fact that a fellow human being had been healed by Jesus.   He became quite indignant that the healing had occurred under his watch and on a Sabbath Day in particular.  Jesus was informed in no uncertain terms that He had to do miracles on a time schedule which did not include such activities taking place on the Sabbath. His attitude reflected the heart of Israel found in the parable of the fig tree.  They were in bondage to their traditions and rules and missed Jesus and what He came to do for them.

1. How did the synagogue leader respond to what Jesus had done?
2. What did his response show about him?
3. In what ways do we sometimes display the same kind of attitude?
4. What should be our primary concern in the church? (The genuine needs of the people both physically and spiritually.)
5. In what ways do our own traditions sometimes get in the way of what God calls us to do?

Luke 13:15-17

Quickly, Jesus addressed the heart of the issue.  He called those with the same attitude “hypocrites.” He then gave them a practical example of their hypocrisy.  They felt a need to feed and water their livestock on the Sabbath but had no compassion for the woman who had suffered so greatly.  After hearing the message of Jesus and seeing His works they were unwilling to turn from their false practices and beliefs.  Calling them to hopefully see things differently He called attention to the woman once again.  He pointed out that unlike the animals for which they had such concern she was a person made in the image of God and part of His chosen people through Abraham.  Surely, she deserved to be released from bondage more than animals needed to fed and watered.  “His opponents were being humiliated” but definitely did not have a change of heart.  Meanwhile the people rejoiced over all they had just witnessed.

1. Why did Jesus call the religious leaders hypocrites? (They did not live what they preached.)
2. Why did Jesus use the example of the livestock to make His point? (It suited them to take care of what belonged to them.)
3. How was the woman different? (Made in the image of God and a daughter of Abraham.)
4. How does the description of the religious leaders sometimes fit the way we act?
5. How, from what is about to occur in the not too distant future, did being humiliated affect the religious leaders in Judea and Jerusalem?
6. What other results would have been preferable?
7. Why do we need our faults pointed out to us?
8. How do you hope this will be done?
9. What should be our attitude?

 

Luke 13:18-20

As He concluded His time in the synagogue, Jesus told two additional parables both of which carried the same theme.  Something small and insignificant as a little mustard seed grows into a bush large enough to provide resting place for the birds of the air. His second example is the effect that leaven has on the dough in which it has been hidden.  Small acts done in the name of God impact the world and changes the environment in which a person lives the domain of God’s control and influence. Care must be taken that the influence be from God and not men like the religious leaders who sought followers for their way of life away from true commitment to Jesus.

1. What are some of the things that we consider insignificant that have greatly influenced your life?
2. What did Jesus mean by those things that were viewed as unimportant?
3. What did Jesus mean by talking of the kingdom of God?
4. In what ways have you given your complete life to Jesus so His kingdom can be a lived in you?
5. What the things that influence your life?
6. Who has impacted your life?
7. In what ways have that influence been beneficial or destructive?

    

• As you meditate on God’s word this week think particular about those things in your life for which you need to repent.
• Do not allow time to pass before making amends with someone whom you may have hurt by your actions or words before you no longer have that opportunity.
• Approach Jesus with a humility that allows Him to free you from whatever is binding you.
• Be discerning when considering the influence things or people may have in your life.
• Allow God’s kingdom to so permeate your life that you want to live for Him only in His kingdom

The last several lesson have carried in them both warnings and promises for the church.  We are to take great care in following the words written in God’s word.  Paul spoke in Acts of those  within the body who seek our destruction through false teachings.  We must be on guard against those who teach one thing and live a completely different lifestyle.  Christ condemned such behavior and we should do the same.

It is important for us to impact the world in the same as the small mustard seed and leaven did.  Everyone one us start out as infants in the faith but are called to grow and mature.  The first step is to repent of those things in our lives that keep us separated from Him.  It is fitting that He finished this time with that call. With all the strength within us we are to be the kind of church where anyone can see the kingdom of God present.